Just happened there tonight.....

My lights are kinda dipping when I use the indicators, washers or open the window :confused:

Also when coming back into my driveway, the headlights dipped and power steering light came on too with a brief loss of power steering.

Any ideas??

Hi kevvrs

You don't say how old your car is, but check battery, but more so the alternator

Radiotwo

Edited 4 October, 200916 yr by DGW
No need to quote OP.

Sorry 2006 with almost 50K.......

Edited 4 October, 200916 yr by DGW
No need for quote.

Defo your battery or alternator dude, the extra drain on it from using the additional equipment is making your lights dim. A sure way to tell is to use your rear windscreen heater or switch on the air con, they should dim like crazy.

Yup,

:+1:

Tis the season it seems, 2nd report like this with in a week!

@ Big Mikey = Thanks

I think I've just expired warranty.....typical eh! Would alternator be expensive?

I'd go out and try your tips now, but its too bloody cold here in n.i at the moment. Will give it a test later this morning/afternoon.

@ Big Mikey = Thanks

I think I've just expired warranty.....typical eh! Would alternator be expensive?

I'd go out and try your tips now, but its too bloody cold here in n.i at the moment. Will give it a test later this morning/afternoon.

Hello kevvrs_130,

Too cold in n.i is that short for Northern Italy?? LOL

Ian. 05/10/2009. :thumbup:

If you have a volt meter put it across the battery terminals with the car started and your lights on. It should read at least 13.5 volts. Much less than this and your alternator is dodgy.

Yep. First chilly morning, and your battery's starting to suffer. You'll be saying your coolant level warning's come on for no reason next!

Fabias like you to know Autumn's approaching!

Yep. First chilly morning, and your battery's starting to suffer. You'll be saying your coolant level warning's come on for no reason next!

Fabias like you to know Autumn's approaching!

Best damn Barometer I've ever owned!

Just been down to the local garage(non skoda for now as I'm up on warranty )

The garage is about 5mins from my house and when he tested the battery today it was 13.2 exactly.

What he did tell me to do was leave the car with him tonight and he'll check the battery first thing in the morning. Fingers crossed its something simple.

He will also run a full diagnostic test of some kind too....would an alternator fault show on this??

Yep. First chilly morning, and your battery's starting to suffer. You'll be saying your coolant level warning's come on for no reason next!

Fabias like you to know Autumn's approaching!

HI sorry for jumping in, but would this possibly cuase the engine management warning light to come on intermitantly? My 04 Fabia VRS TDi has just started doing this this weekend.

Thanks

Marian

@ Marian, I'm not too sure about your problem there, but my engine management light is not coming on at all with any of my problems.

Hope all is easily resolved and not too harsh on the wallet!

if its 13.2v whilst running id say its your alternator, brand new they will give out 14.4v

do you have any idea how old the battery is ?

@ Brun

It is approx 1 year old, I had a similar problem last year and took it to the local Skoda dealer whilst under warranty and he had the car for a month and really all that was looked at/changed was the battery.

What gets me is that the power steering light comes on and it drives ok until pulling into the drive way....that is when the steering 'tightens' (only way I can describe it!).

Also all of the problems mentioned in my OP, happen more often when in reverse? For some reason it could happen 5 or 6 times in a row or on a drive then nothing until a few hours later.....seems weird!

Kev, mine does this also, but i get it the most when i press the accelerator!! i noticed when in a underground car park.Every time i change gear and accelerate again its like a mini disco :guitarist

Kev, mine does this also, but i get it the most when i press the accelerator!! i noticed when in a underground car park.Every time i change gear and accelerate again its like a mini disco :guitarist

Check the connections to the battery terminals. I had this (plus spurious faults with the alarm and central locking), and it was due to the earth lead being loose.

@ Brun

It is approx 1 year old, I had a similar problem last year and took it to the local Skoda dealer whilst under warranty and he had the car for a month and really all that was looked at/changed was the battery.

What gets me is that the power steering light comes on and it drives ok until pulling into the drive way....that is when the steering 'tightens' (only way I can describe it!).

Also all of the problems mentioned in my OP, happen more often when in reverse? For some reason it could happen 5 or 6 times in a row or on a drive then nothing until a few hours later.....seems weird!

It will be because you are manouevring, and so the revs are low. Because of this, there is only a little current coming from the alternator, and the battery has to supply a large portion of the current required by the power steering pump. This can be up to 60A, which is more than the battery can supply by itself, especially if it's a little 'tired'. Try using a little bit of revs as you're going on / off the drive (and a delicate touch with your clutch foot!)

HI sorry for jumping in, but would this possibly cuase the engine management warning light to come on intermitantly? My 04 Fabia VRS TDi has just started doing this this weekend.

Thanks

Marian

Is it this:

...or this:

???

If it's the first one, it ended up being my coolant temperature sensor on it's way out. When it didn't stay on, it would take far longer than normal to go out. Not so confident about guessing what the second one might be. A fault code scan will help in both cases (preferably with AND without the light on!) - it may be worth asking if any members with VAG-COM near you will do it rather than taking it to the garage.

Hope you all get sorted soon!

Soooooo........

I went to the local breakers today for an alternator, the mechanic done a full scan and nothing major in that respect. He told me to go get an alternator, which I done and he's putting it in this evening(I hope!) plus he'll also fit a new battery at the same time.

Fingers crossed this is the root of the problem solved!

Is it this:

...or this:

???

If it's the first one, it ended up being my coolant temperature sensor on it's way out. When it didn't stay on, it would take far longer than normal to go out. Not so confident about guessing what the second one might be. A fault code scan will help in both cases (preferably with AND without the light on!) - it may be worth asking if any members with VAG-COM near you will do it rather than taking it to the garage.

Hope you all get sorted soon!

Thanks for your help. It was the second one. But what we've noticed is that it only comes on the temperature is pretty cold. Had a friend who knows a bit about engines (maily ones on big ships) but he says there doesn't appear to be anything major. Managed to check the fault codes, just need to find out what it means now.

Marian

Thanks for your help. It was the second one. But what we've noticed is that it only comes on the temperature is pretty cold. Had a friend who knows a bit about engines (maily ones on big ships) but he says there doesn't appear to be anything major. Managed to check the fault codes, just need to find out what it means now.

Marian

post the codes up on here , someone will know whats going on

...or Google 'Ross-Tech Wiki' followed by the code(s)