Hello all - am looking for some advice, and have been really impressed with the expertise and information available on this site.

Own a 2003 1.2 Fabia Estate with under 30k on the clock, very reliable and comfortable car... Until now!

The rear wiper hasn't worked for the last 3 months or so (since the big freeze) and although the screenwash jet works, there is no noise at all from the rear wiper itself when I try to turn it on, and obviously no movement. Then, I noticed the other day that now the horn isn't working either. No noise comes from the unit, no matter how hard I bash it.

I bought some blade fuses with the intention of fiddling with the fuse box to see if it's a simple blown fuse problem, but the fuses I bought don't seem to fit into the gaps? My dad rang the garage where we bought the car, who assured me that all Skodas use the standard blade fuses throughout the box, and he was trying to convince my dad that I was being a feeble woman and opening the relay box instead. Please, can somebody reassure me that I'm not stupid, and that the fuse box on a Fabia is indeed tucked inside the drivers' door, as per the Haynes manual diagram ?!

My Fabia is actually booked in for its annual service/MOT on Friday but obviously, if the rear wipers and horn are something I can fix myself prior to going in, that would be ideal. I don't want them to take advantage of the fact I'm female, charging me for a new rear wiper motor and horn unit if it's just the fuses or something really simple. If anybody has any idea what these problems could be caused by (and how to fix them!), I would be really really grateful.

Looking forward to hearing your verdicts!

With thanks

Hello all - am looking for some advice, and have been really impressed with the expertise and information available on this site.

Own a 2003 1.2 Fabia Estate with under 30k on the clock, very reliable and comfortable car... Until now!

The rear wiper hasn't worked for the last 3 months or so (since the big freeze) and although the screenwash jet works, there is no noise at all from the rear wiper itself when I try to turn it on, and obviously no movement. Then, I noticed the other day that now the horn isn't working either. No noise comes from the unit, no matter how hard I bash it.

I bought some blade fuses with the intention of fiddling with the fuse box to see if it's a simple blown fuse problem, but the fuses I bought don't seem to fit into the gaps? My dad rang the garage where we bought the car, who assured me that all Skodas use the standard blade fuses throughout the box, and he was trying to convince my dad that I was being a feeble woman and opening the relay box instead. Please, can somebody reassure me that I'm not stupid, and that the fuse box on a Fabia is indeed tucked inside the drivers' door, as per the Haynes manual diagram ?!

My Fabia is actually booked in for its annual service/MOT on Friday but obviously, if the rear wipers and horn are something I can fix myself prior to going in, that would be ideal. I don't want them to take advantage of the fact I'm female, charging me for a new rear wiper motor and horn unit if it's just the fuses or something really simple. If anybody has any idea what these problems could be caused by (and how to fix them!), I would be really really grateful.

Looking forward to hearing your verdicts!

With thanks

Hi Mimi... mimimi...

The fuses should be located under a pop off panel on the drivers side as per the Haynes manual. It certainly is on our two Fabia's anyhow. They should be standard sized blade type fuses in two different sizes, with various different ratings.

I'm sure someone here would be more than willing to hook up VAGCOM to it to see if there are any fault codes / take a quick look too. I certainly would, but I very much doubt you're in the Great Yarmouth / Norfolk area, right? :-)

Best of luck!

. Please, can somebody reassure me that I'm not stupid, and that the fuse box on a Fabia is indeed tucked inside the drivers' door, as per the Haynes manual diagram ?!

If you mean on the end of the dash, accessed by opening the driver's door and prising the cover off the end of the dash, then yes, that's the fusebox. If you're lucky there might even be a spare fuse in there.

A fuse blowing on the wipers is a common problem, likely caused by the wiper sticking to the screen during the really cold weather at the start of the year. However, if your front wipers still work I'm not sure this will be the problem, the motor might have gone. It's worth replacing fuse 15 in the fuse box just to check though - the fuses are standard mini blade ones, you'll need a 10amp for fuse 15. Also, sounds like the cold weather might have knackered your horn too (ooh err!). Dealer will most likely clean up the contacts on the steering wheel and replace the horn unit.

Hi Mimi... mimimi...

The fuses should be located under a pop off panel on the drivers side as per the Haynes manual. It certainly is on our two Fabia's anyhow. They should be standard sized blade type fuses in two different sizes, with various different ratings.

I'm sure someone here would be more than willing to hook up VAGCOM to it to see if there are any fault codes / take a quick look too. I certainly would, but I very much doubt you're in the Great Yarmouth / Norfolk area, right? :-)

Best of luck!

Thanks for the reply Mark, really appreciate it. Very grateful for the offer of the VAGCOM, but unfortunately am based in Brizzle in the SW. Have the choice between two Skoda garages down here, but went for the Honest John approved one, hoping they won't rip me off.

Am definitely opening the fuse box then (as opposed to the relay box), which is good to hear. The Skoda garage my dad spoke to said there should only be one size of blade fuse throughout? Think that's wrong based on what you said - will go and find some mini blade fuses and see if that helps.

Thanks ever so much for your help - nice to know I'm not being stupid!

Mine a similar thing with the wiper and washer stopping when the cold weather hit. It was a fuse for me that fixed it. Had a couple of issues with it when I chanded mine around though. The layout of the actual fuse box (which is next to the drivers door like you said) was backwards from what it said in the manual, and it does use a smaller version of the fuses to the standard size! Good luck getting it sorted

Mine a similar thing with the wiper and washer stopping when the cold weather hit. It was a fuse for me that fixed it. Had a couple of issues with it when I chanded mine around though. The layout of the actual fuse box (which is next to the drivers door like you said) was backwards from what it said in the manual, and it does use a smaller version of the fuses to the standard size! Good luck getting it sorted

Thanks for the reply - that's really useful! Off to buy some fuses now, and fingers crossed, this'll resolve the windscreen wiper problem!