Hi all,Have the same problem with my fabia mk1.Inspection flashes,but i cant reset.Have tried all the suggestions here,but no matter what i do it still just flashes "inspection" on and off.Turning knob to the right also does nothing!Anyone got any other ideas?

Can you successfully zero the trip meter and set the time on the digital clock?  (Wondering if the button is correctly operating its switches on the PCB)

Can you successfully zero the trip meter and set the time on the digital clock?  (Wondering if the button is correctly operating its switches on the PCB)

I can reset the clock,but can,t zero the trip.If i fiddle long enough,the inspection sign goes off and is replaced by the trip mileage.However,when i turn the ignition off and then back on again the inspection sign just returns!

I can't quite remember the switch arrangement now, but that sounds like why you're struggling.  I'll try to remember to have a look at a spare set of clocks at home later on.  There's at least two, possibly three teeny switches that get activated when you twist or push that plastic peg.  Need to have another look to remind myself how the push turns into an electrical switching; sounds like yours isn't.

I cant reset mine either

I'll be servicing mine next week anyway so will just have to use diagnostics to reset mine...

Here's how it seems to work.  First the twisty, clicky, time-setting action.  The peg that you twist has a leg that sticks out sideways a bit at the bottom, and passes through the PCB and rotates to hit one or other of a pair of little click switches:

 

 

 

 

The push-in, trip zeroing action depends on two pairs of coated pads on the PCB being contacted by a coated ring on the rubber gaiter at the bottom of the peg. Apologies for the blurry photo of the peg.  So each of the 'A' pads are linked together by tracks on the board, as are both of the 'B' pads, so to get a push registered by the micro, an A pad has to be linked to a B pad by the conductive bit (inside the red ring) of the peg's gaiter.  You can see on this one how some of the conductive ring has come away.

 

 

 

 

Not sure quite what to suggest for repair, ideally you'd clean the black pads on the PCB with some isopropanol and replace the peg with one off a less-used set of clocks.  I've got some 'spray on carbon' at work that I could have a play with, but I have my doubts it would stick to flexible rubber very well?

Edited 22 October, 20187 yr by Wino
pic fix

^ Interesting stuff, Wino!

On looking closer (microscope!) at the little grey rubber gaiter at the bottom of the peg, the conductive-coated ring looks completely intact.  So I think it must just be a dirt issue that stops these working when pressed in, which a clean of PCB surface and this bit ought to resolve. Easier to photograph (and clean) when removed from the peg:

 

 

Edited 22 October, 20187 yr by Wino
pic fix

On looking closer (microscope!) at the little grey rubber gaiter at the bottom of the peg, the conductive-coated ring looks completely intact.  So I think it must just be a dirt issue that stops these working when pressed in, which a clean of PCB surface and this bit ought to resolve. Easier to photograph (and clean) when removed from the peg:

 

Wino, I always find your posts fascinating, mate. You go to a whole new level on geek when it comes to electrical diagnoses lol (I mean that in a positive way)

 

As an aside, DRG's method works well to reset the display.

Cheers for the kind words.

 

My latest mission is to understand how VAG oil level sensors work. I bought a cheap one off ebay just so I could tear it down and try to figure out how it works.  Progress is slow so far.  

 

I'll upload some photos off my phone and start a thread about it somewhere, maybe someone knows the technology involved.

 

Cheers for the kind words.

 

My latest mission is to understand how VAG oil level sensors work. I bought a cheap one off ebay just so I could tear it down and try to figure out how it works.  Progress is slow so far.  

 

I'll upload some photos off my phone and start a thread about it somewhere, maybe someone knows the technology involved.

Some kind of float perhaps in the sump and a switch? Just a guess mind you.

With apologies to the OP for utmost irrelevance,

 

The innards (under a plastic cover with some in and out holes at top and bottom) look like this:

 

^ That's as oriented inside the sump.

The crap blurry photo doesn't really show that on each side of the circuit board there is a super-thin track, buried within the layers, in a Ziggy-zaggy pattern like this:

 

Is this not just what I used to describe years ago, ie a low oil warning unit?  Current gets passed through two areas, when the current is equal in both circuits, the oil level is okay, if the top one is in air (oil level low) the currents will not be the same as there is nothing to cool the strip?  Now if that is true, how these systems do provide varying oil level measurements in mm of oil, I just don't know!

On ‎05‎/‎09‎/‎2016 at 20:23, rum4mo said:

Is this not just what I used to describe years ago, ie a low oil warning unit?  Current gets passed through two areas, when the current is equal in both circuits, the oil level is okay, if the top one is in air (oil level low) the currents will not be the same as there is nothing to cool the strip?  Now if that is true, how these systems do provide varying oil level measurements in mm of oil, I just don't know!

The forum software rotated my second pic.

The ziggy-zaggy tracks are vertical, either side of the cut-out (indicated by the dotted lines in my diagram).

So whatever is going on, is going on the same to the left and right halves of the sensor.

 

Gonna take it into work tomorrow and see what a 'scope might see at the outer pins when the thing is powered up.

 

You can see the buried tracks slightly better in this image:

 

 

Edited 22 October, 20187 yr by Wino
pic fix

Well that really stuffed my idea in the bin, I'll keep quiet now and wait for your research to be completed!

No need to keep quiet, every input welcome on this one!

Do it with the hazard warning lights turned on to reset insp.

 

Strange but true.

On 29/06/2016 at 12:45, jacanted said:

Hi all,Have the same problem with my fabia mk1.Inspection flashes,but i cant reset.Have tried all the suggestions here,but no matter what i do it still just flashes "inspection" on and off.Turning knob to the right also does nothing!Anyone got any other ideas?

I've just reset the INSP and spanner and audible warning using what seems to be the standard procedure - except my reset button doesn't turn at all, in either direction. There is also still a little number 1 showing, which I believe represents an oil service. Wondering why. Should I just go through the process again? Am I able to, considering there's now no warning showing except the little number 1? TIA :-)

 The 1 refers to the data memory displayed see below

 

https://carmanuals2.com/get/skoda-fabia-2004-owner-s-manual-37336

 

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights

 

Single-trip memory (memory 1)

 

The single-trip memory collates the driving information from the moment the ignition is switched on until it is switched off. New data will also flow into the calculation of the current driving information if the trip is continued within 2 hours after switching off the ignition. The memory will be is automatically erased, on the other hand, if the trip is interrupted for more than 2 hours.

 

Total-trip memory (memory 2)

 

The total distance driven memory gathers data from any number of 
indvidual journeys up to a total of 100 hours driving or 10 000 kilometres driven. The memory is deleted when either of these limits is reached and the calculation starts from anew. The memory will not, contrary to the system for the individual trip counter, be deleted after a period of interruption of driving of 2 hours.

Note
All information in the memory is erased if the battery of the vehicle is 
disconnected.

 

Using the system
The rocker switch and the button are located in the grip of 
the window wiper lever ⇒ fig. 7.
Selecting the memory
– Repeated short-term pressing of the button allows one to select the various memories.
Selecting the functions
– Press the rocker switch up or down. This will cause the individual functions of the multi-functional indicator to appear in the display one after the other.
Setting function to zero
– Select the memory you want.
– Press button for more than 1 second.

 

Edited 22 October, 20187 yr by xman

16 minutes ago, xman said:

Button does not turn on a mk 1

Do you mean Mk2?

 

Don't confuse me..  .....its too early...

 

Come to think about it, it probably turns on both, the manuals are available for anyone to check.

 

 

 

Edited 22 October, 20187 yr by xman

All this faff and confusion.

 

I just use VCDS lol

This is driving me mad too, 07 fabia mk2, tried all the suggestions here and all it does is change the minutes on the clock! Can I not service my own car without having to bring it to garage  for reset? !!agghh

1 minute ago, jbee52 said:

This is driving me mad too, 07 fabia mk2, tried all the suggestions here and all it does is change the minutes on the clock! Can I not service my own car without having to bring it to garage  for reset? !!agghh

Try the Mk2 forum.  

Cheers, ,, newbie!!

4 minutes ago, jbee52 said:

Cheers, ,, newbie!!

No worries