Hi, i have my car, fabia combi 1,4 100 hp, since Octuber, i drive it somedays, then a went out of country, and who stay wit car was my girlfriend...

She notice that sometimes the car stay without steering, and after that when she stop driving and turn off the car, the car dont turn on....a guy came to help with the baterie and the car was ok.

This thing happens maybe 2 or 3 times.

Then i back to Portugal, and happend the same but worst, after stay without steering, the ars abs light in the panel were on, then the hand brake blinking and whistle 3 times, and after that the car shut down..and dont turn on again.

I went to skoda service and they say that can be bateri down, the level of baterie is a bit low, or the alternator regulator, and if i change the batterie and the problem is fix, its because it is the batterie.

So i change batterie, and after 15 days with the new batterie the problem happend again..i think i am going to change the alternator regulator.

But i am looking for some help from you gyus, to know if anyone know this problem, or if anyone had this problem befor, and how was fixed.

a photo to show the panel..,with car on

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Sorry for any word that you may not understand...my english could be better..

Thank you

Dunga

Edited 16 December, 201015 yr by dunganr

Take a look here:

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=en&tl=pt&u=http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/183364-battery-going-flat-at-idle/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhhhj7Yhvii1qRIZpRMSEplZsnwlXg

I am not sure if is this problem, but could be, in the service they just have available date for next Wednesday, so i will try to find if the problem is in wires.

The thing is that this problem happens while i am driving, and more strange is that when i buy the new batterie nothing happens during 15 days....

I think it's quite likely, actually. If the battery is new and fully-charged, it might take that long to discharge through normal use if the alternator isn't keeping it topped-up.

But you think this problem can cause the loss off steering, turn on the ars airbar and motor and hand brake lights??? Or it could be the regulator of alternator?? as i understand in the link that you post, its the wires that are not well isolated???

Dunga

Remember the power steering and abs pumps are powered by electric motors, not the engine so if the car thinks there is not enough electricity in the battery then it will turn these off and turn on the warning lamps to tell you there is a problem and to save the electricity in the battery as much as possible. It does sound like the alternator is not putting enough electricity into the battery to stop it going flat. A mechanic should easily be able to tell by putting a voltmeter across the battery terminals with the car running. If it says 14 volts or more, the alternator is working OK. If not then that is probably your problem.

Ian

when i went to the skoda service, they connect the car to the vag com, i think, i test the battery and alternator, the level of the battery is a little above the middle, and the alternator is like 13.4 v, it should be at least 14v i think, i should make the test again after put the new battery, but, as they said that if with a new battery the problem is solved i dont go there, unfortunately...

But they cant tell me if is in alternator, if the problem is in the regulator or in the alternator itself.

Dunga

Get your garage to look at that exact thing before they charge you for any more diagnostics.

hi, the problem is fixed, was the installation of the alternator that was not well done, so, they just have to use 2 new wires and correct the installation, and the problem is solved, i spend before went to the garage, 100 euros in a new battery without need it...

Dunga

was it the two load sense wires?? 13.4v is ok, not ideal but will still charge. I had similar problem, but the battery under 'normal' or indeed any use will not last 15 days, with everything on (being winter here i needed it) the battery lasted 7 miles... Thats fans on full, heated mirrors/window, everything that could be on was on.... Those two wires are a common fault, surprised no one picked up on this sooner...

Merry Christmas