Hi guys/Gals

i have recently got a 2000 fabia classic, the power steering light has came on and the steering is very heavy and horrible to drive. if i switch the car off then on again the car power steering light goes off and steering goes back to PAS. ? it could be ok for a few hours but would return at some point.

i have been reading up on it for what i could fine on the search.

From what i could make out , it could be somehing to do with the battery? i thought it could be more to do with a dodgy ecu?

I would be very grateful for any advice/thoughts on this.

Thanks in Advance...

i have recently got a 2000 fabia classic, the power steering light has came on and the steering is very heavy and horrible to drive. if i switch the car off then on again the car power steering light goes off and steering goes back to PAS. ? it could be ok for a few hours but would return at some point.

i have been reading up on it for what i could fine on the search.

From what i could make out , it could be somehing to do with the battery? i thought it could be more to do with a dodgy ecu?

Welcome to this forum

Try doing a search on < fabia pas sensor > in the (Google) search box

Edited 25 December, 201015 yr by DRJ

or more likely in this weather your battery is beginning to fail, replace that and all should be fine!!

or more likely in this weather your battery is beginning to fail, replace that and all should be fine!!

I'd have thought if it was the battery it would be happening more often? And would go away if the engine was revved?

+1 for the battery in the cold weather. Had the same problem with the Wife's Mk1 a couple of years back.

I'd have thought if it was the battery it would be happening more often? And would go away if the engine was revved?

I'd think that if the battery is becoming totaly honky (??) then when carrying out low speed, ie parking manuvers (sp?) and when just started and doing same, that there is a good chance that this would happen.

Come to think about it, my 2000 B5 Passat is not too happy when getting asked to starte in -10C or so after lying idle for a few days - "new battery" time does along eventually and my car is still on its original battery.

Edited 26 December, 201015 yr by rum4mo

Thanks Guys

I'm going to replace the battery tomorrow first and see were i am from there.

Thanks Guys

I'm going to replace the battery tomorrow first and see were i am from there.

How did you get on with your steering as mine's developed the same fault :(

Cheers

Brian.

How did you get on with your steering as mine's developed the same fault :(

Cheers

Brian.

I bought a new battery for mine today and I still have no power steering, I put a volt tester across the battery and it's charging so the alternator is working.

Does this mean it's the pas sensor if the battery is new and it's getting a full charge?

Thanks

Brian.

You need to check fault codes of the PAS system to see why the light is on, thats always the first step.

I need to do that too but no-one arround here that can do that ^.^

Then get it booked in, half an hours diagnosis with someone who knows the system is money well spent rather than changing things randomly.

Then get it booked in, half an hours diagnosis with someone who knows the system is money well spent rather than changing things randomly.

I will wager it was a case of "Computer says No"

The earthing loom for the PAS needs to be replaced as a starter for ten.

Our Fabia vRS did this - it went back to the dealer eight times under warranty before someone at the dealership had the sense to call Skoda UK's Technical Help and they were told to replace the loom.

After it's first visit, I was 100% sure that it was an earth fault. They manifest themselves as faults that do not often leave codes in the ECU, and come and go as they please. Still, "Computer says no" led my Mrs R59 losing faith in the car, and now it's gone after only 9 months of ownership. A great little car, went like a bl**dy bullet, and achieved 60+ mpg on a run.

We've replaced it with a slightly younger Octavia L & K, so haven't lost faith in the brand at all.

So, my suggestion is that when it goes in - make sure that the dealer just replaces that loom - from my knowledge of vehicle electrics (it's what I do!), there are some poor crimp joints that go high resistance when they get old and internally corroded (the look fine on the outside often). Cleaning up the earth points on the chassis, etc... will improve it, but not fix it. Do you want the "Bing" (lamp on) and no PAS mid corner at many miles-per-hour? Ask yourself that question.

Turns out that other VAG models also suffer from this, not just Skoda.

As an update to this thread my Fabia is now fixed.

I replaced the power steering pump with one from a VW Polo from Stevens VW Spares which cost £70 delivered next day and a local mechanic fitted it and got the car MOT'd as it had been standing for 18 months for £130 all in.

Ive insured it for the 1st March 2013 and I'll tax it then £120 year.

Hopefully then we'll have our little runaround back.

Good luck to everyone who's struggling with this Fabia week spot.

Brian.