Fabia 1.9tdi Elegance: For over a year now the orange 'skidding car' symbol comes on after 6.8 miles (I've checked this distance many times). The antilock braking still works just fine and the little symbol flashes when the system operates - as happened quite a bit last winter in the snow. The symbol extinguishes each time the engine is turned off but always comes back on after the same distance. Is this a common problem - is it a problem - is there anything I can do aboout it?

Check all tyres are the same profile. After that, code scan, as it's likely to be an ABS sensor faulty.

Skidding symbol is traction control/ASR I believe. Do you have a button in the dashboard with ASR written on it? As pressing this should active/deactive the system and the light (if it's working properly).

Regards fixing it, without lots of trial and error the easiest thing to do is get it scanned for fault codes, as these can often point to/narrow down the problem without spending money in all the wrong areas.

Does the ABS still work properly? I beleive the same ABS sensors are used for the ASR system, so if both are dead, then it could point to a bad sensor.

Skidding symbol is traction control/ASR I believe. Do you have a button in the dashboard with ASR written on it? As pressing this should active/deactive the system and the light (if it's working properly).

Regards fixing it, without lots of trial and error the easiest thing to do is get it scanned for fault codes, as these can often point to/narrow down the problem without spending money in all the wrong areas.

Does the ABS still work properly? I beleive the same ABS sensors are used for the ASR system, so if both are dead, then it could point to a bad sensor.

Thanks for the thoughts - the system does work really well. ASR switch ........ I've had a look and it does have a big ASR button. Pressing it switches the 'skidding car' on. What does this mean ..... the ASR sensor is at fault?

I'll try driving tomorrow with the button pressed and see what that does.

Edited 17 May, 201115 yr by davidt5120

Thanks for the thoughts - the system does work really well. ASR switch ........ I've had a look and it does have a big ASR button. Pressing it switches the 'skidding car' on. What does this mean ..... the ASR sensor is at fault?

I'll try driving tomorrow with the button pressed and see what that does.

Pressing the switch which illuminates the ASR symbol on the dash..turns the system OFF. The system is automatically turned on (default) when the car is started. If you have not switched the ASR OFF by pressing the switch and the symbol on the dash illuminates...then the system has been activated because of the road conditions.

Or if a component if faulty then the symbol on the dash illuminates and the system is switched OFF automatically...the ASR uses the ABS braking system sensors etc.

Pressing the switch which illuminates the ASR symbol on the dash..turns the system OFF. The system is automatically turned on (default) when the car is started. If you have not switched the ASR OFF by pressing the switch and the symbol on the dash illuminates...then the system has been activated because of the road conditions.

Or if a component if faulty then the symbol on the dash illuminates and the system is switched OFF automatically...the ASR uses the ABS braking system sensors etc.

I have now driven the car up and down the motorway and the position is this. Pressing the ASR switch puts the symbol on - driving with the light on it reaches a point (at 6.8 miles) when the ASR button no longer switches the symbol off. Simply driving the car the symbol comes on at 6.8 miles and the ASR button makes no difference. The road condition have been dry. Is there a sensor - or a number of sensors that need to be looked at? Would a fault code test identify what needs to be looked at?

Fault code scan of the ABS system is required....the ASR system is part of the ABS system so uses the same ABS sensors (one on each wheel) and the same control unit which is part of the ABS solenoid/pump block!!

I'm putting it in to the local garage next Tuesday - will the code fault identify which sensor is at fault?

Then all I need to do is fix the leaking seal on the back doors to keep my footwells dry!!

I'm putting it in to the local garage next Tuesday - will the code fault identify which sensor is at fault?

A full proper scan of the ABS unit will reveal all......yes it will say if a sensor is faulty.....eg intermitent signal to sensor front drivers side...sort of thing....trouble is it just points them in the direction.....if they're idiots then no hope!!! Mind you I had a local ABS specialist (so called...with dealer spec equipment) who couldn't find a fault...and charged me £400........went to Skoda Dealer 1/2hr later and £50 later they found the fault.....one ABS reluctor ring was "skipping" (had a dead area) badly and the other was starting to play up.....trouble is the reluctor ring is part of the hub/wheel bearing unit.......so two new front wheel bearings....18months after the last set.....AAARRRGGGHHHHHH....