Just as I was about to park up last night, my steering light came on for about a second, the ABS and TCS light then flashed up, it beeped at me, my steering got progressively heavier over about 3 or 4 seconds, and then I lost all power steering. Luckily I was only doing about 2 mph as I was parking up. Turning off and turning back on brought everything back to life.

I've just done a scan this morning and this is the result.

Chassis Type: 6Y - Skoda Fabia

Scan: 01,02,03,08,09,15,17,19,37,44,46,56,69

Address 01 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 038 906 019 LA

Component: 1,9l R4 EDC G000SG 5405

Coding: 00102

Shop #: WSC 13765

TMBWU46YX43922931 SKZ7Z0C2068603

No fault code found.

Address 03 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q0 907 379 H

Component: ABS/ASR 5.7 FRONT V40

Coding: 00188

Shop #: WSC 13765

No fault code found.

Address 08 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Y0 820 045

Component: Klimaanlage X0830

5 Faults Found:

01271 - Positioning Motor for Temperature Flap (V68)

30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent

01596 - Motor for Outside/Recirculated Air Flap (V154)

30-00 - Open or Short to B+

01271 - Positioning Motor for Temperature Flap (V68)

29-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent

01596 - Motor for Outside/Recirculated Air Flap (V154)

29-00 - Short to Ground

01596 - Motor for Outside/Recirculated Air Flap (V154)

28-10 - Short to B+ - Intermittent

Address 09 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q1 937 049 C

Component: 00 BN-SG. 1S33

Coding: 25738

Shop #: WSC 13765

2 Faults Found:

00896 - Trunk Lock Unit (F256)

27-10 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent

01598 - Drive Battery Voltage

07-10 - Signal to Low - Intermittent

Skipping Address 15-Airbags

Address 17 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Y0 920 970 S

Component: KOMBI+WEGFAHRSP VDO V07

Coding: 28401

Shop #: WSC 13765

TMBWU46YX43922931 SKZ7Z0C2068603

No fault code found.

Address 19 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6N0 909 901

Component: 31 GATEWAY CAN 1S33

Coding: 00014

Shop #: WSC 13765

No fault code found.

Address 44 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q0 423 156 S

Component: LenkhilfeTRW V260

Coding: 10120

Shop #: WSC 13765

2 Faults Found:

00566 - Steering Assistance Operation

27-10 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent

01288 - Terminal 30: Steering Assist

07-10 - Signal to Low - Intermittent

Address 46 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q0 959 433 E

Component: 33 Komfortgerát 0002

Coding: 00066

Shop #: WSC 13765

No fault code found.

End -------------------------------------------------------

Now I'm fairly certain that it's not the battery as its not been in a year and it's one of those massive heavy duty Bosch ones with a 5 year guarantee. I've not had any problems starting lately either and the voltage when running was 14.3v.

I seem to remember reading on here that the power steering pump can go faulty and cause too much current to be drawn?

I'm guessing replacing that would be a right pig of a job, or is this more likely to be a sensor at fault? (Hopefully)

First check that all the metal strip fuses in the lid on the top of the battery are all ok.

Then check the thin two core wire with connector running from the alternator to infront of the lower part of the rad between the rad and the engine towards the passenger side (wire is tight and breaks by connector).

Finally it could be the PAS sensor on the bottom of the steering column. Best to check this looking from drivers side thro wheel arch to rear side of steering column...find a black plasic box (small) with a wire coming out of the end (this is near the underside of the chassis rail that the brake pipe goes around...the black plastic box is the old (faulty design) version.....the newer one is a smaller gold coloured metal plate! About 10mins to undo screws (allen hex key) (two) but top one is tricky........then about 1-2hrs to undo and reroute the cable from there all across the top of the subframe, down the passenger side chassis rail (remove the screws for the wheel arch liner near the cable) and then into the power steering pump which is behind the passemger foglight (which also needs removing).....AAARRRGGGHHHHHHH .......Ive done two in the past 4 months!!!!

I'd change the negative battery lead. We have a bulletin for those fault codes and doing loads of them at the moment. Add to that the other terminal 30 faults and it looks pretty likely. Bonus is they are less than £15 for a new lead. Seen massive voltage drops across them due to corrosion etc.

It's unlikely to be a PAS sensor on a vRS, they all use the later twin sensor with separate loom.

I'd change the negative battery lead. We have a bulletin for those fault codes and doing loads of them at the moment. Add to that the other terminal 30 faults and it looks pretty likely. Bonus is they are less than £15 for a new lead. Seen massive voltage drops across them due to corrosion etc.

It's unlikely to be a PAS sensor on a vRS, they all use the later twin sensor with separate loom.

Ahh that doesn't sound too bad then

Is there anything obvious to check visually to see if it is that before I go replacing parts?

Nah, just bang a modded lead on

Great stuff, I'll get one ordered on Monday.

Don't suppose you have the part no handy? Explained the situation to the parts guy at Horton's and he said it was £60 odd :(

Incase anyone comes across this thread in the future - the part number is 6Q0 971 235B for which Horton's charged me the princely sum of £24.29

£25 for a 6-9" earth lead? I've bought a generic one from GSF but don't like how the nut is on the side of the battery terminal rather than the top. Thinking of getting the real deal but £25 is a little cheeky!