I have a 2001 Fabia 1.9SDI estate. For at least a year or so the power steering has occasionally stopped working (usually when I’m just about to steer into a tight parking space!) but restarting the engine sorted it. It has now failed completely. Also, for a long time before it completely failed, the headlights and dashboard lights flickered a lot. Since the PAS failed completely I don’t think that this has happened nearly as much so I don’t know whether the the pump was drawing too much current when it was going.

The first local mechanic I took it to said it was the pump because he'd apprently taken the cover off where the pump was and water had 'poured out'. As far as I know he did no further diags. Didn't go back there.

I took it to another guy who's VAG scanner pointed at the steering angle sensor. This was replaced but it hasn't fixed it. He thought that it might need the system to be reset so that it recognises the new sensor. He recommended that I take it to a dealer to plug it into their what's-wrong-with-this-car machine and here's what it said on the subject:

Vehicle Electrical System Control Module

6Q1937049

BORDNETZ-SG. 1S30

Coding 9362

Dealer number 13765

------------

2 Event(s) detected

00778 049

Steering angle sender -G85

no communication

Fault number: number: 01324

49

0

Diagnostic interface for data BUS -Gateway

6N0909901

Gateway KCAN 1S30

Coding 12

Dealer number 13765

------------

2 Event(s) detected

00778 049

Steering angle sensor

no communication

01324 049

Synchro drive

No communication

Electric power steering

6Q0423156E

Lenkhilfe 0001

Coding 110

Dealer number 00000

------------

1 Event(s) detected

00566 027

Steering assistance operation

implausible signal

Sporadic fault

The dealership guy said that he thought it was most likely to be the pump, as the sensor had been replaced, and because the pump was not drawing current even when the steering wheel was being turned. He said that resetting the system would not make a difference - a new sensor should work straight away. His advice was to make sure that there's power to the pump and check that it's earthed, then replace it if these two things check OK. He said that comms problems are difficult to diagnose. Great!

The second guy is not sure about that and wonders if the replaced sensor may actually be faulty. The battery has tested OK.

From these forums I've been reading of hairline cracks in battery fuses - could this cause complete PAS failure? Also of different flavours of sensor - how do I know if the one I have is the right sort? If it is a comms issue would replacing the pump - and therefore the ECU - fix it?

I was just wondering, from the diagnostic results and what's been done so far, what people's opinions were on what might be going on. I don't want to shell out for a pump if it's not going to fix things.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Elementary question, but are you 100% positive it's not the battery?

Try one off another vehicle before investigating/replacing anything else.

DB.

Agreed.

If the battery cannot provide the current/voltage required then the pump will just "trip" out and not work.

Did they do anything after the new sensor was fitted? I believe that it has to be recoded or the system reset through diagnostics. Could be wrong on that one though.

Phil

Thanks, I'll get the battery rechecked.

The Skoda dealership said that that the system would not need to be reset - simply fitting a working sensor should be all that was required.

Battery's good.

probably the pump then mate.

mine went 3 days after i bought mine :(

it was 6yr old with 59k on the clock.

sorry

How did you check the battery?

SN

It is a simple system, I have already explained a lot of its operation and how to diagnose faults in the PAS sticky.

Battery was tested with a multimeter. Voltage was, I think, about 14.2V.

I've spoken to a few mechanics today about this and am getting a lot of different advice so I've got a few questions to try and get some consensus of opinion...

As I said, the battery voltage seems OK but could that just be because the PAS system has shut down and it's not even trying to draw any power?

If it is actually the battery that has prompted the PAS to shut down would that still trigger all the above fault codes?

Would the system still need to be reset after a battery change? Is that just a case of clearing the fault codes with a basic VAG scanner or would it have to be done by a dealer?

If it's an earthing problem is it just a case of strapping a big cable between the pump and the chassis to make sure that it's properly earthed?

Thanks.

Battery wise the tester should give you a battery health of its actual charge in a % and a failure code etc if faulty. Just a multimeter with only give voltage and not internally analyse underlying faults.

I have a very similar fault and shall begin diagnosing mine soon as its getting slowly worse mainly when a/c is on. Which in my eyes points towards weak battery not providing enough power or alternator possibly. Well i shall check these first.

Did they use a battery analyser on the car? Or just a multimeter?

I've spoken to a few mechanics today about this and am getting a lot of different advice so I've got a few questions to try and get some consensus of opinion...

As I said, the battery voltage seems OK but could that just be because the PAS system has shut down and it's not even trying to draw any power?

If it is actually the battery that has prompted the PAS to shut down would that still trigger all the above fault codes?

Would the system still need to be reset after a battery change? Is that just a case of clearing the fault codes with a basic VAG scanner or would it have to be done by a dealer?

If it's an earthing problem is it just a case of strapping a big cable between the pump and the chassis to make sure that it's properly earthed?

Thanks.

Have you read the diagnosis thread on PAS faults?

Have you read the diagnosis thread on PAS faults?

Yes,if you mean this one, and it's great. However, it doesn't appear to answer the questions in my last post (apart from the last question about earthing). If I've missed something, I apologise

@Olly87 - I don't know if anyone's used a battery analyser or not.

I've been told several different things by several different mechanics (including 2 dealers) and am just trying to arm myself with as much information as possible before I start chucking more money at it, so if anyone can answer I'd be most grateful, thanks.

Most importantly...

If it is actually the battery that has prompted the PAS to shut down would that still trigger all the above fault codes?

Would the system still need to be reset after a battery change? Is that just a case of clearing the fault codes with a basic VAG scanner or would it have to be done by a dealer?

Thanks.

Edited 25 July, 201213 yr by Ewan

What I'm trying to get across is you seem to be or allowing guess work on the car, could it be this? Could it be that? It could be many things but until some actual diagnosis work rather than guess work is done who knows.

If the pump had a faulty earth, then the earth should be repaired etc.

Even with a fault code though without some diagnosis it's fairly meaningless. Is there a live at the pump? Is there an earth? Are the can wires to dash ok? What are readings in measured block values with regards to the sensor? If the ecu reading the pas is working? Is the battery earth ok?

There aren't many things it can be that are wrong, but there's little point in throwing bits at it.

What I'm trying to get across is you seem to be or allowing guess work on the car, could it be this? Could it be that? It could be many things but until some actual diagnosis work rather than guess work is done who knows.

It's had four garages worth of diagnosis/guesswork! I certainly don't know which 'this' or 'that' it could be - I'm just trying to get an understanding of the situation and be better informed for when I'm dealing with the professionals. I go to one dealership and he says 'it's the pump' and I go to another and he says 'it's your battery'; for all I know it could be both! One reason I was asking questions is because if a dodgy battery wouldn't cause the ECU to start generating all these error codes then I know that it's not going to be (or not only going to be) the battery.

I was asking about resetting the system because I've been told different things by different Skoda mechanics! Again, I'm just trying to get a consensus of opinion.

Is there a live at the pump? Is there an earth? Is the battery earth ok?

It's going back to a local mechanic next week (and so far I've got a lot more faith in him than in the dealerships) - these are things I've asked him to check, as well as trying a known good battery.

Are the can wires to dash ok? What are readings in measured block values with regards to the sensor? If the ecu reading the pas is working?

Can you please explain these a little more?

there's little point in throwing bits at it.

My sentiments exactly!! I've already been told by one Skoda mechanic to buy a new pump and by another to get a new battery. If we can fix it by sticking on a new earth cable I'll be properly chuffed!

Any help anyone here can give is greatly appreciated - I just want to be able to be able to park without risking a dislocated shoulder! I had to do about a 7 point turn in a space 2 feet bigger than the length of the car the other day - not something I'd like to repeat in a hurry

Just bumping - if anyone has any answers it would greatly help me along the road to enlightenment.

yes bump from me too, my vag com wont comunicate with pas ecu at all ! good battery, airbag ecu is coming up faulty too could they be linked?

when i got the car a wiring plug had been disconected from pas pump, when i reconected it the abs light and various other light on cluster flickered on and off. i suspect pump failure.

yes bump from me too, my vag com wont comunicate with pas ecu at all ! good battery, airbag ecu is coming up faulty too could they be linked?

when i got the car a wiring plug had been disconected from pas pump, when i reconected it the abs light and various other light on cluster flickered on and off. i suspect pump failure.

Have you got the full fat VCDS or VCDS lite and a fleabay cable?

no ive got carport and autel scanner, tried vcds lite too, just replaced pas pump and voila now have power steering and no light. just got airbag light which imediately comes back on when i clear the fault code, scan says possible airbag ecu defective. can i reset it somehow ?

If the airbag ECU is defective it needs to be replaced.