Hi all,

I've recently bought a 2001 Fabia for the missus as a little run around. The power steering light is on, so i changed the pump on some advice from the previous owner, prior to the software and cable turning up. It seemed to work but the light on the dash stayed on. After thinking that it was all sorted (apart from the light) i was fairly content, rebuilt the car, happy (ish) days. The software and cable arrived a number of days later so i went out to see if i could turn the light off. I hooked the car up and used the Ross tech software to diagnose the problem. It came back with fault code 00778 G85 sensor. This sensor, as far as i am led to believe sits behind the steering wheel. Obviously, to get this off i need to remove the steering wheel. Alarm bells have started to ring as i really dont want a face full of airbag. I know i need to disconnect the battery first before i do anything and wait 10-15 mins, my question therefore is this: has anyone removed the airbag and wheel before, and how much of a pain in the backside is it? If anyone has a guide could you put it on here/ point me in the right direction if it has already been posted on the site.

Cheers very much,

Si

G85 is only behind the steering wheel if you have ESP.

Can you post the VCDS scan. There maybe a problem with the basic setting/adaption. 00778 doesn't necessarily mean that the steering angle sensor is faulty.

I'll post the VCDS scan tomorrow, providing i finish work at a decent time (no rest for the wicked and all :think: ). Thanks for the reply's though. Hopefully get to the bottom of this soon. Is there an easy way to tell if the car is fitted with ESP? Chassis number etc.....?

Cheers

Just been out to the car and in the faults box it has the following:

3 faults found:

00778 – Steering Angle Sensor (G85)

49-00 – No Communications

01324 – Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

49-00 – Please Register/Activate

01309 – Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

49-00 – Please Register/Activate

Unfortunately the sortware wouldn't let me get a screen shot to post on here (maybe as i only have the lite version at the minute) so i copied it down word for word. I fired up the car tonight and just thought i'd chance my luck. I turned the steering wheel and it was working, even though the light was still on, on the dash. I took it to full left lock and then it stopped working and went back to its usual heavy self. Any ideas?????

I think i may have asked a stupid question ref: ESP. I assume there will be a button on the dash/centre console?

Edited 18 September, 201213 yr by siR6R

can anybody shed some more light on this? especially the bit about going to full left lock and then the power assist going and the steering becoming heavy again?

Cheers,

Si

Here are the errors you have...

00778 – Steering Angle Sensor (G85)

01324 - Control Module for all wheel drive (J492)

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

00778 and 01309 are related. My guess is that the power steering pump is faulty or the wrong part. What is the part number for the pump that is fitted?

It could also be the wiring.

01324 is a mystery and only appears on cars with Haldex, so maybe the pump came off a car with Haldex.

rwbaldwin - Cheers for getting back to me,

I bought a second hand pump from a breaker who told me that they had checked it prior to sending it to me. Obviously i supplied the breaker with all the relevant details on my car and he confirmed that it would fit. The pump fits in the original mounts no probs at all and looks identical to the pump i removed.

What is Haldex? and how do i know if this car if fitted with it?

With ref to the wiring i have 12.5 V at the main feed to the pump.

If i remove the steering angle sensor (the old style plastic one is currently fitted) is it possile to check this for continuity. Having never removed one before i do not know what i'm going to find once it comes out and therefore how to check it, if its just a plug and i only have to stick my multi meter on it then thats fine, but if there is a specific way i need to test it could you please enlighten me - Knowledge is power!!

I have removed the plastic covers from behind the steering wheel and i think i can see what i assume is the G85 sensor but i do not think the car is fitted with ESP. Am i even in the right area? and if so any idea how to get this steering wheel off without getting a face full of airbag? If not then where do i find the G85 sensor?

Last one - The J492 i presume is irrelevant as i only have front wheel drive?

Thanks very much for your time

Edited 20 September, 201213 yr by siR6R

You can't use diagnostics until you can talk to Power Steering Control Module. Double check the small plug.

The pump and module have separate power feeds and fuses. I'll check the schematics tomorrow and post again.

Thanks, much appreciated

Let's see what control units are reachable?

With VCDS can you open module ABS[3]?

If you can, then post the info displayed (part number, etc)

All those fault codes are Octavia II not Fabia.

Doesn't have a G85 unless it has ESP, doesn't have four wheel drive.

Something most odd here.

All those fault codes are Octavia II not Fabia.

Doesn't have a G85 unless it has ESP, doesn't have four wheel drive.

Something most odd here.

Very odd Indeed. Nothing seems to make sense.

Given that all the codes were 'No Communications', I was wondering if it has the wrong CAN gateway - not sure how.

I was of kind of hoping the ABS would be unreachable. If it does reply, at least I will know if it really has ESP

Can gateway is in the central electrics control unit on the Fabia

Proper weird. I've had them coded wrong before which upsets things.

Just been out to the car and the battery is completely flat. Off to the shops tomorrow to get a new one i think. Just on the off chance, would these lights/symptoms appear if the battery was slightly under charge, even though there was enough juice to get the car started???

thanks again to all for all your help so far

Yes very much so.

Hopefully, new battery will solve the problem then? The battery was that flat, my Range Rover couldn't even jump start it!!!! Will update again once the battery has been changed.

An Mpi engine never had ESP (only fitted to VRS)............also Haldex is the central clutch for the 4wd system (again never fitted to Fabia)...........if your batttery is more than 6yrs old and having problems holding charge then replace it as this causes problems with the PAS system as it draws quite abit of power.........also you mention that you have the older style of PASsensor (black plastic cap).........fit the newer gold coloured metal capped one as this also solves known problems.......but it defo looks as if either your code reader is reading stuff wrong or the PAS unit is coded wrong or of the wrong car!

Things are looking up....Charged the battery and voila, all lights have gone off. Steering is still very heavy so i presume it just needs bleeding. Many thanks to all who had some input on this topic

AAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHH, Lights are flickering on the dash, presumed the battery was knackered. Removed the battery and stuck it back on charge to make sure it wasnt down to the battery. The charger says its full and my multi meter says 13.something volts. When the battery was in the car, again the meter was put across the terminals to check that the alternator was woking and we got 14.5 volts. Also the airbag warning light has come on. What is the suggested Ah battery to put in the car, currently i have a 56Ah. Again we're getting the same fault codes as previously posted. The car as we've established doesn't have ESP, 4 wheel drive or PAS for that matter. Should i be able to do a continuity test through the angle sensor plug at the steering pump? and also, of the 3 plugs at the steering pump which pins on the left hand plug should i have voltage at or what else should i check for at this plug? If anyone can shed even more light on this car then please let me know, i am threaders!!!

With VCDS can you open module ABS[3]?

If you can, then post the info displayed (part number, etc)

I suspect the CAN gateway, but try this first so we can rule out a CAN-Bus wiring problem.

I have just tried to open module ABS[3] without any joy. All it says is that it can't connect to the controller. I have tried it with ignition off, then on and then with the car running but with the same results every time. Is it because i have VCDS-lite? I got a disk that came with my cable which has VAG-COM Release 409.1-US but when reading up on the software on the net it said that to use windows 7 i needed to use the VCDS lite. Is there anywhere i can get the full programme with out having to pay the $100 asking price? If thats what i need to pay to get all this sorted then thats what i have to do but if theres a way round it then please tell.

Thanks once again

Si

I have just tried to open module ABS[3] without any joy. All it says is that it can't connect to the controller. I have tried it with ignition off, then on and then with the car running but with the same results every time. Is it because i have VCDS-lite? I got a disk that came with my cable which has VAG-COM Release 409.1-US but when reading up on the software on the net it said that to use windows 7 i needed to use the VCDS lite. Is there anywhere i can get the full programme with out having to pay the $100 asking price? If thats what i need to pay to get all this sorted then thats what i have to do but if theres a way round it then please tell.

Thanks once again

Si

VCDS will work fine to open controllers such as the ABS controller.

If you genuinely can't reach the ABS then there may be a break in the CAN-Bus wiring.

If you can't see any controller, such as Engine [01] or Instruments [17], then the CAN gateway inside the OPSCU (aka central electrics) may be faulty.

Cannot get into Instruments [17], said "too many errors to continue"

Did get into Engine [01] and it had the following:

1 Fault Found:

18056 - Powertrain Data Bus: Failure

P1648 - 35-10- -- Intermittent

However, with the car running i have no faults

With the car runningi can get into the instruments [17] and it starts to go through its checks but then stops and comes up with "too many communication errors to continue"

Just gone through the CAN gateway and it brings up the faults from before:

00778 G85 sensor

01324 and 01309

Edited 30 September, 201213 yr by siR6R

My guess is one of the items on Drive (Powertrain) CAN-bus is taking it down. The best way to tackle this is to unplug the controllers one by one.

So start by unplugging the ABS (as this is known to take the CAN-bus down when it is faulty) and then try to reach another controller such as instruments [17].

VCDS needs the ignition to be on.

I have just read through a PDF and this is what it has said:

The steering angle sender G85

The steering angle sender is located on the

steering column between steering column switch

and steering wheel. This sensor is used on vehicle

models which are available only with the

electronic stability programme (ESP). In this case,

the power steering sensor G250 is not fitted.

Any ideas then why i am getting the 00778 – Steering Angle Sensor (G85) faults showing when this sensor is not even fitted. I have physically had my hands on the G250 sensor. Very, Very confused now??????? :wonder: