hi guys any ideas i didnt get an owners handbook when i got the car so i have no idea what it could be its a yellow light that looks like a steering wheel and an exclamation mark by the side of it . sometimes it comes on and stays on other times it goes off after just a couple of seconds . the car had a new battery a couple of weeks prior to me buying it and i get no problems with the car starting . strangely i did feel the steering go heavy last night when i went to pick my son up but it was there one second and gone the next cheers all

Sounds like a prob with the power steering electronics. Get someone to get the fault codes read with VCDS.

Is it the correct sized battery, is the battery being charged OK, the symptoms point to an undercharged battery, does it disappear if you switch off then back on.

DB

Common problem that is usually caused by a faulty battery. If battery is new have it checked. Do you do lots of short trips?

If you switch the ignition on (without engine running) is there a battery light on the dash?

Phil

could owners handbook be in 'secret' compartment in the bottom of the glovebox? Have several Fabias in my family and all sorts of stuff was found in these boxes!

I'm not sure if it's the same, but I get this one that comes on after about 10 mins of running, even if I'm stationary or moving.

It's the traction control (ASR) light. I've had a diagnostic check done by a local garage and they didn't find any faults, however I think it was done by a universal tool, not VAG specific (VAG-Com etc). The ASR seams to work when the light is off, but not when it's on.

I've checked and when I switch the ignition on I do see the battery light as usual, but it goes out when engine starts and don't see it again.

Any ideas?

Jim.

Check the terminal at the front bottom of the car. There are two wires that are for the load signal of the alternator. If it's exactly 10 minutes everytime then this is likely the cause. One of them is probably broken.

Phil

Also the cause of steering faults are usually:

Break in the 2 wires by gearbox

Faulty battery

Corroded earth strap to body

Hairline cracks in the fuses on top of the battery

Low fluid level

Faulty steering angle sensor

Lastly (and hopefully not) dodgy pump/control board

Start with the simple checks first.

Phil

I'm not sure if it's the same, but I get this one that comes on after about 10 mins of running, even if I'm stationary or moving.

It's the traction control (ASR) light. I've had a diagnostic check done by a local garage and they didn't find any faults, however I think it was done by a universal tool, not VAG specific (VAG-Com etc). The ASR seams to work when the light is off, but not when it's on.

I've checked and when I switch the ignition on I do see the battery light as usual, but it goes out when engine starts and don't see it again.

Any ideas?

Your alternator wire is bust.

Not difficult to fix

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/157238-asr-light-comes-on-after-10-minutes/

I'm not sure if it's the same, but I get this one that comes on after about 10 mins of running, even if I'm stationary or moving.

It's the traction control (ASR) light. I've had a diagnostic check done by a local garage and they didn't find any faults, however I think it was done by a universal tool, not VAG specific (VAG-Com etc). The ASR seams to work when the light is off, but not when it's on.

I've checked and when I switch the ignition on I do see the battery light as usual, but it goes out when engine starts and don't see it again.

Any ideas?

Broken wire/s to alternator. Easy cheap fix. Happened to mine.

Paid half hours labour to have them get it up on a ramp and replace wires

with a couple I made up myself.

Thank You.

I had done a search and found those threads, but was confused that if it's a alternate fault, what the Traction control has to do with the charging system. I would have thought the symbol like a battery would come on instead. I'm sure I read that people their battery light is not on when the ignition is turned on, which is different with me (the light is on).

I told the garage that it could be that, but either they couldn't find it or didn't look. I might have a look myself. I'm guessing the under-tray is quite easy to take off?

Sometimes the battery light still works fine depending which wire is broken.

Basically the system doesn't get enough power to run so it shuts itself off from what I understand.

Thw wires that break tell the ECU how much power the alternator is kicking out and also how much electrical load there is in case it needs to ramp up idle etc to allow the alternator to kick more power out.

Phil

Thank you. I've just re-read that SCN thread, and found someone had exactly the same problem as me, and it was as you suggested 1 not 2 wires broken.

If this is not the solution to the OP's original problem, then I apologise for hijacking his thread.