Spooky tail gate on my MK1 Fabia vRS

[BruceWayne]

Ok, what I'm about to say will probably sound nuts to most of you. But I must share this because it is really starting to mess with my mind

So your Fabia car boot is meant to pop open when you press and hold the middle button on your key fob, right? WRONG!

Ok, so it should open when you press the button on the tail gate then, right? WRONG AGAIN!!

Ever since I bought this car this has been the one thing that has bugged me the most. Whenever I try to open the boot it just does not respond. It makes a noise, like its trying to open, but nothing happens. And because mine was fitted with a stupid after-market car alarm which beeps ridiculously loud every time you try and open the boot, I end up standing there with a beeping fu**ing car in the middle of the street looking like a complete ******

So here's the kicker, when I drive my car for a little while and then stop and go to open the boot, it tends to open. Not first time everytime mind you, but after a couple of goes it finally decides to open. Or I try it with the key fob first, no joy, so I next try the latch on the tail gate and that usually does it.

And here's the icing on this ****ty cake. I have given my car to a mechanic friend of mine to see if he can solve the problem. And everytime he gives it back saying that whenever he tries to open it, IT ALWAYS OPENS FIRST TIME......aaaaaarrrrrggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

So I say ok, I'm gonna prove it to him. On numerous occasions I take the car to him to show him what I mean. But then when I go to open the boot, guess what? Yep, the ****** thing opens fine.

In all seriousness tho. I needed to get this of my chest coz it is really getting to me now. So much so that, I have seriously considered getting rid of my wee baby just because of this problem. I'm hoping someone can relate? or offer some advice.

Right, I'm off to gorge on painkillers and whiskey. :zzz:

[Big deano]

annnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddddd breath hahahaha

[simmo3187]

Have you had any issues with the fuse for the interior lights?

Mine did this and goosed the boot lock too until I changed the fuse mate?

Other than that the boot lock mechanism tends to be a common issue on these fabia's :(

[BruceWayne]

Have you had any issues with the fuse for the interior lights?

Mine did this and goosed the boot lock too until I changed the fuse mate?

Other than that the boot lock mechanism tends to be a common issue on these fabia's :(

No issues with the interior lights. However, my speedo console lights tend to flicker quite a bit. And also my head lights tend to dim slightly when I am at very low speeds, for example when I am parking the car or just about to pull away from a parked position.

My mechanic friend advised this could be to do with the alternator/power steering pump/a/c pump. Gonna get them tested on the weekend.

So is there a fuse specifically for the boot opening mechanism?

[simmo3187]

I'm not too sure

I just noticed mine stopped working when my interior boot light kept blowing fuses!

[Jamie24_vrs]

There is a thread posted somewhere on here already about the boot catch being common, type it in the search box and hopefully you will find it

[BruceWayne]

There is a thread posted somewhere on here already about the boot catch being common, type it in the search box and hopefully you will find it

Cheers matey. Had a search of this forum. Will try some of the proposed solutions on offer, but I'm not overly confident. Wish me luck!

[bowen]

The beeping maybe coded in with vcds you can code it out.

[vRSAnt]

Seriously not worth getting upset over lol

Mine has been hesitant on occasion, maybe similar fault. Just be patience leave it a sec and try again is what I do.

Also hold the handle in for a few seconds too, usually gets it. Obviously could be a similar fault there but I use my car to drive and don't worry about accessing the boot so often.

Always seems to work when we've been shopping etc. Maybe its related to voltage levels or a faulty resistor somewhere, is all I can think, given the unpredictable nature. I think it would tend to be from cold that it tends to be a bit of a pain, would you agree with that ?

[Craig A Rodway]

However, my speedo console lights tend to flicker quite a bit. And also my head lights tend to dim slightly when I am at very low speeds, for example when I am parking the car or just about to pull away from a parked position.

There are quite a few posts on here that suggest one cause of these symptoms is a slightly lower-than-average battery voltage. The power steering is electro-hydraulic and draws a lot of current from the battery when steering.

[BruceWayne]

Seriously not worth getting upset over lol

Mine has been hesitant on occasion, maybe similar fault. Just be patience leave it a sec and try again is what I do.

Also hold the handle in for a few seconds too, usually gets it. Obviously could be a similar fault there but I use my car to drive and don't worry about accessing the boot so often.

Always seems to work when we've been shopping etc. Maybe its related to voltage levels or a faulty resistor somewhere, is all I can think, given the unpredictable nature. I think it would tend to be from cold that it tends to be a bit of a pain, would you agree with that ?

Yep, definitely agree. I don't even bother trying the boot from cold, because it never works. Yeah I wouldn't mind trying again and again, its the sound of the bloody alarm beeping that does my head in. It gives out 2 high pitched beeps every time I press the middle button on the fob. Glad I'm not the only one suffering with this!

Edited 8 February, 2013 by BruceWayne

[BruceWayne]

There are quite a few posts on here that suggest one cause of these symptoms is a slightly lower-than-average battery voltage. The power steering is electro-hydraulic and draws a lot of current from the battery when steering.

What would be a solution to this? possibly a new battery?

[BruceWayne]

The beeping maybe coded in with vcds you can code it out.

Thanks for your advice, unfortunately I'm know nothing about car alarms. What is the vcds? and how would I go about coding it out?

My first thought would be to take it to a specialist who deals with car alarms...

[JakeSVRS]

Mine does this too. At the times when i most need my boot!!

Drives me up the wall!!!

[martinch]

My battery failed recently, and the days leading up to it, the boot would lock itself when I got out of the car (the rest of the car was still unlocked), needing me to unlock the car via central locking to get in the boot (my remote only has 2 buttons). I don't know if that's in any way related ...

What is the vcds?

VCDS is RossTech's diagnostic software: http://www.ross-tech...ain_screen.html

Edited 8 February, 2013 by martinch

[bowen]

Thanks for your advice, unfortunately I'm know nothing about car alarms. What is the vcds? and how would I go about coding it out?

My first thought would be to take it to a specialist who deals with car alarms...

Hi Bruce.

If it is the standard alarm beep which may have been switched on by a previous owner, it can be coded out by VCDS. In very simple terms Vcds is a software programme which you can plug in to the car and read fault codes and other hidden features etc it use to be called vagcom. If you want it turned off, (like I did) start a thread in your local section asking if someone with vagcom local could do you a favour and switch the alarm beep off. If you search the fabia section for alarm beep it gives instructions on how to turn it off.

Hope this helps.

[lostsoul82]

Hey everyone,

Just thought I'd dive in and second the 'below average voltage' thing.

My Fabia started leaving the rear passenger door locked when opening it after not being used for a few day, but start it and the door opened fine. I was about to tear the doorcard off and swap out the lock, but somebody on another forum (think it was TDI owners) said to check the battery.

When I did it was at 11.9 volts, but was still cranking the engine just fine!

Got another battery and its been ok since. May be worth a shot.

[BruceWayne]

Hi Bruce.

If it is the standard alarm beep which may have been switched on by a previous owner, it can be coded out by VCDS. In very simple terms Vcds is a software programme which you can plug in to the car and read fault codes and other hidden features etc it use to be called vagcom. If you want it turned off, (like I did) start a thread in your local section asking if someone with vagcom local could do you a favour and switch the alarm beep off. If you search the fabia section for alarm beep it gives instructions on how to turn it off.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Bowen. The only thing is that I'm not sure if it is a stock alarm or an after market one. Would that make a difference in coding out the beeping?

I'll have a search on some other threads to see how others might have solved this.

[bowen]

If its an aftermarket alarm there maybe some signs of odd looking wiring under the bonnet. My money is on it being the standard alarm beep on. Hope you get it sorted, the alarm beeping is the worst sound ever.

[BruceWayne]

If its an aftermarket alarm there maybe some signs of odd looking wiring under the bonnet. My money is on it being the standard alarm beep on. Hope you get it sorted, the alarm beeping is the worst sound ever.

My mechanic friend seems convinced its an after market alarm fitted, which would mean I'm stuck with the noise. I think I will put up a post to see if someone with a VAGCOM can help me confirm one way or the other...

[bowen]

Good luck Mr Wayne

[Rob.]

Sorry for such a bump.. but thought I would add my thoughts.. They're a bit blunt though..... Get the aftermarket alarm removed. Nothing but a ball ache when they go wrong. And, if the boot issue IS a sign of it going wrong then you can only hope to expect more issues as it gets worse.

Remember Hammond's 3 series convertible on TG a couple seasons ago?.. My Dad had the exact same experience on a Merc.. Slowly, but surely, the alarm crippled the car until one day it just refused to start... Was impressive when it DID work.. A pillarless couple remotely dropping all it's windows and opening the roof does look awesome, lol...

Eventually, we got an alarm specialist round and he was instructed to remove it all.... 3 full carrier bags of cables, boxes, sirens, batteries.. Tell ya what though, the car never missed a beat after that...

And besides, the Fabia's got a decent security system fitted as standard..