I treated the Fabia to a new battery - Exide Premium Battery 100 (72Ah) as the old battery wasn't holding its charge very well, struggling to start, lights dimming etc and all seemed to be well.

However, the last couple of day its been acting very strange. Its starts up fine, and after about a minute of driving the whole electric system seems to almost reboot itself? Lights go off for a split second, radio goes off and power steering stops working which lights up the dash warning light for it. The engine does not cut out.

Obviously its a bit hairy driving with no PAS! After switching off the engine/ignition sometimes you can start it up again and it will then be fine for a while. Other times it won't actually start the car, nothing turns over or anything, although all the dash lights light up as though its ready. At that point i've had to lock the car and unlock it which usually sets off the alarm?!? After a couple of presses on the unlock button i can get back in and start up again.

I've got a Shark STS unit which I've run diagnostics through but no DTC codes come up. I'm not sure how accurate this would be compared be a VAGCOM though.

Any idea's? Could it be the alternator or is it some crazy electrical problem?

I'd be inclined to check the connections to the battery being nice and tight, Then the connections in the top of the battery cover. There are high amperage links there.

You may well have disturbed something.

SN

Sounds like it could be the alternator just get that tested most garages can test that easy enough

Dodgy earth strap???...........................I think the one near the battery is a known failure..

I'd be inclined to check the connections to the battery being nice and tight, Then the connections in the top of the battery cover. There are high amperage links there.

You may well have disturbed something.

SN

Thanks, all seems to be done up nice and tight. On one of the 3 'Tyco' branded covers the front catch has snapped so it doesn't fasten down properly but its always been like this. My battery compartment seems to be missing the insulating jacket that the other Fabia's seem to have too..... :-(

Sounds like it could be the alternator just get that tested most garages can test that easy enough

Just picked up a multi-meter so will test the current on battery and alternator later.

Dodgy earth strap???...........................I think the one near the battery is a known failure..

Will check this later

Did you find a solution to this as I am suffering the same problem, installed new earth and new battery but still having the same problem. How do you test an alternator ?

Cheers

Craig