Hello, I am new to this forum and wondered if any of you would be kind enough to help me.

I recently bought a Skoda Fabia 2003 and I absolutely love it. Its a joy to dribe, feels great and is generally pleasant all round.

I have an on going issue though and my car dealer and his mechanic keep telling me its 'normal' and I dont believe them.

Basically, my car locks itself. All the time, but not in the way that it apparently should (from what Ive asked of one other skoda fabia owner).

Im told that of you were to approach the car, unlock it but not open the doors it will lock itself.

It does not do this.

What it does do, is instantly lock itself if the keys are on the inside of the car. Every time.

This means, I have put my bag containing my keys in the car so I have a spare hand to put my child in, the door has closed locking everything on the inside with my toddler and I on the outside. Nightmare.

The other thing that it does is, if we are stationary and sat in the car and I take the key out of the ignition it will lock itself over and over again. Every 20 seconds to be exact. If I give up and keep it locked the alarm will go off (obviously because it feels movement inside he car).

My car dealer and mechanic tell me this is totally normal for a VW system and that I need to keep the keys in ignition.

I do not believe them,

Are they right?

Should a car lock itself the second the keys are inside the car but not in the ignition?

Simply putting them in the ignition doesnt prevent it of course, you have to actually turn the car on.

Honestly, I feel like they are looking at a single female and trying to capitalise on my lack of knowledge on cars.

Please can anyone help me? IS my car supposed to do these things?

I also had EPU and another light come up recently to do with electrics. The mechanic switched them off and told me it would be fine, and to be on my way.

Great. Except Id quite like to know what the issue was and what the code number he found, meant!

Im frustrated. Any help would be very much appreciated.

That is not normal!

 

As you say only if you do not open a door within 30 seconds of unlocking should it then lock itself.

 

It is then meant to lock itself when you set off and then unlock automatically when you take the key out of the ignition.

 

Don't let them fob you off and tell them you have done some research on the internet.

 

Also what engine is it?

 

Phil

I don't have a Furbie, but VAG cars are pretty common in my company between private ones and our present pool cars, maybe 40some in all across the last 7 years. None of them behave like you describe.

My Fabia (2003) Locks itself if I unlock it but don't open the door after  30 seconds. If I unlock it and don't put the key in the ignition, and shut the door it locks itself again I think  it doesn't lock itself again.

 

Fault Code: If the mechanics can tell you the fault code, here is a list of the codes and their meaning.

That is not normal!

 

As you say only if you do not open a door within 30 seconds of unlocking should it then lock itself.

 

It is then meant to lock itself when you set off and then unlock automatically when you take the key out of the ignition.

 

Don't let them fob you off and tell them you have done some research on the internet.

 

Also what engine is it?

 

Phil

Only if you've got anti-hijack enabled. Which gives me an idea if there's someone around Brighton way with VCDS; ask if they can check whether anti-hijack is on, and if so switch it off.

As other's have said, get your car scanned by either a garage or by another member on here who lives close by and see if there is any faults showing up

Thank you. I knew they were wrong but they simply will not listen to me.

I will try and find out the code now, thank you very much for that link.

The car doesnt lock itself when we set off. Only when we stop and I take the key out of the ignition.

As for what engine it is.... Do you mean the size? Its a 1.4

I have no idea if it has anti hijacking, it certainly hasnt mentioned this in the hand book.

edited my reply, Post #4

 

Here is a list of members with VCDS (diagnostic software)

mine too. it sucks big time!

Mcmc yours does this too? Would you consider it normal, or a fault? Have you been told what causes it?

Can you use vscd lite to switch off anti hiijack?

does it do it with both keys? could possibley be a damged key fob asking the car to lock 

Its the microswitch on the drivers door!

New door lock module required!

Mines does it too but i live with it! Part is £40 and a bugger to fit

Sounds like the rear one is also faulty

As jase said, could be microswitches. My drivers rear door one has gone, so I chuck my stuff behind me and it locks itself again. Annoying

I should add, and forgive me for not putting this before Id forgotten this rather important detail, that when I took it to the garage that I trust he noticed that when I opened my drivers door the internal light doesnt come on. He thinks the two issues are connected.

Do you think it could be another symptom of the microswitch?

Also, I havent tried it with the spare key, I will do that tonight, thanks for the idea.

DP

I should add, and forgive me for not putting this before Id forgotten this rather important detail, that when I took it to the garage that I trust he noticed that when I opened my drivers door the internal light doesnt come on. He thinks the two issues are connected.

Do you think it could be another symptom of the microswitch?

Also, I havent tried it with the spare key, I will do that tonight, thanks for the idea.

Yes thats part of it

Doesnt turn on interior light as the car doesn't sense the door has been opened! Also leave your lights on and open drivers door with keys out. You wont get the buzzer that tells you you've left your lights on either

Can you use vscd lite to switch off anti hiijack?

I don't think it's possible with VCDS Lite, in fact I don't think you can do ANY coding with it.

standard radio fitted?

Right, I just went to the car and turned the lights on. And rightly so, the buzzer does not trigger when I open the door.

So I think we have the answer, thank you for your help.

Edited 1 July, 201312 yr by Sarah23fly

Yeah, spot on.

What you have to do is unlock the car

Open door

And then turn ignition on before 30s or it will re-lock itself

Its a safety feature, if its working properly its incase the owner has unlocked the car by accident, if any door isnt opened within 30's the car re-locks itself

Yea I agree I have this fault. My current work around before I replace the microswitch is to click the ignition on or keep my keys on me!

Mine does it on the passenger door too.. Locked me out several times whilst running (y) now that's not funny..

What I'm not keen on is when you unlock the car and open the boot, then after so long if you haven't touched any other doors the cars locks itself. I always make sure I know where my keys are when I shut the boot. I sometimes open and close a door to solve it.

 

I thought the 'anti-hijack' feature was when you drove over 10 mph and all the doors locked? I got very annoyed with it and had it removed by my dealer.

Edited 8 July, 201312 yr by Jim H