I recently started a topic on PAS and other issues on my Fabia, to cut a long story short I ended up replacing the regulator on the Alternator and I hastily posted that the issue had been resolved. Well all was good for about 2 weeks then the issues returned, more so with the damp and colder weather.

 

I subsequently have since swapped out the Alternator, replacing the 90Amp Bosch unit with a 120Amp Bosch unit, I also replaced the VAG 66Ah battery with a 77Ah Bosch S5.

 

To summarise, these are the issues I now encounter with the car and it is seriously driving me nuts (the car is an early 2007 MK1, and I haven't even had it a year yet :( )

 

1) PAS failure (more of a rare occurance to be honest but does happen) Ignition off and the on - clears the fault

2) Reversing lights dim when using the PAS

3) ABS, EPS, Handbrake light on at the same time, drive through it and it clears.

4) Flickering Headlights, even when driving in a straight line (motorway)

5) Flickering/dipping lights when indicating / braking

6) Flickering lights when switching on the wipers

7) Headlights dip when heater switched on and every time you up the fan speed

8) Flickering Instrument Cluster lights

9) Flickering Radio light

10) Car unlocks itself (drivers side) when left for more than an hour, no courtesy light when opening the door, ignition on, all springs back to life

11) As per the above and sometimes the Alarm arms itself and goes off with no visible indicator as to the fact that it is my car (indicators for example) as soon as you open the door, will not accept a signal from the key fob, frantic turns of the ignition key will eventually bring things back to life allowing you to lock and unlock the car and disable it.

12) Instrument cluster resets itself frequently to 0

 

And the real beauty - when the car is OFF the courtesy light flickers!

 

Now call me cynical but I smell a bad earth somewhere???? I have checked the Battery sensing cable from the battery negative to the ECU and this seems to be ok. The reason I checked this was that my VAG-COM reader detected an implausable signal from the battery, I then put this down to the time the regulator was faulty on the original Alternator and not charging properly.

 

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

it may be a bad earth, or it could very well be haunted ?

Time to call in Yvette Fielding maybe??

My vote goes to a bad earth somewhere too. Might be corrosion inside the connector on the battery or earthing straps if you've got any on the furby?

ground

check your battery leads and the earth point behind the battery as first point of call, think the other main earth is behind the trim in the passenger front wheel arch.

Nothing to do with the angle sensor for the power steering?  A lot of the symptoms above I get when my sensor gets a bit damp (still not sure how water gets in there) and I need to remove it, dry it off, dry out the housing, then refit.

Dash light and radio light mine used to flicker but on the right hand side there a small illumination adjuster switch . I turned it up to max and my dash ligjts stay solid green now

Nothing to do with the angle sensor for the power steering?  A lot of the symptoms above I get when my sensor gets a bit damp (still not sure how water gets in there) and I need to remove it, dry it off, dry out the housing, then refit.

Don't think it will be the Angle Sensor, as mine is a 2007 (BLT) I think  they changed the sensor to the metal type as standard on these (correct me if I am wrong, I may have to check)?

 

Dash light and radio light mine used to flicker but on the right hand side there a small illumination adjuster switch . I turned it up to max and my dash ligjts stay solid green now

Thanks, but I think there are far too many other issues that all seem to relate to something more sinister.

I popped into Skoda on the way to work this morning, left the haunted vehicle at home and borrowed a Bora. I requested an earth strap from the battery to the earthing point on the car (its about 9" - 12" long) and the guy ummed and ahhhd, he spun the screen round and can you believe it, no strap! We saw the one listed for the ASZ but no BLT!

 

Looks like a trip to Halfords on the way home (eek)!

 

 

check your battery leads and the earth point behind the battery as first point of call, think the other main earth is behind the trim in the passenger front wheel arch.

 

I have decided I am going to start here first, from the battery out, and then check the other earthing points/cables for resistance but I need to have a good ground in the first place. Thanks Chris.

 

I hope I find something! I know I could take it to Skoda but I loathe any head or ball scratching stating, it could be that (a grand), oh perhaps its that (another grand) etc. At least if I have tried myself I will have greater satisfaction in knowing I have at least given it a go.

 

I will keep you posted.

Edited 29 November, 201312 yr by Dazza1

Have you checked the plug for the alternator load sensor? Remove the undertray, it's near the lower radiator tap. They like to snap/corrode all the time.

I'm certain there should be the battery earth to chassis cable available for your engine, Skoda Tech department frequently recommened changing it on old style Fabias with electrical faults.

As above the blue load wire from the alternator where the plug is clipped onto the front of the gearbox.  If the battery is old, it might need changing as the PAS takes a lot out of it, 60 amps at a time going through it.

Alternator load wire, Left front, just behind bumper, connector is mounted on some kind of bracket. It pulls the load wire so tight that it just snaps when it corrodes. I fixed mine by stripping out the connector, stripping back the wire at each end to get to some fresh copper. I then soldered in a fresh piece a lot longer, and cable tied it along the rad hose to keep it out the way. Hope this helps!