Hello, 

 

First time poster, so please be gentle

 

I have a 53 plate Fabia 1.4td 5 door which I have had since brand new.

 

It is due its MOT next month, and some work doing to it, but before I send it in, I wanted to seek some advice.

 

Over the last year or so, slowly but surely, various electrical parts of the car have stopped working, but nothing has stopped completely, I wondered if there were any quick fixes before I hand over large amounts of cash to the garage.

 

History.

 

Firstly the drivers side window had problems.  It would lower by using the button, but not go up again.  It would however go up if I used the key in the lock and hold it (which would make both windows close) - this is still the case.  The button for the passenger window however continues to work without problem.

 

Then the heater stopped working on setting 1, the other 3 were fine, then about 3 weeks later, setting 2 stopped working, 3 & 4 are still ok to date.

 

Then the central locking started acting up. 

 

Using the key in the drivers lock.  This locks and unlocks the drivers door, passenger door and passenger rear door and boot.

Using the key fob.  This will lock and unlock the passenger door and passenger rear door and boot.

 

The drivers side rear door now stays locked at all times, although it did used to open if I used my key in the drivers door.

 

I am very good at pulling things apart but not so good at putting them back together again, so have resisted so far, ripping the trim away to have a look, but I am thinking that this isn't something simple, like fuse related? 

 

Anyone had anything like this happen to them?

 

Any help gratefully received!

 

Cheers

 

the central locking and window issues seem to be related to the old leaking door issue, check along the bottom of the doors and the rear carpets if they're damp then that's the issue! (plenty on threads about doing the fix on here,) try searching door carriers in the skoda 1 forum or the skoda technical. they'll be pinned to the top. will take you about an hour in the dry to fix. 

 

Not sure about the heating issue, but i'm sure someone will be along shortly with better knowledge than me!   

 

These aren't issues that would effect your MOT tho, so take your time and read up on here about how to fix the issues and you'll manage fine!

Firstly the drivers side window had problems.  It would lower by using the button, but not go up again.  It would however go up if I used the key in the lock and hold it (which would make both windows close) - this is still the case.  The button for the passenger window however continues to work without problem.

 

- Doesn't sound like a problem with the mechanism itself, most likely the switch at fault here. Source and fit yourself very easy to fit.

 

Then the heater stopped working on setting 1, the other 3 were fine, then about 3 weeks later, setting 2 stopped working, 3 & 4 are still ok to date.

 

- There's a resistor for the fan speeds that burns out through the heater settings progressively (1-4), had this on mine. £12 and a the fiddly job of replacing it and it will all work fine again.

 

Then the central locking started acting up. 

 

- Check fuses or possibly keyfob battery dying.

 

Using the key in the drivers lock.  This locks and unlocks the drivers door, passenger door and passenger rear door and boot.

Using the key fob.  This will lock and unlock the passenger door and passenger rear door and boot.

 

- Could be drivers rear door mechanism acting up after leaky seals as said above?

 

The drivers side rear door now stays locked at all times, although it did used to open if I used my key in the drivers door.

 

- As previous answer

 

I hope this helps!

 

Sharpyy

What he said! lol

Thanks for the responses, I will act on them and let you know.

If the door will not open at all it will fail the MOT.

If the door will not open at all it will fail the MOT.

 

Agreed - but if the door can be manually unlocked (rather than via central locking) and then opens it should be a pass, I believe. The OP is a bit vague in his wording.

I used to have that heater problem on my old fiesta, they use a really huge resistor in what is basically a potential divider circuit.

On my car it was just the connections that had gone, should be traceable with the haynes manual.

As for the door locks i would agree with the damp on the wires, best case you may have to do a bit of cutting and soldering because it sounds like they might have rusted through completely.

Worse case you might have to replace the solenoid.

Agreed - but if the door can be manually unlocked (rather than via central locking) and then opens it should be a pass, I believe. The OP is a bit vague in his wording.

 

No the drivers side rear remains locked.  I can't open it from inside or out.

 

As I said in my original post...

 

"Using the key in the drivers lock. This locks and unlocks the drivers door, passenger door and passenger rear door and boot.

Using the key fob. This will lock and unlock the passenger door and passenger rear door and boot.

 

The drivers side rear door now stays locked at all times, although it did used to open if I used my key in the drivers door."

 

What I dont understand is why do 3 doors and the boot open on the key in the lock, but only two and the boot on the remote fob?  Sounds like the fourth door is just knackered.

 

I think I will need to drop it in to be looked at before the MoT to be on the safe side.

 

Thanks for the responses!

Just an update.

 

Front windows was a dodgy switch connection - replaced now works fine.

Drivers door needed a replacement solenoid. 

The rear door needed a solenoid repair.

 

Passed MOT first time though.

 

Next on the list, replace heater fan.

 

Thanks again for the tips!

Just an update.

 

Front windows was a dodgy switch connection - replaced now works fine.

Drivers door needed a replacement solenoid. 

The rear door needed a solenoid repair.

 

Passed MOT first time though.

 

Next on the list, replace heater fan.

 

Thanks again for the tips!

 

I hope the resistor is a fault as I'm going for a full house 

 

Glad it worked!

I hope the resistor is a fault as I'm going for a full house 

 

Glad it worked!

Reminds me, my settings 1&2 gave up the other day. New resistor time. There's an easy to follow guide here for the resistor

Reminds me, my settings 1&2 gave up the other day. New resistor time. There's an easy to follow guide here for the resistor

 

Easy to follow, yes... Easy to get to, certainly not! It's a right PITA.

Easy to follow, yes... Easy to get to, certainly not! It's a right PITA.

cheers for brightening up my day