hi all, my mate is having a few issues with his fabia 1.4 (same car as mine haha) 

 

the problem is when he starts the car it idles abit rough usually between 8,000 & 9,000 RPM it feels like the car is sometimes being rev'd. at night if he has the lights one and is stationary the lights will continuously go dim and then brighten like the power is draining, i know the battery is old but there is also a whine from the front of the car when stationary swell sounds like the steering pump, it is all the electrics in the car the play up though even the illumination on the radio,

 

i know this has probably been covered i have tried searching but had no luck, do anyone have any clues what it could be?

idles abit rough usually between 8,000 & 9,000 RPM

Must be more than a bit rough at 9k RPM 

 

Sounds like the alternator isn't working properly though

Nope, it's his steering angle sensor, the power steering pump is running all the time and draining the battery causing the voltage drop you're seeing. The power steering pump is only supposed to run when the steering wheel is turned.

Must be more than a bit rough at 9k RPM 

 

Sounds like the alternator isn't working properly though

sorry was abit tired last night hahaha meant to say 800-900 RMP

Nope, it's his steering angle sensor, the power steering pump is running all the time and draining the battery causing the voltage drop you're seeing. The power steering pump is only supposed to run when the steering wheel is turned.

cheers for that, will have a look at the sensor and check its all connected properly, failing that buy a new one, does it need to be coded to the car?

cheers for that, will have a look at the sensor and check its all connected properly, failing that buy a new one, does it need to be coded to the car?

 

No, it's plug and play, the old sensor will be needed on exchange and they're not cheap.