Hello.

 

For the last while, I've noticed the steering on my car getting a little heavier, or lighter, depending on what mood takes it. also the car the car seem to have started pulling to the left again. Last night, towards the end of a long trip, I noticed my headlamps flickering.

 

Now, I've searched until I'm blue in the face on here, and on google and can't seem to find a definitive answer. I have a boggo fault checker scanner thing somewhere, which I need to plug into the car, but there are no warning lights on the dash, yet.

 

Now, I know that it could be one of three things... battery, PAS angle sensor, or alternator. Given the symptoms above, what do folks think might be the actual issue? If you've had similar symptoms before and sorted it, what did the trick?

My car is due a major service very soon, so I'm tempted to see if I can book it in early and get this issue solved at the same time to save on labour costs as I don't like the idea of something faulty possibly causing more issues by taking other things with it as it fails. I may just be being paranoid though... I'm sure someone will chip in and mention that they've been driving for years with a yorkshire pudding in place of their PAS angle sensor or something.

another option would be to try and do it myself. Pennies are increasingly hard to come by for me at the moment. I tried to find a guide on how to change the sensor, but drew a blank.

 

Thanks in advance for any help!  :sun:

Edited 25 August, 201411 yr by inventory-photo

Hmmm. Maybe I should've called this thread "MASSIVE 'ZORST" or something along those lines?    :clap:

"Lights flickering" to me suggests angle sensor.  This is what mine started doing.  I would think if it was a general voltage issue, you wouldn't get the flickering.  The flickering is a sign of the PAS pump getting confusing signals from the angle sensor and it drawing voltage randomly.

 

VCDS scan should likely pull up a fault.  It's often the first port of call with electrical gremlins.

Searched high and low, even here?

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/186217-fabia-power-steering-problems/

 

As for a definiative answer this is impossible without diagnosis. Need to know plenty of facts before we can even begin to work out whats wrong.

Searched high and low, even here?

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/186217-fabia-power-steering-problems/

 

As for a definiative answer this is impossible without diagnosis. Need to know plenty of facts before we can even begin to work out whats wrong.

 

That particular thread didn't come up in the searches I tried, using several different keywords. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Probably as I was searching for "PAS angle sensor".

 

I've had the car scanned at a garage. Two intermittent error codes popped up... One for no communication between instrument panel and power steering, and another for low battery voltage. Had the battery and alternator checked, and both are fine, apparently.

 

The garage think it may be a split wire somewhere, but will have another scan/check for issues when it's in for a service at the end of the month. One of the boost hoses was rubbing against the alternator too, so that's been reseated.

Does your battery light come on with the ignition?

Yes, it does.

The flickering seems to have died down a bit now, so I'll just keep an eye on it, I think. The headlights still dim a little when manoeuvring, but not to the extent they did before. I do wonder if it was simply the boost pipe putting undue strain on the alternator? Who knows. Even so, the car seems much smoother/quieter since the pipe was reseated.

 

Thanks for your help Tech1e and devonutopia. I've bookmarked that page of info for it it starts up again.  :sun:

The headlights still dim a little when manoeuvring

 

That is normal to a certain extent but it will be worse if your battery is poor. The steering pump draws a lot of current.