My '02 fabia has developed randomly flickering headlights. The instrument binnacle lights have come out in sympathy and flicker too. I thought it might be a dodgy earth somewhere but I checked them and all seems ok.

Could the problem be a failing (original) alternator?

My cars lights flicker and dim when I turn the steering wheel when stationary....If this is the case think its something to do with the power steering pump being electric and drawing current from it. but if it isn't that. I cant help lol

A very common fault on this platform is a wiring connection on the front of the gearbox.  Two skinny wires from the alternator have a plug and socket connection on a bracket there, but the wiring isn't quite long enough for good strain relief, so it ends up snapping.  One of these wires is the 'load sense' wire, and if broken, can result in the alternator not charging the battery at low engine revs.

This results in general low voltage symptoms like pulsing lights.

 

A picture from above, of one side of the connector in question:

 

Thanks wino, that's a good place to start. Do you mean the wire from the atlernator to this bracket maybe broken or the wiring from this bracket on to some where else?

Thanks.

Either or both. Not sure which side of the connection fails most commonly to be honest. Not had a problem on ours so far, but I try to have a glance around any time I'm under the car.

I was having similar problems, Flickering headlights, power steering failure on startup etc.I have engine symbol (ecu?) and traction control warning light plus bulb light intermittent.

 Checked load sense wire and both wires were sheared as above.

I had it hooked up to vag com and that confirmed fault as 'alternator load sense wire implausible signal'

I have fixed that but still have engine warning light?

Do you need to reset ecu?

Have disconnected battery again to try and reset but didn't work first time.

Could it be something else?

Ok, I have cleared the fault codes (all being well, Will reconnect to check) When I cleared  them a fault popped up 'cylinder 1 glow plug' so I am hoping the engine warning light is to do with that. I tested the battery and it is charging on idle at 14.9v so should have fixed the load sense wire. No reports of the traction control warning light either.