Hi everyone,

 

I'm new on here, and to Skodas, and looking for some advice.  I like to try and do my own repairs but frankly I'm not very knowledgable - I'm usually OK if I just need to follow the instructions in a manual!

 

To cut a long story short, last night the battery warning light/alarm came on, pulled over after a couple of miles and then decided to turn around and go home.  Within another mile or so the headlights started flickering and then went off, along with all the internal lighting and then the hazard lights only working intermittently (the engine was running fine).  Thankfully there was a very wide verge we could pull over onto (off the dual carriageway) to a layby to call the RAC from; the power steering also cut out at this point (dash light on).

 

RAC man found that both headlamps had blown but that the battery was fine (it's pretty new looking) and it was charging properly.  Everything was behaving now except the battery light was still on so he replaced the bulbs and offered to follow us home.  After about another mile the headlights started dimming intermittently, the dashlights started dimming and then went out (except for the headlight icon), hazards wouldn't work and the power steering went, so he tows us home.

 

He said that there was a short somewhere suggesting the BCM as a source.  Does anyone have any thoughts?  I've done some reading around and it sounds like there are a few people who've had electrical problems but I've not seen anything that looks like my problem.  With the intermittent failing of various systems I don't know if checking fuses and earthings would be worthwhile?

 

We also have water getting into the car and I was wondering whether moisture could have gotten into any system to cause these problems?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

I'd be carrying out proper alternator checks to make sure the system is charging properly the rac will tell you anything just so they can tow you home and get to the next job ... If that all checks out fine move on to wiring checks if you have limited knowledge just start simple visually check the battery leads then the alternator wires .... If every thing is going off like you say it's going to be a earth where they all meet or a power source that they all share ... If every thing looks all good then the multimeter is going to have to come out .... Hope this helps and you manage to fix it dec

That sounds like sound advice.To be fair to the RAC guy he wasn't rushing and I watched him check the voltage across the battery (12v off ~14v engine running).

 

The battery was flat this morning, not that I should be surpised.  I checked the fuses and the wiring in the drivers footwell and it all looked clean and proper. so it looks like a foray into the engine bay before I resort to calling an auto electrician.  Are there any shared earth points between the headlights, indicators, and power steering?

That sounds like sound advice.To be fair to the RAC guy he wasn't rushing and I watched him check the voltage across the battery (12v off ~14v engine running).

 

The battery was flat this morning, not that I should be surpised.  I checked the fuses and the wiring in the drivers footwell and it all looked clean and proper. so it looks like a foray into the engine bay before I resort to calling an auto electrician.  Are there any shared earth points between the headlights, indicators, and power steering?

 

Take the battery off the car and give it a thorough charge, it was very cold last night and I suspect the battery isn't getting charged up properly, the car needs regular longer runs to fully charge, particularly when it's cold and dark and you have a lot of electrical loads running. Even a healthy battery will conk out when winter hits if the car is only being used for local journeys.

it might be worth checking the alternator load wire, very common problem on the MK1 Fabia and its failure can cause all kinds of weird running problems.

 

This thread is for an ibiza, but its essentially the same.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=209472

Has the rac man left you any paper work to say what he did was the 14v with loads on or loads off ... Because as stated above the cold spell were having will kill off any weak batterys .... I dought both side lights and power steering will all share 1 earth but they all will run off a ingniton live goin into the bcm but there agen so will other things like windows n clocks ect so if it was a major power fault at your bcm every thing should be cutting out

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

The RAC man's alternator readings were with the engine at idle and the lights on.  I'm charging the battery up now, I can't imagine that the cold weather has helped.

 

I've tried to locate the alternator load wire but I can't get under the car.  Would anyone be able to recognise it from a picture from above?  I think it's the bottom of the wires highlighted - one brown one green?

 

Edited 14 December, 201411 yr by noneil

^ Yes, the ones circled

OK, thanks Lee!  Fortunately they are all intact as far as I can see, so unfortunately that rules out that reasonably simple potential fix.  I think I'll dig deeper into checking the rest of the wiring and earth points tomorrow before I get someone in.

I've seen comments on short runs etc. My day- first thing is run to town (2m) with rear screen heater and blower on . Sometimes headlamps. Next to another set of shops( another 2m) ,possibly a trip to Aldi (1m) and home. My battery never seems to have problems (1.4 TDI), SO PERHAPS CHARGING IS ADEQUATE. I'd be looking at charge rate with full load on /bad battery and last resort = drain on battery .

I have to say that I don't do any short runs really, shortest journey would be about 17 miles, although we probably only use it once a fortnight.  I guess that if there is a short circuit somewhere that's what drained the battery.

If you only use it once every so often even a small battery drain will keep flattening the battery ... Is it ever hard to start as if it's got a flat battery

I've never had any problems starting the car until yesterday morning, and it was completely dead then.

 

I called an auto electrician today and he seemed convinced that it was the alternator and suggested that I did some tests under load.  So I did.  Switched off reading 12.3V, and then at idle 16.9V (! - at this point the dash went dead which is probably related to this) and as I switched more stuff on the voltage eventually dropped to 12.2V (this was with all the lights on, inside and out, all wipers, radio, lighter, and fan) - switching the air son saw it come up to 12.5V though?!  When switched off again after this it was back at 12.3V.

 

According to some Youtubes that I watched (Chris Fix ones - they seemed quite useful) the alternator is probably duff but it could still be connections.  A quick inspection of the wires and connectors didn't show up any obvious defects though.  Is there anything else I should be checking to confirm if it's the alternator or may be something else?

Is there anything else I should be checking to confirm if it's the alternator or may be something else?

 

Don't bother, it's the alternator. Your first and only required clue is 16.9V. End of.

That is conclusive - thanks!  So is some kind of regulator in the alternator up the wazoo causing it to overcharge?  I guess I'll get onto EuroCarParts tomorrow.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Neil