Hello

I have a skoda fabia VRS mk1. The problem I have is that if I leave my car running with the lights on and heaters and music all my dashboard lights come on and start to flicker. The power steering light comes on and it looses the power steering. The Rev needle bounces up and down while driving also. All the lights will stop on until I turn the engine off. I'll then try and start the car up but it will be complety dead. I then have to Jump the car off another car which works first time everytime. I have swopped the Alternator and had the battery checked and is fine apparently. Anyone got any suggestions?

You say apparantly

Does this mean you didnt check this yourself? Swapped alternator as in a new 1?

Have you done a visual check to see if the aux belt isnt jumping.

Or the belt has been adjusted properly (not tight enough)

Edited 25 December, 201411 yr by vzo25

Check the two thin wires that go from the alternator to a two-way connector on the front of the gearbox. Extremely common for one or both of these wires to snap near this connection. Many a good alternator has been replaced prior to finding this wiring problem. If you search for "load sense" in this forum, you should get lots of info and some pictures.

Thank you both for the reply. The battery has been checked by county batteries. They were the ones who said my alternator wasn't working. I've put a brand new one on. To be honest with you I'm not particularly good with cars. I'll have a look around on here for more info. Will keep you updated

You had it scanned for fault codes?

Like Wino says, it's the load sensor wire.

Is it best to access the load sensor for the top of the car or underneath

Underneath. When you start the car, does the battery light on the dash illuminate briefly? If it doesn't it'll be the load sensor wire as said.

I would take it back to the battery place for them to test everything whilst you are replicating the same symptoms.

Or the belt has been adjusted properly (not tight enough)

Auto/spring loaded tensioner on the aux belt, so no manual adjustment to check

Here is a how to for the load sensor wire: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=209472

Auto/spring loaded tensioner on the aux belt, so no manual adjustment to check

Thanks for that info coskev ☺

Edited 26 December, 201411 yr by vzo25

FINALLY my VRS is fixed. In the end was the battery. The battery was only 2 years old and when tested said it was fine. Put another battery on and it works like a dream. All flashing lights stopped and doesn't cut out after two minutes.

Ok I was a little premature. Driving home in the snow tonight. Doing about 25mph for 3 miles and all the lights came back on. Major power fail again. The battery I put in my car was one I had taken off a old 1.9 diesel vw. The battery was brand new and was on the vw for about two weeks. It's been stored off the floor in my garage for a while tho. Seems to have a bit of life in it but not enough to start. Any ideas ?

Have you tried doing anything about what's suggested in posts 3, 6, 8 & 11? It really is a very common failure, and easily fixed with no money if you DIY it.

Yeah checked the cable, looks fine and isn't snapped at the ends

Yeah checked the cable, looks fine and isn't snapped at the ends

Yeah checked the cable, looks fine and isn't snapped at the ends

you've unplugged it and checked?

If nothing is visible it's still worth checking the wire continuity incase the wires have broken, but not broke the insulation around the wire.

How tight is the wiring? As this causes the problems, the loom being too tight.

Simple check for "sense lead" is... switch on ignition DO NOT START and look for Battery symbol on dashboard...is it there? Yes..sense lead probably OK---NO..sense lead is broken/no continuity.

It's not there mate no.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/334979-alternator-load-signal-wire/?hl=%2Bbattery+%2Bcharging+%2Bfault#entry4051682

 This sort of thing probably...search "alternator load signal" /"battery charging" for loads more. 

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by ilikeradios