Hi,

 

For the last few weeks a lot of things have started going wrong with my Fabia. They seem to be in no way related but propably are. Here goes...

 

1. I bought the car in June 2015. It had a fault at the time, albeit a minor one. If the car was turned off and you opened the trunk, the radio came on. Also the license plate lights came on, but dimly. The "change lightbulb" light came on as well in the dashboard. All of this, and the other faults, happen most of the time, not always.

 

2. In November the car wouldn't switch off. I turned the key, the lights went out but the motor kept running. This happens sporadically and sometimes it will turn off seconds later, sometimes a few minutes later. I the last few days I've figured out that turning off the headlamps and/or the rear window heater will kill the engine!!

 

3. Just before Christmas the windscreen wipers wouldn't turn off. they were stuck in the "Low" setting in all positions of the lever, except for "High", that worked as it should. For the first time, they stayed on for 6 days, then the fault suddenly stopped, This has happened now twice since, for two days each occasion. I've been pulling the fuse to turn them on and off

 

4. Also since December, if the car is turned on, the trunk is locked, regardless of whether the doors are. I have to turn the engine off and then I can open the trunk. Then finally, yesterday, I had to open the trunk with the car turned off (had been all night). I unlocked the car with the remote and opened the trunk. When I slammed it shut the lock didn't catch. That is, not until I started the car.

 

 

HELP!!! This is driving me insane and the dealer is booked for the next two weeks. I borrowed an OBD2 reader but it couldn't find any fault codes. The car drives normally, it's just the electrical stuff that's gone crazy.

 

Some details, the car is a 1,9 TDI with 150.000 km. The weather has been just above and below 0 degrees Celcius, with some snow.

 

Anyone?

Sounds to me like part of your wiring loom has shorted out causing all manner of mixed signals, which in turn can confuse the ecu into thinking a switch is in a another state to what it is actually in, I couldn't tell you were this might be though!

I know where the loom goes into the doors the loom sometimes gets damaged, I gues the same could be true on the loom that goes into the boot, these areas are common areas for breakages on most cars because the bundle of wires is flexed.

Not sure I've helped but good luck !

Also, canbus stuff. As I understand it, the system uses less wiring, sending certain signals down certain wiring in certain sequences, in order to operate certain functions. Not as straight forward as a set of wires running from battery to lightswitch, to fuses, to lights. set of wires running from battery to horn switch, to fuse, to horn, etc. systems overlap, meaning less wiring overall as modern vehicles have literally, miles of wires. Now, damage a set of wires and or the control module, you can (bus) find a whole lot of systems operating incorrect. I would look as mentioned, at any hinged joints- door bellows, boot bellows, etc to look for snapped wires, then at any other defective wires you can spot or bite the bullet and get a proper diagnosis/wiring check from either the main dealer or a reputable auto electrician. It will most likely pay off in the long run.

 

Before this though, did you buy new? if so, it should still be covered by Skoda's warranty anyway. Also, make sure the snow didn't get into any terminals as the salt will eat them for breakfast.

I agree; this looks like CANBus stuff, particularly given (1). I don't know Icelandic Sale of Goods law, but you'd be covered under UK law since the first fault existed at time of original sale.

Thanks guys. I've been abroad and parked the car in the meantime. I've decided that this is beyond my comfort level, so the car is going in to the shop tomorrow. I will post the outcome here...

 

I will surely be checking warranty issues, but I will don't get my hopes up, Icelandic law is rather in favor of the dealer. 

 

Thank you for your input.

Hi Eirikurr,

Any outcome with this situation?

There's a fellow Roomster owner near me whose wipers are stuck on at fastest speed, wants help/advice, your outcome might help.....

Thanks

Richard

Take a good look at the area where the wiring loom passes the ECU.