Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help me. I only passed my test a little over a week ago, due to insurance prices and children I've opted for a Skoda Fabia classic. It's a 16v 02 plate. When I got it the airbag light was present on the dash, checked with a garage, no fault code so it was reset. I then got an oil leak from the crankshaft seal, it was replaced. Shortly after this when using the car the dash, including gauges and warning lights keep going crazy after around 3-4 miles. The gauges drop out and the warning lights all flash on then reset. The PAS, airbag and oil warning lights stay on until the car is switched off. They then reset, apart from the airbag sometimes. The steering becomes heavy during the craziness and I seem to get loss of power. My local garage changed the fuel pump as the gauge got stuck, they also removed the dash, stripped electrical connections and have checked the earth. (Apparently) to date it's cost me £300 and it's still broken.

I've seen on another thread here about resetting the ECU, this has been done and seemed to sort the problem as I managed a test journey of 9 miles, but then happened again at around 12 miles. I called Skoda this week who recommended diagnostics on the VAG Systems as my garage may be using generic ones. Also it seems from them it is a common fault and they said they're pretty sure it's the engine management ECU. Does this sound about right to someone in the know? The car was only £600 and apparently the cost to replace the ECU is around £600!!

My partner has purchased a second hand ECU (checked it is the correct model etc) it also comes with a dash pod and ignition stick plus two keys. He is planning to fit it tomorrow. Does anyone have an advice or information to warn otherwise?!

I love the car and for an 02 plate petrol it is in immaculate condition with low mileage. I want to fix the problem but £600 is simply too much. Any help or guidance would be appreciated, we're not car enthusiasts so have purchased a Haynes manual, but even this doesn't she'd any light.

Thanks in advance.

It sounds like a battery voltage issue, you need to check voltage across the battery terminals before starting the car and again after starting it, first reading should be something over 12V, second reading should be about 14.5V.

Thank you for the reply, I'll certainly test the battery before attempting the replacement ECU. I've seen several users have similar problems listed on here, but none seem to detail what the final cause was. Here's hoping it's something simple like a battery!!

The clue is that you're losing the power steering, the power steering system is completely self-contained and does not refer to any other ECU but shuts down if it senses a low battery voltage.

Could also be the broken dfm wires from alternator

The clue is that you're losing the power steering, the power steering system is completely self-contained and does not refer to any other ECU but shuts down if it senses a low battery voltage.

 

Although I agree that the OP's problem is very likely to be voltage related, the PAS module doesn't work quite like that. It gets a vehicle speed signal from the instruments module ECU , and an engine speed signal from the engine ECU, both via CAN. I think it might still work without the former, but not give speed-dependent variation of assistance. Not sure what it does with rpm info, maybe just disable the pump until engine is running? 

Hi all, we have checked the battery this morning. 12 v when standing, 15 v when it's turned over. We are going to change the ECU, instrument cluster and ignition stick today. I'll post once it's complete and hopefully fixed.

12V as in 12.0V?, if so that's a battery with only 50% or less charge in it, see some of the charts here. Points to a charging problem or just lots of very short journeys?

15V as in 15.0V? If so that's a little high, although the alternators do seem to have a temperature compensation built in that makes it higher when measured (very) cold.  I've seen 14.7V a few times in the last couple of weeks.

 

Anyway, hope the radical transplant surgery works for you, please let us know.

Hi all, ECU transplant was a no go. I've had it checked by two Skoda specialists and it's not at fault. Battery has been changed. And after speaking to another supposed specialist I've been told CANBUS gateway. Apologies of not spelt correctly. Now my issue is, where is it located? Under the front passenger wheel arch maybe? Or behind the speedo? Can anyone help. It might be a loose wire or wires touching!! Does anyone know how to change and how much? This car is becoming a nightmare!!

It's part of the onboard supply control unit I believe, below the relay panel under driver's side dash.

Edited 3 March, 201610 yr by Wino

Thanks for the heads up, we'll have a look. Do you know what it looks like by any chance? Google comes up with superb and octavia but not fabia?

This is a view of the underside/connector side of it. It mounts horizontally with this side facing the accelerator/brake pedal area:

 

 

I'll just double-check an SSP I have somewhere, but I'm pretty sure it's within that unit.

Edit: Yep, that checks out.

BTW, don't assume yours has the same part number as my picture shows, and ignore the red ring, that was put on to show something else to someone.

Edited 3 March, 201610 yr by Wino