Hi! I'm new here so please be gentle with me! I drive a lovely fabia 1.9 Tdi Diesel which I've had since 2009 with few problems.

Stuck in traffic yesterday the dash display light went off, warning lights came on (ABS, engine, brake, power steering from memory) then radio went off (think the word 'safe' may have flashed up briefly on radio display) but the engine was still running and headlights still worked. Foolishly  turned engine off, and then NOTHING when when I tried to start it again! Phoned my son who advised checking battery connections - I had a quick fiddle tho they seemed ok. Engine re-started but then exactly same thing happened and car wouldn't re-start when got home.

 

Has started first time this a m which suggests its not the battery. I don't know anything about cars but possibly alternator....?  I wondered if it could be connected to another issue - about 18 mths ago the power steering starting locking when starting car but only usually in cold weather and this would sort itself out once wheels turned. The colder the weather the more likely to happen and longer to right itself - if I leave engine running for a while before driving off the light goes out and problem rights itself without touching steering. Garage said it might be power steering pump but ok to keep driving it (can't afford new one!) so have been ever since.

 

Need to get to work today so will drive this morning but wondering whether I should wait til happens again then call breakdown (will they be expert enough to identify problem?!) or take to garage!

 

HELP!

Those look like "low charge" symptoms, particularly if the headlights also appear to be dimming.

 

There are a couple of possible causes which can be checked easily/cheaply by a competent garage so you can use a convenient independent rather than trying to get to a Skoda dealer.

The alternator "sense wire" may be intermittent contact or the sprague clutch (one-way clutch) may be sticking open.

 

This could also be the cause of the PAS issue, since the highest electrical load on this car is caused by the electrically driven PAS and not by the starter motor!

 

So my advice would be to take the car to the local garage and tell them what you said about warning lights and radio above. If they want to read fault codes and I'm right, expect a very lengthy list (when the sprague clutch on mine stuck, they got about 60 faults in memory but no warning lights were showing since they all translated as "low voltage" and the clutch was working correctly again).

This sounds like failing battery voltage, is the car is used for a lot of short journeys and therefore doesn't get a proper charge from the alternator?

 

Have the battery and charging system tested and replace the battery if necessary.

Ooh yes - the last 6 months or so I've had a problem with my back so have been driving to work and back daily which is only a mile or so : (

 

Would this cause the ongoing problem with the PAS locking on start-up in cold weather too?

 

Also, ever since I got the car, when I've switched the headlights on and then start the car they have dimmed just for a second and I was told that shouldn't happen and it might be the alternator though it never seemed to develop into a problem - perhaps it's all related...

 

Thanks for the answers - now just have to get it to the garage!  : D

Check to see if the battery light is one of the symbols you see light up when you turn the ignition key to the position before the starter motor goes.  It should come on, until you turn the key further and start the engine. If it doesn't there's another little problem as well as the short journeys. See here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/401778-battery-light-and-associated-problems/

Would this cause the ongoing problem with the PAS locking on start-up in cold weather too?

 

Yes. I think your battery may be toast.

Also, never turn on the lights before the engine, and always turn them off first. Every little helps!

Thanks people!

 

I spoke too soon this morning - took the keys out of car to lock the house and - you guessed it - wouldn't start again! Very cold walk to work in -5 fog!

 

Wino - no battery light symbol when I turn key! Also I have had a light on dash coming on for years about 10 mins after start-up which my garage couldn't diagnose so thought it was electrical fault - so that sound like the 'load/signal DFM wire'?

 

Are the blue wire (Wino) and the alternator sense wire (Ken) the same thing?

 

It sounds like a have lots of wires loose (makes a change from screws...lol.)

Car won't start at all now so will have to get breakdown out or jump start and get to garage and (very gently) pass on your suggestions.

 

And I've never even heard of a sprague clutch!

 

: D

The blue wire is the one that will be primarily responsible for your troubles, I think, and why your battery light doesn't come on. The load signal/sense (DFM) wire is the one that will be causing the 'after ten minutes' warning light. Get your chosen mechanic or auto-electrician (preferably) to have a look in the area shown in the pics here (post 14 onward), to find and repair this wiring.  I think the broken wires may be easy to spot once you look in the right place.

 

Replacing the battery without first mending these wires will result in an early death of the replacement battery, and only a very short-term fix for your electrical problems. Your present battery may well be recoverable once these wires are back to doing what wires should, but it may need recharging off the car if you have a friend with a suitable charger.

 

Please let us know how you get on.

All sorted! The breakdown guy told me it was the alternator and possibly the battery too so it was ferried off to the garage with great financial trepidation on my part : (........

.......I got a phone call to say it was ready....well, turns out it wasn't the battery. Or the alternator. But they did find two broken wires going to the alternator! They would have probably found it anyway but I'm sure it didn't do any harm to mention what you'd said!

So full marks, extra house-points and Scouts car mechanic skills badge are awarded to...... WINO!!

And as you thought, the ASR light hasn't come on and they said it may have sorted the PAS problem too!

Thanks for your help everyone! Happy Christmas!! ????

All sorted! The breakdown guy told me it was the alternator and possibly the battery too so it was ferried off to the garage with great financial trepidation on my part : (........

.......I got a phone call to say it was ready....well, turns out it wasn't the battery. Or the alternator. But they did find two broken wires going to the alternator! They would have probably found it anyway but I'm sure it didn't do any harm to mention what you'd said!

So full marks, extra house-points and Scouts car mechanic skills badge are awarded to...... WINO!!

And as you thought, the ASR light hasn't come on and they said it may have sorted the PAS problem too!

Thanks for your help everyone! Happy Christmas!! ????

Actually Lizzie, you're due some credit too, for giving us an understandable history of the problem, which makes diagnosis very much easier.

Actually Lizzie, you're due some credit too, for giving us an understandable history of the problem, which makes diagnosis very much easier.

 

Lock up your wives, Mister Smooth is inda house 

Lol  - well it seemed worth mentioning all the problems- I'd never imagined they could be connected! No problems with PAS on start-up now despite cold weather and ASR warning light not coming on 10 mins into driving so I'm well chuffed!

I know where to come for advice next time she has a problem tho hoping it won't be any time soon!

On 01/12/2016 at 10:15, LizzieC said:

Hi! I'm new here so please be gentle with me! I drive a lovely fabia 1.9 Tdi Diesel which I've had since 2009 with few problems.

Stuck in traffic yesterday the dash display light went off, warning lights came on (ABS, engine, brake, power steering from memory) then radio went off (think the word 'safe' may have flashed up briefly on radio display) but the engine was still running and headlights still worked. Foolishly  turned engine off, and then NOTHING when when I tried to start it again! Phoned my son who advised checking battery connections - I had a quick fiddle tho they seemed ok. Engine re-started but then exactly same thing happened and car wouldn't re-start when got home.

 

Has started first time this a m which suggests its not the battery. I don't know anything about cars but possibly alternator....?  I wondered if it could be connected to another issue - about 18 mths ago the power steering starting locking when starting car but only usually in cold weather and this would sort itself out once wheels turned. The colder the weather the more likely to happen and longer to right itself - if I leave engine running for a while before driving off the light goes out and problem rights itself without touching steering. Garage said it might be power steering pump but ok to keep driving it (can't afford new one!) so have been ever since.

 

Need to get to work today so will drive this morning but wondering whether I should wait til happens again then call breakdown (will they be expert enough to identify problem?!) or take to garage!

 

HELP!

Hello!

 

Thankfully I found this topic on a Google search.
I own a 2009 Skoda Octavia DSG and I have the same electrical issues with it. All mechanics tried to fix it for 6 months now and nobody knows what’s wrong with it and I’m going crazy. I’ve already changed the alternator and the battery. Right now, in my dashboard i have warnings about everything break related: ABS, ESP, manual break and that green one with the foot on the break (sorry, don’t know how else to describe it). I also have the error with “check engine light”. My husband thinks this could be fixed just by cleaning something in the engine 🤷🏼‍♀️

Any advice would be so highly appreciated. Thanks, everyone!

 

Hi there. You'd be best making this post in the Skoda Octavia MkII Section, see here. As this section is for the 1999-2007 Skoda Fabia Mk1.