Yo, can anyone shed any possible light on an issue we have started to notice with pretty heavy power steering on the Fabia?

 

It has started to feel pretty heavy for a while now but there are no errors on the dash and VCDS shows no faults.  Guessing it could be the motor on the way out? There is assistance for sure, but much less than normal.

 

Using VCDS, does anyone know some measuring blocks I can test and compare with?  Checking them it all seems to be within spec. I've not noticed but is there a calibration or reset via VCDS perhaps?

 

Tyres are at the correct pressure and as far as I know this isn't an alignment issue, it happens at all a standstill after all where it is most noticeable.

 

Cheers!

@Plantman - Have you checked the fluid reservoir level? "Electric" PAS uses an electric pump to pressurise the hydraulics rather than a mechanical one driven off the engine.

 

Also even with PAS you still get heavier steering with well-worn tyres.

Thanks, tyres have plenty of tread left by the way, forgot to mention in my original post.

 

As for the PAS, where is the fluid reservoir?  I have checked the manual and there is no mention of this and where to top it up.

 

Also VCDS didn't show any fluid levels or stats in measuring blocks so assume?

 

Does it use the same fluid as the brake reservoir or is it a sealed system? I see the manual refers to it as Electrohydraulic so must have fluid somewhere....but where!?

 

Thanks.

 

Just found a post relating to a cap under or near the battery at the front near side of the car,  VRS Fabia.

 

Does anyone have a picture from their engine bay they can show me where it's located?

 

Will check that out later! Cheers!

 

Edited 25 May, 20188 yr by Plantman

It will still be there, just inboard of the radiator - and very low down, green cap, at the RHS looking in from in front of the car with the bonnet open.

For future reference to others:

 

https://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk2/chassis/steering/filling_and_bleeding_the_power_steering_system_trw_and_checking_tightness/filling_and_bleeding_the_power_steering_system/

 

Filling and bleeding the power steering system Special tools and workshop equipment required t  Vehicle diagnosis, measurement and information system -VAS- t  Catch pan (commercially available) t  Extraction bottle (commercially available) t  Jumper cable (commercially available) t  Hydraulic oil → Chapter   Note t  Hydraulic oil amount in the system: approx. 0.80 ltr. t  The screwed lid for filling the power steering system with hydraulic oil is located in a recess on the frame side rail in the left section of the engine compartment. t  Because of the different dimensions of the battery the screw cap of the hydraulic oil reservoir on certain vehicle versions is concealed by the battery tray and battery. If this is the case remove the air filter, the battery and the battery tray. t  Only fill up an empty hydraulic system when engine is cold. t  Hydraulic oil → Chapter t  Hydraulic oil amount in the system: approx. 0.80 ltr. t  Use new hydraulic oil only. t  Topping up hydraulic oil → Chapter t  Check the hydraulic oil level with the dipstick of the screwed lid of the engine pump aggregate reservoir. t  Do not refer to the „MAX“ and „MIN“ markings on the reservoir to check the hydraulic oil level. Method:   Note t  If necessary remove air filter → Engine; Rep. gr.24 (petrol engines) or → Engine; Rep. gr.23(diesel engines). t  Then if necessary, remove battery and battery tray → Electrical System; Rep. gr.27.

–  Fill the engine pump aggregate reservoir -2- with hydraulic oil and check the hydraulic oil level with the screwed lid dipstick -1-. For checking the hydraulic oil level, screw the screwed lid hand-tight to the reservoir. The correct oil level can only be determined for a fully screwed in screwed lid.

Edited 25 May, 20188 yr by Plantman

Let us know how it goes.... I'm hoping you just run low, like the other poster did!

Well, as you stated KenONeill there is PAS reservoir and it was a pig to get to!  It is possible leaving the battery in place and you can get both hands down to reach the screw top.

 

I gave the lid and the surrounding area a bit of a clean to ensure no dirt drops in to the tank.

 

I got that off and indeed the level was below the minimum, but there was actually plenty of fluid in there. You can see it when you rock the car.

I would be surprised if just being under the minimum makes a difference.

 

I guess the only way to tell is to top it up to see.  

 

Few pictures for others reference.

 

 

I used to have an old Ford Fiesta bottom radiator hose that I used to ram down onto the reservoir cap then used the bend in the hose to give me a slight mechanical advantage to start opening the cap!  Also it helps if you ask permission from the engine bay resident spider first!

On 5/25/2018 at 20:13, Plantman said:

 

 

I got that off and indeed the level was below the minimum, but there was actually plenty of fluid in there. You can see it when you rock the car.

I would be surprised if just being under the minimum makes a difference.

 

 

 

I understand your point but then, why a MIN level? Go below that and it might not operate correctly. Low levels of antifreeze/coolant will result in engine running hot, fan working herd or even worse!

 

Yup don't get me wrong, for the elimination of doubt we have purchased some PAS fluid, that was hard enough. Two Skoda dealers didn't have this in stock so had to resort to.....Halfords....

 

So it's topped up and we will test shortly. Probably got in between 100 - 150 ml.

Sadly not much difference, if any, so as a result of no fault codes in VCDS we might have to resort to a garage.  Boo!

Having another play in VCDS I noticed the coding for the PAS under controller 44 (coding 7) was set to value 11210...Having a quick search on here shows that as being the least assistance.  Higher the number, more assistance.

 

Does anyone know what the Fabia 1.2 TSI should be set to as default? I have tried 41 and 51 and they are much lighter but would like the default for the car.

 

Cheers!

 

 

Probably going to stick with 11241 for now, since that appears to feel ok.  With 11251 I could hear the pump a lot more than usual, so perhaps that would work it too hard over time.  

 

These are some of the values you can enter, though some were not accepted by the cars controller:

• xxx??
• 10 = normal (heavy cars)
• 20 = Polo 9N GTI (6R GTI is 21)
• 30 = Komfort (heavy cars)
• 40 = normal (light cars)
• 41 = F² 5J RS <---------- ??? Is this supposed to be the VRS?
• 50 = Komfort (light cars)
• 51 = Audi 8X A1
• 60 = Mobility help

Also worth noting, engine has to be off for the values to be applied.  If you have the engine running it takes the value with no error but when you go back into the coding it has not applied.  For our Fabia it only seemed to like x1 values, not x0, 

So yea, only had two options from the list above, unless you can supplement the 0 for a 1....I didn't fancy risking that.

 

If anyone has a few minutes please let me know the default coding for a 2012 1.2 TSI Fabia so I can compare.

Did you ever resolve this issue and could  you share what the problem was?

12 hours ago, nikasp said:

Did you ever resolve this issue and could  you share what the problem was?

If you have an issue, start a new thread. After 6 years the chance of the OP still being here is very unlikely.

 

I did check that he has been logged in this February. Seemed very similar to my issue so do not see the problem with checking if he ever got to the bottom with it.

1 hour ago, nikasp said:

I did check that he has been logged in this February. Seemed very similar to my issue so do not see the problem with checking if he ever got to the bottom with it.

He may come back to you. He now posts on the Mk III forum but he may check the Mk IIs. Why I suggested a new thread is you may solicit greater interest from a wider membership.

Son in-law has a Toledo 1.2 TSI, with an amber (steering image) light on the instrument panel, with a heavy steering.  We could not find the PAS Reservoir or Pump. I am old school so totally no idea there was an electric PAS Pump. Fortunately stumbled across your blog which has no pointed me in the right direction so I will investigate this tomorrow. Thanks in advanced 😀.