Hi, I’m absolutely useless technically, and need some advice. About to buy a 08 Fabia, and in the test drive the ABS light came on and stayed on. Next drive it was off, and stayed off. The owner, a really nice man, said it happened intermittently and the mechanic had said it was fine. I want to buy the car for my son (his first car), but don’t want anything undsafe or to spend additional money. Car has low mileage and full service history, and drives really well. Any advice, preferably non-technical, would be really appreciated!

If the ABS light is on, there is a fault, intermittent or not, it needs the codes reading and fixing.

Thanks, appreciate the reply, any idea of the seriousness or range of cost this might entail. Need to decide whether worth it o buy for my son, and I’m pretty useless with cars! Seems like a great buy otherwise. Any opinion much appreciated

My guess is a wheel sensor. If they don't detect a wheel turning when the cars moving that will bring up the fault light. So the sensor stops sending rotation pulses back to the abs controller and the light comes on. Pulses return and fault self clears.

You would need to vcds scan the car and it will tell you which wheel sensor is playing up. It could be the sensor itself or the wiring. The sensors are quite simple to change.

Where in the UK are you ?

 

 

Dundee

Sadly the very nice man takes the car to a mechanic that does not care very much about the safety of cars others own.

If the car went for a MOT now it might well fail due to the ABS warning light.

So really i would want to know why he is selling the car, and if you were prepared to pay an extra £60 if the car has a new MOT would he put the car in for a MOT.

Plenty MOT test stations in Dundee.

If it passes then buy it if they are asking a fair price now plus £60.

Edited 4 February, 20197 yr by Skoffski

There’s no skullduggery here. I know him, he’s old and now has to stop driving due to epilepsy at his advanced age.

Good, maybe he or some family or friend can get the car in for a MOT before you buy it.

Simple really it could be done today.  If a minor or major fail, or any advisories you will know the story. 

Not down to Myrekirk Road and Skoda Specialist cars, just someplace that could do any work and a retest if required without £85 plus VAT labour rates.

 

?

Have you looked at the MOT History online and seen the Past MOT's and any advisories?

Edited 4 February, 20197 yr by Skoffski

I agree, best bet would be to ask the seller to put through an MOT and you pay, that way you'll know if OK, if not, they have to fix or you take the difference off the price

Thanks

Genuine ones can be had on eBay, for around £20 but they are different for each wheel, for some bizarre reason. (No uniformity). A scan will tell you which one, (Thanks, Aubrey). Mine still does come on now and again but I have yet to change it. It usually happens if someone keeps braking too hard/suddenly and then is fine again, for months.

Thanks, appreciate it