Hi all, 

 

I'm having a battery issue with my Fabia and need some help. 

 

It's a 17/67 1.0 Fabia Monte Carlo manual petrol. 

 

I've been getting a low battery warning for a while but after driving it, it goes away for ages. However, I've just had an issue where my dashcam has fallen off of the windscreen and set the alarm off. I thought I had disabled the interior sensors, but clearly not. 

 

Either way, I was unable to unlock the car using the fob so used the manual unlock on the drivers side. I tried to start the ignition to shut off the alarm but there was no power at all. I was going to jump start the car, but I then encountered another issue. I can't open the bonnet! I checked and the passenger side doesn't appear to have a manual unlock and it won't open from the inside. I can't believe this is the case as it would be a pretty big manufacturing flaw, but I just can't get the door open to release the bonnet lock. 

 

I know we're in a lockdown at the moment, but I do food deliveries and need my car to work. Does anyone know how I can get the bonnet open to be able to charge the battery? 

 

I'm also concerned about the battery failing on a car that's less than 3 years old and has only done about 12k miles. 

 

Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks

 

 

That is weird, I don't have a Skoda or a Fabia, but I always assumed that you pulled the internal release handle - maybe once to unlock then again to open any other door.

18 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

That is weird, I don't have a Skoda or a Fabia, but I always assumed that you pulled the internal release handle - maybe once to unlock then again to open any other door.

I agree, I thought this would work as well but I cannot figure out how to open the passenger door. I'm into the driver's side and trying to open the passenger side but it just won't open. 

If I can't open it, I can't see a way to get the bonnet open. 

Are you saying you can't reach the bonnet release handle without opening the passenger door?

If so, that's odd - I can reach in from the drivers side (it's a bit awkward) and pull the release.

I don't need to open the passenger side.

Edited 30 March, 20206 yr by alan4856732

3 minutes ago, alan4856732 said:

Are you saying you can't reach the bonnet release handle without opening the passenger door?

If so, that's odd - I can reach in from the drivers side (it's a bit awkward) and pull the release.

I don't need to open the passenger side.

I can reach it but it can't be pulled without the door being open. The shape of the door prevents it and it also states that in the owner's manual. 

That is the way it is with most newer cars, a sort of a safety thing - makes sense, until you can't open the door on the side that the bonnet pull is on!

Oh - OK, I wonder if it's a "Monte Carlo" thing, I have an 67 plate SE and I can definitely release the bonnet without opening the passenger door.

Just wanted to make sure I understand the situation:  Flat battery, so have to manually unlock drivers door.  Is the battery so flat that the override for the passenger side door - cannot be activated?  If this is so; then you probably have to work towards a slightly sneaky manner to get some power into the system.  You will need a 12v charger and a cigarette lighter socket adapter.  It won't give you enough juice to start the car, just enough to activate the electronics of the central locking.  The alarm may go bananas, but you will get the car doors open.  Then you can get into under the bonnet.  All modern cars - from about 2010 really require regular driving; or making sure the battery is kept on trickle charge. 

2 minutes ago, varaderoguy said:

Just wanted to make sure I understand the situation:  Flat battery, so have to manually unlock drivers door.  Is the battery so flat that the override for the passenger side door - cannot be activated?  If this is so; then you probably have to work towards a slightly sneaky manner to get some power into the system.  You will need a 12v charger and a cigarette lighter socket adapter.  It won't give you enough juice to start the car, just enough to activate the electronics of the central locking.  The alarm may go bananas, but you will get the car doors open.  Then you can get into under the bonnet.  All modern cars - from about 2010 really require regular driving; or making sure the battery is kept on trickle charge. 

Yes, that about sums it up. 

I've got access to a 12v socket, but I don't have a 12v charger and given the lockdown and availability of fast delivery on non essential products, I've got no chance of getting hold of one any time soon :-(.

I generally use my car frequently but due to having to self isolate, I've not been able to do that. 

Either way, there's no way that the battery on a less than 3 year old car should discharge after just 7 days of no use. 

22 hours ago, Davemk said:

 

I've been getting a low battery warning for a while

 

 

9 minutes ago, Davemk said:

 

Either way, there's no way that the battery on a less than 3 year old car should discharge after just 7 days of no use. 

 

As you've been getting a low battery warning for a while Dave, maybe it would have been wise to do something about it earlier, ie proactive, rather than reactive...................Sorry, no offence intended, just saying it how it is.

 

If your car battery was in a low state of charge when it was parked up, the almost freezing nights could have damaged it......

And / or it could have a fault causing a battery drain.

 

Do you have a neighbour that has a charger you could borrow, you can still keep your distance, or try ECP / Ebay etc online

If you are desperate, can you bend the bonnet release lever out a little to open past the locked door.

 

Thanks AG Falco

Sounds like having a ciggy lighter plug wired to a jumper pack might be your best approach - why is it that some VW Group cars, in RHD form, have the bonnet release on the passenger side, VW and Audi don't do that, but I've noticed that SEAT do - and so it seems Skoda!!

 

Edit:- sorry I should have added, its probably the deadlocks that are keeping the passenger door from opening, I've never tried to unlock the passenger doors on a car that had been deadlocked and now had a flat battery.

Edited 30 March, 20206 yr by rum4mo

 

Might be the same for the Fabia III

 

Thanks AG Falco

I'd think so,  blinking challenging to reach when the LHS door can't be opened, but needs must I suppose to resolve this, I've taken off that handle on my 2011 S4 while retro fitting front parking sensors, easy to do when you know how it is held on.

Any progress on this yet?

Hi all, 

Thanks for all the responses. I ended up getting the RAC out to look at it. 

Turns out the battery was totally FUBAR'd and wasn't holding any charge. I had to get it replaced. 

I'm going to contact skoda to see if I can get this refunded under the warranty, given that the car is less than 3yrs old and under 12k miles. 

Thanks

3 hours ago, Davemk said:

Hi all, 

Thanks for all the responses. I ended up getting the RAC out to look at it. 

 

 

How did the RAC open it?

12 minutes ago, alan4856732 said:

 

How did the RAC open it?

He'd seen enough to know that you can pull the handle out enough to get it past the door mouldings, without breaking it. 

I couldn't and didn't want to risk breaking it which is why I didn't try it. 

Good to know that things have moved on, also for others in the future, that it is possible to pull the bonnet release out far enough to clear the door bin without always breaking it.

Just a tip for the dashcam, i use two velcro cable straps around part of mine to secure it to the rear mirror. Its's almost directly above the infotainment unit, so didn't want an expensive accident. Its fallen off twice and been saved by the straps I gave up and used the 3m adhesive pad in the end. My windscreen has so many small surface chips in it now, a sticky pad behind the mirror is the least of its issues.

Edited 4 April, 20206 yr by Confused_Cheese

I still do not understand why the passenger door cannot be opened once you have got into the car. I have done it countless times - like I do one click to open the drivers door which leaves the rest of the doors locked. Then a family member comes out side and wants to join me - I just lean over and open the passenger door manually from inside the car......

3 minutes ago, Eccles said:

I still do not understand why the passenger door cannot be opened once you have got into the car. I have done it countless times - like I do one click to open the drivers door which leaves the rest of the doors locked. Then a family member comes out side and wants to join me - I just lean over and open the passenger door manually from inside the car......

This was resolved weeks ago. I'm also well aware of how to open the door from the inside. However, when the battery is totally dead, the doors get deadlocked, so there's no way of opening any door other than the drivers side door. 

2 hours ago, Eccles said:

I still do not understand why the passenger door cannot be opened once you have got into the car. I have done it countless times - like I do one click to open the drivers door which leaves the rest of the doors locked. Then a family member comes out side and wants to join me - I just lean over and open the passenger door manually from inside the car......

 

As above and probably the "first click" removes all the deadlocks as well as unlocking the driver's door, for it not to could put the driver in a tricky situation as being in car with 3 doors deadlocked and unable to open the 4th door for any reason, could be a death sentence.

5 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

 

As above and probably the "first click" removes all the deadlocks as well as unlocking the driver's door, for it not to could put the driver in a tricky situation as being in car with 3 doors deadlocked and unable to open the 4th door for any reason, could be a death sentence.

 

The drivers door doesn't deadlock because you can manually unlock it with the key. The doors deadlock when the battery is totally dead, so will not happen while you are in it. 

 

When the battery is totally flat, the remote part of the key is totally useless. That's exactly why they put a physical key as part of the fob so you can at least get into the vehicle. 

Any admin able to lock this thread? The issue has been resolved. 

Thanks