The power steering on my Skoda Fabia has gone. The light on dash board has a steering wheel icon and an exclamation remark. Are they expensive to repair?

Thanks 

Not if using secondhand parts, good luck finding a car that will work flawlessly for three years, even brand new cars will have recalls or warranty work done in that time.

It's almost certainly the pump unit since angle sensor failure will put the pump into always on mode and you'd have some assistance.

@Olwen what year is your Fabia, and which engine type does it have?

When you switch the ignition on to the point that all the warning lights come on briefly, does the battery symbol light up, and stay lit until you start the engine?

Can you inspect (or photograph and post here) the strip fuses in the fuse carrier on top of the battery?

 

 

 

 

Thank you for responding. The registration is FR10 

3 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

Not if using secondhand parts, good luck finding a car that will work flawlessly for three years, even brand new cars will have recalls or warranty work done in that time.

It's almost certainly the pump unit since angle sensor failure will put the pump into always on mode and you'd have some assistance.

Thank you for your reply. The garage I use said it would cost a lot of money and it’s only 2 years ago that I had to replace the automatic gear box the car having only been out of warranty for 6 months so you can understand I don’t want to spend a lot more money on this car. I don’t do a lot of mileage either. Just wondering whether I should trade it in for another car? Which I’ve no idea. It’s driveable as in like driving a tank! Thanks for any advice you can offer.  

Thanks Wino. Will check what comes on when I start the car. The car is 1100 cc and I’m guessing it’s 2012 since the reg is FR12. Will have a go at inspecting the fuse on the battery.

Im a single woman and know nothing about cars. I just don’t want to spend a lot more money on this car that’s costing me a fortune! 

Sounds like it's a Mk2 Fabia to me. You're in the Mk1 forum.

Thanks for that info. I had no idea what Mark it was. How do I go to a Mk2 forum please?

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/113-skoda-fabia-mk-ii/

 

Sorry I cant help with your problem.

 

Any other warning lights on, random lights/ beeps or just heavy/lack of power steering?

 

@wino was you thinking of the alternator load sensor wire? I was thinking back what it was when i lost power steering, cant remember if it was that or not, but maybe irrelevant if mk2 anyway.

36 minutes ago, trickstargee said:

@wino was you thinking of the alternator load sensor wire?

Sort of. The blue wire that starts the alternator up, which isn't the load sense one, but often breaks in the same place. 

It’s a Mark 1 just checked on vehicle reg doc. 
date of reg July 2012

Thank you for your help. It’s just the power steering that’s gone.

Get the battery checked first, a knackered or flat/low battery often leads to the power steering assistance switching off.

Thank you Xman for the advice. It’s been very cold which may have affected the battery.... I so hope it is! 

6 hours ago, Olwen said:

It’s a Mark 1 just checked on vehicle reg doc. 
date of reg July 2012

Thank you for your help. It’s just the power steering that’s gone.

 

A 2012 car being a Mk1 is impossible. Mk1 only went up to 2008.

I will recheck my Vehicle reg doc tomorrow. Thanks for your help. 

The confusion may be arising from the fact that some of the mk2 trim variants in the UK were named Fabia 1, Fabia 2 etc.

 

This from wikipedia:

 

The second generation Fabia trim levels were Classic, Ambiente, Sport and Elegance. In the UK the trim levels were called 1, 2, Sport, 3, and GreenLine (later S, SE, Elegance, and GreenLine). In India, the trim levels were Active, Classic, Ambiente and Elegance. All models sold within the EU were equipped with ABS, front passenger, driver and side airbags. Curtain airbags and ESC were available as an option.

 

So a Fabia 1, Fabia 2 and Fabia 3 are all mk2 Fabias. 

Thanks for the help... you may have picked up that I’m a single woman who knows absolutely nothing about it cars! I just don't want to be ripped off having paid out £1600 on a new automatic gearbox 6 months out of its warranty about 2 years ago! I’m wanting I guess advice on whether I should just get rid even though no one would buy it as it is! I so hope it’s just a battery issue.....

Thanks