Hiya, 

 

we have a 2016 Fabia Monte Carlo and the door handle had broken. Now we can’t get the central locking to work on that door. All the other ones work though. Anyone else had this problem when a door handle broke or have we got a bigger problem than just a snapped handle?

 

 

Internal or external door handle and on which door?

 

Oh yeah 🙈 interior passenger

If front passenger door does this door have the 'emergency' hidden key blade cylinder lock (you also use to synchronise the remotes) or is that on your driver's door?

 

We have tried that and didn’t seem to do anything. There is a rubber cover and took that off and saw the white lock. It wouldn’t turn with the key. When you pulled the outside handle after trying to turn it, it would make clicking sound. The handle inside only opens out about a quarter of what it should and looks broken. Looking at where it locks on the door, that doesn’t move at all when using the remote or the button in the car

That was on the passenger side. Will try on the drivers side though

I don't think there's much point trying the driver's side as it sounds like the door lock and/or handle mechanism is broken or come off and/or jammed.  So I'd imagine it's a door panel off repair required but sorry I don't know the exact details of what's involved with this, perhaps others will.  The subject has probably been covered here before if you do a search for Mk3.

 

Edited 15 February, 20224 yr by nta16

No worries, thanks for trying to help though. I’ll have a search. I have tried to find out how to remove the panel but no luck so will prob just book into my garage for a repair. Annoyingly on hols at the moment but can’t go out with a door that doesn’t lock 🙄

These types of jobs aren't difficult, sometimes awkward with fixings and connected cables and wires but if you take your time.  Other than the Torx heads screws you don't usually need special tools.  I use old plastic spatulas of various types and thickness to get plastic bits off and the panel without scratching the paint.  If you are a bit short of tools have a look at what's about in the kitchen.  And if you have removed all the fixings and the door card still won't move it's probably because of one or two hidden fixings (or with my jobs the same fixing I forgot last time).

 

Once you have the panel off you might be able to repair enough until you can get another interior handle or at least unjam it so you can lock it at the white plastic bit.

 

I had a quick look for a good video but I could find one but if you have a look at a few various ones combined they give the general idea,

 

Let us know how you get on and photos of 'what's up' will help with diagnosis as to the cause and further action needed.

 

Good luck.

Edited 15 February, 20224 yr by nta16

So we managed to finally get around to removing the door card to fix the handle. Removed broken door handle and it turned out the internal cable had broken so we have replaced that too. Popped everything back together and now we have an airbag fault light. Do you know if there a way to reset it?

Well done.

 

Distressing to see a man of your years using a power tool on so few such small screws. 😁

 

For the airbag, like a blown fuse you really need to know why before replacing, or resetting in this case, but it will require a scan tool if it doesn't go off by itself - BUT - did you perhaps turn the passenger airbag off with the key blade, if not what did you do to get this light on?

 

Edited 3 April, 20224 yr by nta16
forgot the 'not' as in didn't

VCDS will probably be able to reset the light. Use the owner's map on here to find a member local to you and they'll maybe put the light out in exchange for some beer tokens etc.

@HyperionIts easy to switch off the airbag light or read the module to see exactly what has caused the fault light to appear.  I can assist you with that as I have OBD11 and I am in Chichester and offer coding, you also have @mushtafain Bognor Regis (VCDS) and your local guy in Brighton is @paulskiHEX-V2 VCDS, If you do go to get it coded by someone with VCDS or OBD11, you might want to check out my post on the coding options for the mk3 fabia, a few little tweaks that can help. Ie Hill Hold Assist activation. - 

 

But before you do anything try the good old trick of disconnecting the battery, and leave the car for 10-15 minutes before plugging in again. Probably wont work but worth a try. Used to work on older cars but not so much on modern ones which more complex computers. 

 

 

Happy to assist here to clear airbag light fault and any coding adaptions required. 

 

My VCDs is genuine and I have both Hex-Can and Hex-V2 available. 

 

please PM me to arrange. 

 

Kind regards. 

 

Thanks for the mention @JGrindel 👍

Edited 4 April, 20224 yr by paulski

If you're going to disconnect the battery you might as well charge it with an appropriate charger at the same time, not a booster charge and if possible preferably a long, low, slow recharge as it goes deeper than a quick, high fast charge.

 

When the battery is disconnected, turn the ignition on to the setting that would allow the brake lights to work if the battery was connected and press the brake pedal down for about 10 seconds as this will empty stored electric in the computers which may reset the airbag light on reconnecting the battery.  You'll also need to reset the the time of day clock, well I did on my wife's 2015 Fabia.

 

Edited 4 April, 20224 yr by nta16
spelling