Couple of days ago the wife`s Fabia 1.2 cut out while driving, rolled to the side of the road and instantly restarted. Yesterday we did a trip of three miles or so and parked it in the drive. Ten minuets later I tried to start it and found that none of the dash warning lights were working. It turned over and fired but died within seconds, hit the key again and it turned over and would not fire. Removed the key and tried again, same , fired ,ran for a couple of seconds then died. I noticed that when you hit the key the rear screen wiper worked without being switched on. The front wipers will not work at all although the front washers do.Checked all the fuses and all the wiring that I can see but nothing obvious. Anybody got any ideas as I`m slowly running out of hair to pull.

Needs to be scanned otherwise people will just answer with best, and probably totally inaccurate, answers. The scan needs doing with a totally compatible ODB2 scanner otherwise the results will be irrelevant. Hopefully you won't take this reply as a negative, but given with years of experience on this forum. If you have a spare key, using that is something that you could try as starting/stopping within seconds could be an immobiliser issue but this should not happen when driving, and other issues would not apply.

A tip - rather than having a spare key/remote use both keys/remotes in some sort of alternating rotation that way both keys/remotes wear evenly, the batteries, remotes and key blades, you also know where the "spare key" is (it's not mislaid) and that it works properly.

 

It sounds like you have a major electrical  issue, I would start with the ignition switch, if you have a multimeter check the main battery positive feed, clearly the battery connection itself is ok because the starter motor spins when the rest of the electrical system is malfunctioning.

What work or modifications if any were done prior to the breakdown?

No mods or recent work done to the car, since the head gasket last year been running perfectly. As to a scanner can anyone recommend a reasonably priced but effective one?

38 minutes ago, nta16 said:

A tip - rather than having a spare key/remote use both keys/remotes in some sort of alternating rotation that way both keys/remotes wear evenly, the batteries, remotes and key blades, you also know where the "spare key" is (it's not mislaid) and that it works properly.

 

Cheers. Good idea but the wife uses the "spare" key regularly when she can`t find "her" keys.

1 hour ago, fartfield said:

Ten minuets later I tried to start it and found that none of the dash warning lights were working.

Which minuet(s) did you use, and does this mean that ICE was operating correctly even though nothing else was? (testing the battery, and I think the strip fuses)

5 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Which minuet(s) did you use, and does this mean that ICE was operating correctly even though nothing else was? (testing the battery, and I think the strip fuses)

Mozarts of course, and yes ICE is working  as are the lights, but nothing else.

5 minutes ago, fartfield said:

Mozarts of course, and yes ICE is working  as are the lights, but nothing else.

 Glad you understood the joke, and the serious point was that it tests the battery connections, battery top fuzebox and fuzable link. Unfortunately, it starts looking like a failure in the immobiliser, convenience ECU or if you're lucky the ignition switch. I suggest consulting a proper auto electrician, not a Skoda main stealer.

1 hour ago, KenONeill said:

 Glad you understood the joke, and the serious point was that it tests the battery connections, battery top fuzebox and fuzable link. Unfortunately, it starts looking like a failure in the immobiliser, convenience ECU or if you're lucky the ignition switch. I suggest consulting a proper auto electrician, not a Skoda main stealer.

I would start checking ground wires myself and checking that the connections to the battery are tight 

1 hour ago, KenONeill said:

 Glad you understood the joke, and the serious point was that it tests the battery connections, battery top fuzebox and fuzable link. Unfortunately, it starts looking like a failure in the immobiliser, convenience ECU or if you're lucky the ignition switch. I suggest consulting a proper auto electrician, not a Skoda main stealer.

Been scouring yellow pages for somebody local so on the phone first thing in the morning. Thanks to everybody for all the input. Now where did I put that bottle?

24 minutes ago, fartfield said:

Now where did I put that bottle?

It’s a bit early but what the hell, bad day and “it’s five o’clock somewhere”

Sun`s over the yardarm in Singapore!

Done some more searching, what a clever place to put the relays, so easy to get to!!!!

Well, checked the relays, all appear to be working. Bought a code reader and got several codes  all basically saying no communication with instrument cluster. I sent both speedo and ecu off to a specialist who found no faults on the instrument cluster and was unable to check the ecu. Anybody got any ideas on what to do next? 

I would start by reflowing all the solder connections on the instrument cluster multiway socket, unless the company you sent it to have already done it, have you tested it?

Thanks for that. When it gets back I`ll fit it and try it and keep you informed. The company I sent it too have a good reputation locally within the trade,  so I`m keeping my fingers crossed.

On 22/09/2022 at 17:35, fartfield said:

Thanks for that. When it gets back I`ll fit it and try it and keep you informed. The company I sent it too have a good reputation locally within the trade,  so I`m keeping my fingers crossed.

Got to the bottom of the problem at last. fuse number 3, instrument cluster, feed going into fuse box but not out. Now where`s that bottle?

I bet you are feeling a little bit fused, yourself now!  I was going to suggest making sure the battery was in good condition though, as they hate semi-flat half worn batteries! Still, you are done, now.