Hi Everyone,

 

Kind thanks for all your support on this forum, MUCH appreciated, especially @Breezy_Pete & @nta16

I hope to return the favour./help in any way I can. 

(I bought this car in faith that it would need a few bits along the way, but not all this. And to be honest, a part of the reason I bought it was to be able to do charity work. Am on a budget, so was just trying to get started). 
 

Problem: Heartbreaking. During recent extreme cold (Dec, -5c) amber power steering light comes on. Steering very tight/groggy. Steering loosens and gets better after it gets warm and is driven a bit, but light remained on).

 

notes: Car does have some kind of electrical probs going on, I was aware of, see "Garage" below.

 

Steps taken:

1. 1. Did the "reset" by turning wheel far left and right as suggested in the forum.
    
2. Had Halford's out to replace new battery (as explained in this Briskoda post here ), and do all the checks = no change.
    
3. Garage: Took to highly recommended garage. They've taken off the pump and said needs replacing. Tried to send for refurb, and the refurb says they cannot repair/replace because it is apparently somehow "tied to the specific car's computer" ? 
    
4. Garage result: after having it taken off and on, (possibly just cleaning it up or summat), the light is no longer on. The Garage is going to do me a quick MOT to pass so I can go from there (they suggest trading it asap). 
   --They also say I needed some electrical switch replaced which is around £200. Am not sure if they are doing this, will confirm).

Questions/possible repairs:

• A. Is it true that these units are somehow "bound" to the car?

 

• B. I saw in this Briskoda forum post here, by @UrbanPanzer a link to the new part. Can I just buy it and have it simply replaced? 
   

https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/6r0423156b-power-steering-pump-trw-germany-oe-producer-23195.html

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/6r0423156b

 

• C. If I get it back, and the light stays off, am I good? 

 

• D. If I get it back, and the amber light comes back on, is it dangerous to drive? 
   

 

Thanks in advance for any/all help. Hope you're having a good weekend.

Martin

 

 

Edited 28 January, 20233 yr by mlbSK2011

4 minutes ago, mlbSK2011 said:

Is it true that these units are somehow "bound" to the car?

No, I think that's untrue.

 

Does the battery light come on when you switch on the ignition? 

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/401778-battery-light-and-associated-problems/

 

3 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

No, I think that's untrue.

 

Does the battery light come on when you switch on the ignition? 

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/401778-battery-light-and-associated-problems/

 

>I don;t think it's true either, but don;t think he's saying it deliberately -

No, no battery light. I actually had the battery replaced when I was trying to silence that alarm (which I ripped out myself haha). 

However, will have it back Monday and can say for sure 

PS. He did say there was some electrical 'switch' needin replacing - I'll have to get the name and IF he did it when I pick it up

Edited 28 January, 20233 yr by mlbSK2011

If the battery light does not come on with ignition (read linked thread above) there is a problem.

1 minute ago, Breezy_Pete said:

If the battery light does not come on with ignition (read linked thread above) there is a problem.

I honestly did not pay attention enough to say. But will confirm. 

 

Electrical problem, that is? 


If this is the culprit, and he hasn't repalced whatever electrical switch...who around here might repair it? 

On mk1 Fabia there's a very common fault with some thin wiring that causes the alternator to not start up at low rpm, not seen many references to mk2s suffering the same, but worth checking. It also causes the battery light to not come on with ignition, which is the very easy check for such broken wiring.

 

Without knowing what your mechanic's talking about with the 'electrical switch' I have no idea how you might repair that.

 

I don't know the Stirling area, I'm in Oxfordshire.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

1 hour ago, mlbSK2011 said:

C. If I get it back, and the light stays off, am I good?

 

D. If I get it back, and the amber light comes back on, is it dangerous to drive? 

If you get it back and the power steering light remains off provided it illuminates at turning ignition on to show the warning system is working and the steering operates and feels fine then the power steering is operating.

 

From the 05.11 Owner's Manual.-

 

 

Even though you have a new battery if the car has electrical problems especially with charging and you have been using the car then ask the garage to test the battery and make sure it's still in a good state of charge, as above if the battery is too low you will have problems with the power steering and other issues, possibly before you get any warning lights (as I probably put before).

 

Edited 28 January, 20233 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

@mlbSK2011 I'm in Dumbarton, so don't know Stirlingshire garages. I can give you a recommendation in Clydebank if you want though?

 

As for the PAS, can you cope with the sudden increase in steering weight? That's the most hazardous thing I can think of other than the wallet pain associated with an MoT failure.

 

As @Breezy_Pete asks, is the battery light showing on switch on, and extinguishing when the engine fires? This is that important I asked it again. Also, is the battery light even flickering at idle revs? A check in the Thistle Centre multi-story may help here. If the battery light isn't showing, ask a local garage (no need to pay main stealer prices for a 20 minute job) to check the alternator control wires.

Thank you guys @nta16 for all this (Sorry @Breezy_Pete I misread that you were local) @KenONeill I may well come back to you on that recommend!

I get the car back on Monday, will update an again, I am VERY grateful to you all!

Hi guys

 

So, got the car back. The one thing this garage did was get it right long enough to pass me an MOT. That's a worry off the plate. 

 

He said that there was an electric switch or box mechanism that goes with the car that needed replacing and was too expensive vs. the actual value of the car. This seems odd to me - I thing he may just not be a Skoda expert.

 

He said (as you'bve mentioned) an electrical problem is not getting energy to the power steering. 

@Breezy_Pete to your point and @KenONeill: no battery icon at startup - as per the video below. I may look on how to check the alternator control wires...or is that something that has to be done in a garage?

 

@KenONeill "As for the PAS, can you cope with the sudden increase in steering weight? " When the light is off, the steering is fine. Even with it on, it's just a bit heavier - not really difficult. I am thinking if this is just for short jaunts around my small town, just drive the thing until I can get this electrics sorted?

 

I think you're all onto something here. 

 

thanks as always

 

M

 

 

Find the blue wire that's broken, and rejoin it.

 

Or post the car down to me ..😁

Edited 30 January, 20233 yr by Breezy_Pete

1 hour ago, mlbSK2011 said:

I may look on how to check the alternator control wires...or is that something that has to be done in a garage?

DIYable, but as I said above it takes less than half an hour if you know how.

17 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Find the blue wire that's broken, and rejoin it.

 

Or post the car down to me ..😁

 

16 hours ago, KenONeill said:

DIYable, but as I said above it takes less than half an hour if you know how.

 

GOnna go on the SEARCH FOR THE BLUE WIRE. Or make a movie of that title. 

@Breezy_Pete be careful what you wish for 

anyone know the best site to get a shop/repair manual? Don;t mind payin for a good one...

 

1 minute ago, mlbSK2011 said:

anyone know the best site to get a shop/repair manual? Don't mind payin for a good one...

erWin Skoda is your best bet here, you should save your VIN into a text file before you start, pay for 1hr and you will get wiring diagrams and repair manuals for your car.

Cost is 7 Euro, so about £7.50 roughly after conversion/fee.

Hi Guys hope you had a good week. Been busy so just getting round to work on this "Hunt for the Blue Wire"

 

couple of things:

FIrst, I have power steering. It steers. Dunno what I was thinking or whatnot. Yesterday I over-clutched ina fiddly car park and the engine turned off, was on a hill going into a space. Decided to let it roll - THEN I found out what it's like with no power steering. 

 

Second, with some reflection, I realised this ALL began AFTER I had the good ship Halford's out to replace my battery (due to the infuriating alarm going off constantly, that I removed myself). It is clearly electrical, as you've said. 

I feel like the guy at the garage is well intended (he pushed through an MOT while everything was workin), but he kept going on about some expensive electrical switch *mentioned) that was tied somehow to the car itself by programming and was mad expensive to replace. (!?)

Now, Blue wire: 
Before I go spending and digging through manuals, can you please give me a hint what/where I'm looking for? Below are photos of the blue wires I can find thus far...

 

 

Behind the battery?

 

 

 

 

Feeeding into the wee connector on the front of the battery?

 

 

 

 

 

 

same one better view

 

 

 

Curiously hanging free coming from under the battery seems to swing up behind the alternator?

 

 

 

 

 

Alternator connector had a blue one...

 

 

 

 

Thanks as always @Breezy_Pete @varooom @KenONeill @nta16!

 

Martin

Edited 3 February, 20233 yr by mlbSK2011

It's the one going to that alternator connector, so follow that back wherever it goes. If you can tell me your engine code I may be able to find some info about intermediate connectors it may pass through, using the wiring diagrams.

 

On 03/02/2023 at 17:16, Breezy_Pete said:

It's the one going to that alternator connector, so follow that back wherever it goes. If you can tell me your engine code I may be able to find some info about intermediate connectors it may pass through, using the wiring diagrams.

 

Hi Pete,

That's what I suspected... thank you. 

 

My engine code is (Engine Number?) CBZ 359436

 

Type: 5J

Variant ABCBZAX01

Version NFM5FM52T10614N

 

are those what you need?

 

cheers!

 

Martin

PS. Am not foot draggin but need a day when it's not pourin out.

Perfect, just the CBZ was needed, thanks. 

There's apparently a four-way connector pair 'front left of engine compartment', through which this wire passes, so that's probably the next place to look after ensuring that the alternator connector is fully 'home'/clicked into engagement. The other wire from the alternator connector also goes to this four-way, along with two wires from the control solenoid of the aircon compressor, below the alternator.

 

From that four way interconnect it's continuous all the way into the control unit in the cabin from which it starts.

 

Left in the description of location is left as viewed sitting in the driver's seat facing forward, so right as you look into the engine bay from in front of the car.

I haven't spotted such a connector in the photos above, it may be that you need to look from under the car to see it, possibly.

 

On 05/02/2023 at 15:00, Breezy_Pete said:

Perfect, just the CBZ was needed, thanks. 

There's apparently a four-way connector pair 'front left of engine compartment', through which this wire passes, so that's probably the next place to look after ensuring that the alternator connector is fully 'home'/clicked into engagement. The other wire from the alternator connector also goes to this four-way, along with two wires from the control solenoid of the aircon compressor, below the alternator.

 

From that four way interconnect it's continuous all the way into the control unit in the cabin from which it starts.

 

Left in the description of location is left as viewed sitting in the driver's seat facing forward, so right as you look into the engine bay from in front of the car.

I haven't spotted such a connector in the photos above, it may be that you need to look from under the car to see it, possibly.

 

Thanks Pete. It may be dry enough today to try!