A few days ago, the above three warning lights appeared while driving.   I don’t have an OBD fault reader so I’ll describe the symptoms in the hope someone might recognise what the fault is.  I could take it to the dealer but they’ll charge £90 plus vat just to plug the reader in!

 

The lights don’t usually appear until I’ve driven a few hundred yards but occasionally they are on at start-up.  When they come on they are accompanied by the chime that warns of low tyre pressure/frost etc.  While they are on, there is no discernible problem in how it drives.  Power and response appear to be normal.   Tyre pressures are all correct and the battery has been fully charged overnight on a smart charger.

 

However, the following conditions are present while the lights are on: 

• digital display of the gear always shows 5, in every gear
• cruise control will not work
• the message “start-stop error” is sometimes displayed

 

If I switch off the ignition for a few minutes and restart, sometimes the lights don’t appear and none of the above conditions apply any more.   Instead, the car can be going along steadily at, say, 50mph on cruise control when it will start to play up and I can tell that the lights are about to come on because:

 

• the speedo needle will either start to bounce or drop to 15mph and stay there (the digital speedo remains accurate)
• cruise control switches itself off
• the engine starts to cut like it’s not firing properly or no fuel is being delivered momentarily

 

To get rid of the ‘misfire’, I have to drop a gear and go a few hundred yards at higher revs, at which point the warning lights come on and the car drives fine!

 

Anyone have a clue what might be the source?

 

It’s a 2011 (61) 1.2 Fabia Greenline II, 93,500 miles, dealer serviced and I’ve had it from new.

 

 

You'll need a fault scan to confirm but I'd be willing to bet you have an issue with one or more ABS wheel speed sensors, either a faulty sensor or damaged wiring. All of the systems you describe in your post take speed information from the ABS using the wheel speed sensors.

Hello Harry, first thing to do is get the battery properly tested for condition, a simple test with a multimeter while cranking engine is better than nothing - do you know how the battery is?

Even though it was on charge overnight, the battery could still be failing.

2 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Hello Harry, first thing to do is get the battery properly tested for condition, a simple test with a multimeter while cranking engine is better than nothing - do you know how the battery is?

Even though it was on charge overnight, the battery could still be failing.

 

Hi Warrior, the battery is an E39 Varta Start-Stop Plus 096 AGM 12V 70Ah (570901076) which I fitted in July 2019 after the original gave up.

52 minutes ago, chimaera said:

I'd be willing to bet you have an issue with one or more ABS wheel speed sensors,

 

You may be right.  I forgot to mention that when the lights are not on and the speedo needle is fluctuating, the ABS activates even under normal braking.

 

Would a fault scan identify which ABS sensors are faulty?

 

If it turns out to be that, is that an expensive job?

33 minutes ago, harry vederci said:

 

You may be right.  I forgot to mention that when the lights are not on and the speedo needle is fluctuating, the ABS activates even under normal braking.

 

Would a fault scan identify which ABS sensors are faulty?

 

If it turns out to be that, is that an expensive job?

From other postings, I believe that faulty sensor will identify position.

Any fully VW Group compliant scan tool will point to what it thinks is causing the fault, so yes, if a ABS wheel sensor, it will identify which one.

 

You could check the "VCDS locator map" to see if anyone close to you is reg'd and ask to make contact.

 

Where, roughly, in Scotland are you located?

1 hour ago, harry vederci said:

 

Would a fault scan identify which ABS sensors are faulty?

 

If it turns out to be that, is that an expensive job?

 

Yes if using a dealer level tool like VCDS, it may require more than scanning fault codes and using live data or output tests to highlight the anomalous sensor.

 

Very cheap to DIY, less than €2 including delivery from China, paying a garage? the sky is the limit, someone reported recently a garage wanting £1800 to replace a cambelt on a standard TDi engine, the world has gone crazy!!

57 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

Where, roughly, in Scotland are you located?

 

I’m in Glasgow.  Servicing has always been done by Henrys Skoda but I’m inclined to use an independent garage for this repair instead.

2 hours ago, harry vederci said:

 

I’m in Glasgow.  Servicing has always been done by Henrys Skoda but I’m inclined to use an independent garage for this repair instead.

I've always been happy with "A for Audi", who charge about half Henry's labour rate.

On 15/07/2024 at 13:43, chimaera said:

I'd be willing to bet you have an issue with one or more ABS wheel speed sensors

 

You were spot on.  The fault was a dodgy ABS sensor on the front offside.  All sorted now.