Hello!

 

i have a problem with my Fabia MK2 (Combi from 2009, 1.2 petrol), looking for some help. After browsing the forums i think this might be a cold/cracked solder on the unit itself, but most reports of those problems are for the MK1 so i figured i'd try asking. My problem is also a tad different so it might be an easy fix, right?🥲

 

Here we go:

 

The instrument cluster dies after a couple of seconds after turning the car into run or starting it. No rev counter, no speedometer, no lights, no sounds from the indicators. The small central screen still works for the most part, however it signals a wildly incorrect temperature between -12 and -16c.

 

Here is a short video of me starting the car   i've also attached a picture of the dash with the car running.

 

I can force the high beams light to turn on if i pull the indicator lever. I can also force the headlights light to turn on with the switch next to the fuse panel. If the car is turned off i can also turn on the hazards and those work fine and do make sound, until i turn the key into the run position. Indicators will also make sound and blink for the ~2 seconds the car takes to fully start. Same for the rev counter, will flick up then die.

 

Note that the car works fine and is safe to drive, indicators, headlights, wipers ecc.. do work. You just don't know.

 

I checked fuses 3 and 35 as those are the ones for the dash according to the manual, they are fine. Battery has an healthy charge.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

 

This stinks of a bad shared connection - most likely an earthing point.

There's a pdf of the Fabia 2 electrical systems HERE which may help.

1 hour ago, MikeTheThinker said:

There's a pdf of the Fabia 2 electrical systems HERE which may help.

 

Much appreciated, ill'take a look. I've never done anything on my own except general maintenance so this is probably outside of what i'd try to attempt.

Could very well be the connector at rear of dash. Thats where I would start. Had an Octavia that did the same. I pulled dash and cleaned and recconected connector. It did seem to be partly disconnected when I removed cluster but that could have been me. It was fine after that. Not sure on the Fabia but on Octavia dash is coded and you have to remove battery before removal as it can imobize car. Better to be safe than sorry. 

Alasdair

21 hours ago, Alasdair1 said:

Could very well be the connector at rear of dash. Thats where I would start. Had an Octavia that did the same. I pulled dash and cleaned and recconected connector. It did seem to be partly disconnected when I removed cluster but that could have been me. It was fine after that. Not sure on the Fabia but on Octavia dash is coded and you have to remove battery before removal as it can imobize car. Better to be safe than sorry. 

Alasdair

 

Thanks, looks fairly easy to remove so I will give it a try next weekend

Could also be a dry solder joint in cluster. Some of the MK2 octavia were prone. When I removed mine I noticed a small section of it had been repaired. Had a couple of wires by passing a section of the circuit board. Give it a good check over with a decent magnifying lens.

Alasdair

Small update,

 

pulled the cluster, gave the connections a good spray with contact cleaner and looked over the PCB for blown capacitors or traces. All looks fine.

 

Will take it to a repairman in this week to see if it's possible to save it because buying a new one and coding the computer + keys would be quite the expense

Final small update, took it to a specialized shop. They took the car in and replaced both motors that moved the speedo and rev counter.

200 euros.

Ouch.

Thats not pleasant but at least its fixed. Still probably cheaper than new/second hand cluster and having it coded and less hassle. Hope its fine now. Odd that both had failed.

Alasdair