We are seeing this for a second or so on our Mk3 from time to time (three times in one short trip today), but it has actually registered a B116229 error code earlier this month too.

I can see that some of you have had this fixed with an external switch kit by a garage, but has anyone done it themselves? In my case, I think the kit will be 5Q0 713 128 A as the top of our gear selector unit is black.

It's clear there isn't enough access to fit a kit with just the gaiter removed but I'm not sure if the (in our case creme) plastic around the gearlever area comes away from the centre console, or whether the whole console has to come out. I can see a couple of TORX screws on each side of the console towards the front, and two screws under the rubber mat in the drinks holder, but I'm not sure what else is involved in getting the arm rest off, and getting the rest of the centre console released - if that is what is required.

Any help appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, welcome.

Have a search, Briskoda members have put up details and photos of fitting the VW repair kit themselves, and details of which kit is appropriate. Sorry I can't remember any of the details but I think it's a straightforward job, obviously when dealing with wunderbar fantastic-plastic you don't want to go at it like a bull in a china shop.

Thanks - I had a search around before I posted + on YouTube. Most of the examples of fitting the kit seem to be on Octavias, Golfs etc. where access seems to be pretty straightforward. I've yet to find any photos/videos of it being done on a Fabia Mk3. I'll have another dig about.......

I have found a post on here about removing the arm rest so I might end up doing that and seeing if I can work out how the console secures.

I'll have a look later to see if I can find anything - if not you could perhaps post a guide of when you did it and the arm.

Sorry I couldn't find anything that you wanted. I think getting the arm off might be the most perplexing bit and after the gear lever gaiter surround might be similar to as on other models.

Thanks anyway. The gearlever gaiter was the one thing I did find on Youtube - but on the Fabia Mk3, that just gives access to the top of the selector and not to the electrical socket on the front of it.

With most other VAG cars, the whole trim around the gearlever comes off - but again, the Fabia Mk3 doesn't look/feel as if it does, and I haven't seen anyone selling that area of trim separate from the centre console. That did surprise me as you would expect where a particular bit of trim is available in different colours to match the interior, it would clip on to keep production costs down.

Anyway, I'll see how I get on and report back with photos or videos.

I have the same problem with my Monte Carlo. DQ200, 7 speed. I already got the gear shift lever unit replaced ( 2nd hand part, driven 26t km.) It started to give error after three months. Error! Workshop!. Blaaa, blaa blaa...

The notification comes very briefly while driving with alarm beeb. Maybe 2-3 seconds and dissapers. There is a fault code found with VCDS, B1162 29 - Signal Implausible, Intermittent - Confirmed

I've done some research: in my case my gear shift lever part number is 6C1 713 025 AA and the repair kits are available only for the levers with number 3Q0, 5Q0 and 5Q1.

In this case the only solution is to tear down the whole unit and solder out the old microswitch and replace with new one.

But if someone has an alternative solution, I all ears!

Edited 8 August, 20258 Aug by jtmattila

No point fitting a second hand selector I'm afraid. The blurb suggests the contacts of the microswitch go hi-resistance over time - so it was obviously a duff component out the factory and they will all fail eventually. Our Fabia has done less than 40K miles so even a low miles part is no quarantee.

Not sure what part number ours is yet other than it being a black top from getting the gaiter off - but what I have found from a company called AKS Tuning's website is there are four different kits to fix the issue. It's also clear from this forum that some people with Fabias have had a fix done at a relatively sensible price which I assume didn't involve stripping the selector down to dig the problem microswitch out or the labour charge would have been much higher. Also, if Skoda were getting hit with warranty claims all over the place, that's an incentive for VAG to come up with an easy fit solution for all the affected selectors in all the affected VAG ranges.

AKS tuning list the following:

5Q0713128A black selector top

5Q0713128B black selector top

3Q0713128A white selector top

3Q0713128B white selector top

I was planning on digging the gaiter off again in the next few days and sending AKS Tuning a photo and see what they say about mine.

Edited 8 August, 20258 Aug by Yorkshiremidge

My local indy changed the microswitch for around £200

1 minute ago, logiclee said:

My local indy changed the microswitch for around £200

That's interesting - do you know from your invoice what they actually did? i.e. did they fit one of these extra switch kits on top of the selector that bypasses the original defective switch OR did they replace the existing defective switch somehow?

£200 doesn't sound that bad actually - I bet a new selector is several times that!

Edited 8 August, 20258 Aug by Yorkshiremidge

Just found this on YouTube that suggests one of the switch kits might well fit the Fabia, eventhough I found a listing on LLL Parts for the kit which mentions the Octavia as the only Skoda in the fitment table.

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/5q0713128a/micro-switch-5q0713128a

It would be good to corroborate this with your experience @logiclee - the comment that the console does need to come out probably ties in with the bill you got too.

Edited 8 August, 20258 Aug by Yorkshiremidge

7 minutes ago, Yorkshiremidge said:

It would be good to corroborate this with your experience @logiclee - the comment that the console does need to come out probably ties in with the bill you got too.

I believe it was this one or similar. Indy said there was a choice of two and they wouldn't know which one until stripped.

AKS tuning

Genuine VAG DQ200 / DQ250 DSG Parking Brake Fault Fix - 5...

Genuine repair kit for fault 'Error Workshop, only leave vehicle in Position P'

Edited 8 August, 20258 Aug by logiclee

Thanks @logiclee - I'm gonna get in touch with AKS Tuning and see if they can confirm the position.

@jtmattila that just leaves the question of where you got your info that it might not fit the selector with the part number you gave. It doesn't seem likely there is going to be much variation in selectors within the Mk3 range.

10 hours ago, Yorkshiremidge said:

@jtmattila that just leaves the question of where you got your info that it might not fit the selector with the part number you gave. It doesn't seem likely there is going to be much variation in selectors within the Mk3 range.

Got this info from a DSG specialist here in Finland. And my selectors, original and 2nd hand, are both black tops.

17 minutes ago, jtmattila said:

Got this info from a DSG specialist here in Finland. And my selectors, original and 2nd hand, are both black tops.

I've just done a check and the Skoda Octavia selector for years 2014-2017 (as per the LLL Parts fitment) seems to be part ref. such as 5Q0711061 as an example, which would seem to support your source.

But if people have fitted these to Fabias (or had them fitted) and the fitment/compatibility isn't documented, then there is a possibility the source might be wrong. I can't identify the likely part number for mine off the net so what I'll do is get my console out some time over the next few days and see if I can get the part number off mine, and I'll run it past AKS Tuning and see what they say OR run it past the VAG indy I use.

@Yorkshiremidge Is the Octavia part number 2014-2017 for DQ200 DSG,s?

Not for Octavia with DQ250 DSG,s before they went to DQ381,s.

8 hours ago, Ootohere said:

@Yorkshiremidge Is the Octavia part number 2014-2017 for DQ200 DSG,s?

Not for Octavia with DQ250 DSG,s before they went to DQ381,s.

I didn't look too closely - I was just looking for part numbers of selectors beginning 5Q0 and that was one example I found.

@jtmattila There is another step you can take since you know your selector part number. It looks like a German company ecu.eu offer a repair service on selectors 6C1713025AA for this fault so it might be worth you enquiring what that involves - fitting the switch kit to them, or replacing the failed switch. It lists this as being applicable to 1.0 (engine code CHZC) and 1.2 TSI Fabias (engine code CJZD). Ours is a 1.2 TSI with a CJZD engine.

They list some other selectors for other Fabia engines too:

6C1713025AB 1.4TDI Combi

@logiclee What engine/code is in yours out of curiosity?

Edited 9 August, 20259 Aug by Yorkshiremidge

46 minutes ago, Yorkshiremidge said:

@logiclee What engine/code is in yours out of curiosity?

Sorry Fabia is not here at the moment, back tomorrow afternoon. I have a Superb, wife has Octavia and the Fabia is for rest of the family.

2017 1.0TSi 110PS. I'll check engine code tomorrow.

16 hours ago, logiclee said:

Sorry Fabia is not here at the moment

If you want to, you can just put the car's registration into a car parts supplier's search and it will come up with the car info including the engine code, obviously as with all information from any source check that it's right, in this case all the other information about the car such as make, model, year, colour, type, variant, engine size and power, transmission type.

I've dug the gaiter off mine again, photographed the selector (see attached - which looks identical to the one in the YouTube video I linked to earlier in this thread as far as I can see), and sent the photos to AKS Tuning who advise me that 5Q0713128A is correct for it, so I have ordered one just a few minutes ago.

I'll document the arm rest and console removal when I try and fit it which will be some time next week, and @jtmattila I will confirm the part number on my selector so we can see if it's the same as yours.

In case you don't know and ever need it, that yellow thing (bit of wunderbar VW fantastic-plastic) is for if the lever gets stuck in 'Park'

11 hours ago, nta16 said:

In case you don't know and ever need it, that yellow thing (bit of wunderbar VW fantastic-plastic) is for if the lever gets stuck in 'Park'

Definately worth knowing, but if you've ever wondered why it is so difficult to get to those levers on autos, it's because the most likely cause of the box refusing to come out of Park is if your brake switch has failed, which means you don't have any brake lights and shouldn't be driving it. So it's really only for recovery/garage purposes.

14 hours ago, Yorkshiremidge said:

but if you've ever wondered why it is so difficult to get to those levers on autos, it's because the most likely cause of the box refusing to come out of Park is if your brake switch has failed, which means you don't have any brake lights and shouldn't be driving it. So it's really only for recovery/garage purposes.

😄 Sorry I forgot that bit and I only saw another video on it the other day!

My daughter's Fabia 2016 1.2 dsg has this dash warning and the fault code. I looked it up a few months ago and saw the repair kit but as far as I know nobody has ever been left stranded so I was going to leave it for now. I'm already down to fit cruise control in a few weeks but so far the particular new switch it needs has been declared as obsolete. 🙄

I'll be looking out for your description/pics/prices of the gear lever job @Yorkshiremidge 👍

@Rheumy It won't leave anyone stranded. It's more an irritation with it popping up and bleeping. It is if/when the switch goes permanently open circuit as opposed to intermittent open, that there may be a couple of issues - namely that it may be possible to inadvertently leave the car out of Park when you shouldn't be able to on an auto, and that is a safety matter (and a recall issue in US and Canada as they have specific regs relating to roll-away).

In the UK, the transmission lock on an auto isn't a specific MOT test item (because the gearbox isn't), nor is it a specific fail item - but if an MOT tester is sat with the error in front of them, it's likely it will at least be recorded as a safety related advisory. Whether they could find a code to fail it against, I couldn't say. A permanent switch fail will of course be visible to anyone looking to buy the car in the future too.

The kit arrived last week (£72 inc tax and shipping by Special Delivery from AKS Tuning) and I've just done a YouTube video on the first step which is removing the centre arm rest (if fitted). I'm hoping to get the console out either tomorrow or Wednesday and I'll then know if the kit fits and works OK on the Fabia.