Hi all.

My 2008 Fabia has developed a problem with the electric windows. It only has front electric windows and both driver and passenger windows have stopped working, the passenger side has never worked from the drivers switch the whole time I have owned the car but worked from the passenger switch.

Everything else on the doors work (central locking, electric mirrors, alarm senor button and the alarm/door locked LED) when you turn the car lights on, the window switches light up.

I tested both window fuses and the mirror fuse (and all other fuses) and all were fine, all three were also getting voltage. I scanned the car with my OBDeleven and didn't get any faults but when I went into the live data for the windows it listed it as not installed.

I tried disconnecting the battery as this had been suggested in the forums for fixing the issue, but the issue remained.

I visually inspected the wires in the rubber bellows in between the body of the car and the drivers door, and they all appeared fine. I then removed the door card and tested all the pins in the plug for continuity, I also flexed the wiring loom at the same time to try and test for intermittent breaks in the wiring in the loom. This also didn't show any breaks in the wires.

I then tested for voltage on pins 16 and 6 on the window motor module connector, I got 12V permanent on pin 16 and 12V switched on pin 6. I also tested the pin 8 ground on the connector, and this was fine.

If I pull both window fuses or unplug the window motor module connector while the car is running then plug the fuses or connector back in, the windows both work fine again temporally (including the passenger window from the drivers switch, which never worked before).

From reading the forums I gather this points to a faulty window motor control module (The part number on the motor is 6Q1.959.801.F), rather than broken wiring.

Is there any way to test the module, or any visual signs to check for inside the module to confirm it needs replacing/repairing ?

From looking on the forum I see that there was a forum member that repaired the MK1 Fabia windows modules, would the MK2 modules be repairable?

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Diagnostics won't see these motor modules since they only have (LIN) data connection to one another, not to any central control units.

The 6Q1959801F units can fail in the same way as the preceeding 6Y... series units from facelift mk1 and 2007 mk2 Fabias, as well as a few new ways.

Beware - unlike the 6Y modules, it's quite easy to cause irreparable mechanical damage to these 6Q...F variants just by taking them apart with insufficient care.

After unclipping the connector adapter, and removing the four screws, it is essential to 'help' the circuitboard to come out with the main motor chunk by levering gently against the board-mounted connector as the shaft is extracted.

Failing to do so will tend to drag bits apart and motor brushes may get damaged or completely ejected.

Not much to see if you did disassemble though, so not really worth attempting.

Secondhand units on ebay can be found at prices competitive with repair, but be alert to the fact that the same base part number 6Q1959801F is used also on some VW models, where they are mounted differently. Compensatory software differences mean that Skoda and VW ones aren't functionally interchangeable, despite physically fitting.

Up and down will be reversed relative to switch inputs if mixed heritage parts are fitted.

VW parts will have a number under the 6Q1959801F that begins VW240 (Polo) or VW750 (T5).

Skoda versions have SK250 (mk2 Fabia) or SK258 (Roomster).

Get the correct one if going for second-hand.

New are still available, not sure on latest prices.

Are you anywhere near Highworth/ Swindon?

Thanks for the reply and information.

I won't bother taking it apart then, I was just thinking if it was a easy repair like a cracked solder joint or obvious failed component it might be worth it.

A new unit is around £240 which I don't really want to spend unless I can help it, as it will be more than 10% of what the car is worth.

I wasn't aware that the VW units cause the windows to work backwards, so that's very useful to know. That would explain the large number of comments on the internet about people replacing the unit/circuit board and having the windows work backwards.

Is there any reasonably easy way to counteract this? for example switching wires or rotating something? as when looking for used parts lots are from Polo's or just list it as Polo/Fabia without the manufacturer identifier (VW or SK).

Do you know what causes the units to fail, is it age related? Would a used part be likely to fail again relatively quicky? therefore making a repair a more cost effective option.

Would you think it's likely it is the module that has failed going by the symptoms I outlined in my original post? (obviously I know you can never be sure by going by the information in a forum post)

I'm located on the south coast of Hampshire, so not that near to Swindon. I know that you repaired the MK1 Fabia units, are you able to repair the MK2 units? (If you still offer a repair service)

The VW/SK info is there on the part number label.

Generally best to go by the label rather than sellers' descriptions, hardly anyone really understands the interchangeability, or lack of, amongst these units.

I'll message you shortly, and I may make a little 10 or 20 second video showing how to disassemble these units without damage.

Here's the little vid showing how to get these apart without damage. Dead easy when you know how, but miss out the little 'push' at your peril:

Edited 1 February1 Feb by Breezy_Pete