Hello folks,

My partner has a 2022 Fabia with LED headlights. These incorporate LED daytime running lights. In the last couple of months, the nearside DRL has been failing. The first indication of a problem was a dashboard warning saying it needed checking - though when we looked, it appeared to be working fine. In the following days and weeks this progressed, so that the error would pop up with increasing frequency and more often, the light itself would be out when checked. Today, the dashboard warning is almost always present, and the light is almost always off. I notice though that sometimes the light still flickers - I think more commonly after start-up though it's hard to be sure as clearly, once driving it's hard to see your DRL! I'll also mention something I feel 99.99% certain is unrelated, but just in case - the first time the error popped up, I'd just replaced the cabin air filter. I can't think of any possible reason why that could be connected, but... just for completeness!

I've been told that the only solution to a failed DRL is to replace the entire headlight unit at a cost well north of £500 - not money my partner has lying around spare. I find it hugely frustrating - in fact outrageous - that manufacturers are allowed to build cars in such a way that something as previously simple as a failed bulb now necessitates vast repair costs and an absurd level of waste - the rest of the headlight is completely fine, but has to go to landfill because one minor component has failed. Economically and environmentally, it's pretty disgraceful.

I wondered if this is an issue anyone else has experienced, and whether there is any other course of action available to fix, short of binning it and taking out a second mortgage to buy a headlight! Any and all thoughts and guidance would be much appreciated.

As an aside, other than this issue it's a great car and my missus loves it. She drives a lot for work and it's done 62k miles in the four years we've had it; she's planning to keep it for at least a couple more, but this costly glitch is kinda tedious - especially as there's clearly another DRL on the other side which we're now viewing with trepidation!

Thanks again, and best wishes to all.

Steve

I think that it is possible to repair only part of the entire headlight, that is, the DRL part.

Ask Dr. Google.

My 2024 Fabia Mk4 has non-adaptive (ie. non-matrix) LED headlamps, an example of which is shown in the attached image and the DRL comprises a 'strip' of LEDs along the headlamp's lower edge.

As DRLs are continuously illuminated while a car is being driven, using (normally!) long-lasting LEDs for them, instead of bulbs, makes some sense. Unfortunately, LED DRLs rapidly became a design 'fashion statement' and integrating them into a headlamp-unit means that LED DRL failure often means that the whole (expensive) headlamp must be replaced.

This advert suggests that the control-unit for a Fabia Mk4's LED DRL and LED turn-signal may be replaceable

https://xenonpertutti.com/gb/centraline-xenon-originali/led-module-b342998-e-skoda-fabia-iv-left-headlight-drl-and-turn-signal-replacement-control-unit.html

but, if the DRL strip itself had failed, a replacement headlamp-unit would almost certainly be required.

A Skoda dealer should be able to confirm whether or not repair is possible.

Repairs to individual components within an integrated LED headlight are, where possible, carried out by independent technicians; at least, that is the case in Serbia.

My recommendation to everyone is to use coding to disable the DRLs whenever the low or high beams are on.

Hi,

don't know if it's still relevant to you, but I have some info you might consider useful.

So the first question is whether your Fabia has LED "Low" or Led "High" headlights.

This is the standard "Low" headlight:

This is the pay-extra "High" headlight with adaptive functions:

If you have the "High" headlight, the DRL/indicator LED module can be replaced. I've actually taken apart a "High" spec headlight some time ago. Here's what the module looks like:

Bear in mind that you have to remove the headlight unit from the car to replace the DRL module. This also means that you have to remove the front bumper. So it's not something I'd recommend doing yourself if you're not experienced.

One more thing is that there was some other PCB buried deep within the headlight housing (i.e. not removable) which has two LEDs (one orange and one white) and was positioned such that the LEDs shine into the DRL/indicator plastic strip. Not sure why this exists in the addition to the module shown above.

If you have the "Low" headlights, then I'm not sure if the DRL module is replaceable, I'd say no given the fact how the individual LEDs are positioned across the headlight unit. You can double check though if you have a parts catalogue at hand (i.e. https://www.partslink24.com/en/index.html, note that there's an access fee).

Edited 52 minutes ago52 min by gogo110

I see now this is the same component as linked by DerekU. It is not a control unit (the advert has it wrong). You can see the individual Light Emitting Diodes on the circuit board. The control unit for the entire headlight is the grey metallic thing on the first image I've posted.