Steering warning light coming on occasionally on my wife's Fabia. Just out of warranty of course! I assume it's the dreaded sensor. If I replace the sensor myself is a VAG com device required to stop the warning light coming on in future, or is VAG com only required to clear a fault code?

I can give you my experiences if it's a help.

I took my combi to my local village garage to fit the sensor. He fitted it for me (£35) and when I got the car back the warning lights were off. Being a very small village garage he won't have access to VAG COM to clear the fault.

I can give you my experiences if it's a help.

I took my combi to my local village garage to fit the sensor. He fitted it for me (

Hello there !

Did you do this yourself in the end ?

Im about to do mine, and could do with knowing any tips/don't do's before I start.

ta.

Haven't done it yet because the warning light hasn't come on in the last few days. I'm going to wait until the light stays on and/or the steering goes odd. I think there's an illustrated how to do it guide somewhere on this forum. I found it once but lost it again!

if it is the sensor , it could be covered in to an extended warranty

It could also be worth checking the level of the fluid , with it being as intermittent as it is

If it does end up being the sensor , try Skoda UK on 0845 7745745

Sarah

Haven't done it yet because the warning light hasn't come on in the last few days. I'm going to wait until the light stays on and/or the steering goes odd. I think there's an illustrated how to do it guide somewhere on this forum. I found it once but lost it again!

I found a guide on Fabia-vrs.com - Home Page

Bought another sensor yesterday, so we'll see how I get on, doesn't look at all difficult.

Ours is very intermitant also, but the flickering headlights are getting on my nerves so much Im going to change it anyway..

bert,

do your headlights flicker as well even if the sensor light doesnt come up?

The headlights dim slightly when you move the steering wheel but don't actually flicker. If you are manoeuvring slowly at night you can see the headlight brightness varying. This is entirely normal because the electric power steering takes a considerable current; apparently it's nothing to worry about. If your headlights flicker with the car standing still then there is probably some other fault, perhaps with the alternator or a bad connection.

The headlights dim slightly when you move the steering wheel but don't actually flicker. If you are manoeuvring slowly at night you can see the headlight brightness varying. This is entirely normal because the electric power steering takes a considerable current; apparently it's nothing to worry about. If your headlights flicker with the car standing still then there is probably some other fault, perhaps with the alternator or a bad connection.

Thats right, the hydro-electric system ( which I hate almost as much as the car itself ) takes a crazy amount of current.

Ours has a new alternator and battery, and had the steering problems before I changed the alternator ( which had failed anyway ) and the battery ( which was knackered :thumbdwn: ) all the connections seem good ( have gone through most of the connections on the whole car actually including the rear lights - which is a whole long running story in itself :( )......so running out of diagnosis so to speak.....hopefully the new sensor will arrive today, so I can roll around on the ground in the cold and fit it.

New cars, don't you just love them.

bert,

do your headlights flicker as well even if the sensor light doesnt come up?

My dashlights, headlights etc used to flicker before I changed the sensor, cured afterwards though !

My dashlights, headlights etc used to flicker before I changed the sensor, cured afterwards though !

Did my sensor today ! To say space is a bit tight to work in would be an understatement......

seems sorted now , no chirping steering pump, no fluctuating revs, no flickering headlights. Good.

Fabia8v

Glad it worked - I'm still putting off doing ours until I have to!

Fabia8v

Glad it worked - I'm still putting off doing ours until I have to!

I don't envy you having to do it, not difficult, just fiddly - and Im VERY hungover today, which hasn't helped. :thumbdwn:

and check whether your sensor is screwed in with allen bolts or torx bolts BEFORE you start work, then you don't have to hunt around the entire garage, move three cars and empty your entire tool kit out on the driveway in a mood when you can't find the right bit......