Since May, my P/S warning light has been on 3 times.

First time was when i picked it up from the dealer. Put it down to low voltage due to standing about. Was OK after a decent run

Second time was when it came out the bodyshop after standing about for 2 months. Again, put it down to low voltage, OK after a run

The G/F had the car yesterday, and (she wasnt going to tell me...) the steering went really really light, she said it felt as if the steering wheel wasnt connected to anything, but the light wasnt on. It came on on the way home (thats when she decided to tell me ) so i went out and had a quick run. It feels alright until you get about 1/2 a turn away from full lock on each side, then it goes mega heavy, like there is no assistance at all.

And she just phoned me this morning to tell me that it is now going from really heavy to really light, and the light came on again

On a mechanical P/S system, id say a steering pump, but with the Fabia being electric and all, im a bit confused. I know of the dodgy angle sensors, but would that cause these kinds of faults?

Its a 03/53 vRS by the way. Any help appreciated

Morning all,

I too have had probs with my power steering failing and the battery light coming on.

A week last Friday I had to get a jump start from the AA after the engine completely failed to statr shortly after power steering went stiff.

Guy took a reading of the battery voltage while the engine was ticking over and it was only a bit over 12v, which he saod was on the low side and suggested it could be the alternator.

Fabia drove okay that weekend but then engine wouild not start at all come Monday morning and hasn't doen since.

Had to get it jump started by a mate this morning in order to get it back to the dealer.

They suspect its the battery and are checking it out right now, but it has already had the battery replaced around this time last year while it was under warranty, as well as a new steering pump and sensor.

They've assured me that if the current problem is to do with any of the parts they fixed that time under warranty, they will fix them again for free as they are guaranteed for 2 years (albeit with a slightly cheeky £70 'diagnostic charge'!!).

But I'm concerned they will find the fault is completely new, despite the symptoms being the same as last year, and try and charge me for something else.

Judging by what everyone else is saying, it sounds like a problem with this exciter or DFM wire - should I suggest they check that or just let them get on with diagnosing what they think it is?

Surely a battery, pump, sensor (and I think the alternator itself) all replaced only a year ago shouldn't fail already?

Really don't want to get ripped off...

I just live with it... Placing into reverse and riding clutch until it almost cuts out always makes the light go out for me, so as long as I show the peeps at the MOT station it passes every time. Not worth throwing money at when there are so many potential culprits.

Turns out my power steering fault is the alternator - despite getting a new one fitted last year under warranty, it has failed!

Luckily that means its covered by a guarantee and won't cost mebut it was good to know all the other things it could have potentially been, thanks to other posters on here!

The symptoms sound like a dodgy yaw sensor. A scan with vagcom should confirm this. Not too hard to replace DIY style.

Hi guys. This sounds like what i was getting on my 53 Fabia VRS. Every morning the steering light would be on and it would go off after say 5 mins of driving.

I thought nothing of it until when I got back off holiday and it wouldnt start at all!! My local garage told me it was the battery (which i paid to be replaced) and 2 weeks later the same thing happened.

I then called the AA who came and said it looked like the alternator was fine but the battery wasn't getting any charge. They took it to an auto electritian who found it to be a wiring fault (I pressume, between the alternator and battery). They replaced the wire and its been fine since.

Dont let people rip you off for new batteries/alternators without checking first!! Hope this helps!

full lock on each side, then it goes mega heavy, like there is no assistance at all.

And she just phoned me this morning to tell me that it is now going from really heavy to really light, and the light came on again

That exactly the same problem I have I find the really light more worrying than the heavy as it's like driving on ice.

I have lived with the problem for 10 months now the light came on at first but doesn't know. It also stopped doing it for a good few months but has just started again. I was going to get the sensor changed but I am not convinced this is the problem now after reading things like it could be the alternator etc. so I will just continue to live with it.

Its getting booked into a dealer, as i still have a few months warranty from when i bought the car...

Keep us updated fella.

My went to the dealer and the said they could find nothing wrong with it no faults showed up on the diagnostics and the problem didn't play up when they test drove it.

I then took it to my local mechanic who checked all the wires and pump and said everything was fine I also had the battery checked and nothing showed up.

Basically the dealer said until the warning light stayed on they wouldn't be able to pick the fault up.

I have the same problem on my 53 Fabia VRS. When I start the engine, I hold the key down in the start position a further 1-2 seconds after the engine has started. This seems to have cured the steering problem for some strange reason?:confused:

Had to cancel my booking, but thought i would check the fluid just in case. That was great fun...

Anyway, wasnt that low (not low enough to worry about) but the light hasnt came back on yet. Still heavy on full lock though. Hope to get it booked in next week and will let you all know what happens

Well, less than a week after the Skoda dealer diagnosed my loss of power steeering/battery warning sign fault as being caused by the alternator, and fitting a new one, the same symptoms are starting to show again!

Only a matter of time before my power steering goes as the car is starting to stall when I decelerate approaching traffic lights etc, and the battery warning light is coming on.

Thing that gets me is that having read loads of info on here about faulty exciter wires, then putting that to do the dealer as a possible cause, they assured me it was the alternator, not the wiring or anything else and gave me a new one (the second that has had to be fitted in a year!).

Seems like that despite having my car for three days, they got it wrong and its back there on another day off work for more mis-diagnosing from the 'experts'!

Anyone recommended a good independant in the Liverpool-Warrington area as I've really lost trust in the dealer I bought my Fabia 1.4 2001 from!

Thanks.

Re-booked for Wednesday 19th