I think I may need a new column but I am wondering if my steering wheel not being set straight could be causing my problem. If I put the wheel in the dead ahead position, the car goes left. Could this be giving false information to the ecu on the column and be causing the car to pull left and making it easier to turn the wheel left than right?
Thanks

Could be the tracking.
Have you has the car long? And has it always shown this characteristic, or is this something new?

I'd try getting the alignment checked and a fitting a new battery (the joys of the Panda's electric power steering...) before I did anything drastic like pay to have the steering column replaced.

As you haven't given much details about the car (age, how long you've had it, etc), I'd suggest a new battery first (a decent brand - Bosch or equivalent). A new battery can cure a lot of various symptoms.

If it's steering off centre
(but the steering feel is even, i.e. not heavier to turn one way than the other)
It's likely the front wheels are out of alignment.

One or both front wheels aren't pointing in the right direction causing it to track off centre.

With the tracking set off, it will ruin the front tyres.
As one steers off to one side, it causes the other to steer against it as you try and get it to go in a straight line, usually scrubbing the inner edges to shreds.

Most tyre places will be able to check and adjust this quite easily and it doesn't cost the earth.

A simple "tracking" or checking toe, (which is which way the front wheels point) shouldn't cost much more than £20 to £30.

A full wheel alignment, checks to the wheel camber (upright angle), caster (how much the wheel is set from pivot point which is the top mount) and toe for all four wheels costs little more, around £50.
This might not be good value for a Panda, as there is only one adjustable setting, the front toe.
There is no adjustment for camber or caster or any rear adjustments, but it could pick up a problem with damage or wear.

There can be a few factors for a car to lose it settings.
Pot hole, bumping up and down kerbs, damage or wear to the track rod ends or steering rack inner tie rods will usually be picked up with a simple tracking check.

Worn suspension bushes, wishbone ball joint wear, bent strut, worn top mounts, crash damage etc will need a little more poking around, but should show up on a full wheel alignment.


Now if the steering is notably heavier to turn in one direction than the other, there is a likely issue with the steering motor or torque sensor, both are within the column.

It could mean a new or rebuilt column is needed, but most find it's a low/old/duff battery, as it's electric powered steering, it does need a good power supply to work correctly.

By the sound of what you have written, it's likely the tracking (toe) is off.
Take it for tracking and ask them to have a check if there is any play in the steering joints.

To answer your question - yes, the ecu could be giving false info, but if the battery seems strong this is not so likely as other causes.

How good are you at a bit of improvisation?
Tracking can be checked in several simple ways with few tools. A piece of string can give a good, rough and ready, guide to any tracking probs.

Tell us more, including how 'handy' you are, and the forum folks can help further.

Hi
ThankS all. I have had the car a month. The near side tyre is worn on outside edge so the pulling to the left didn't surprise me. I have had the tracking done and checked. The steering wheel still points right with the wheels pointing straight ahead. About a fortnight ago I noticed that when not moving or at. Where are you? low speed the steering would make a noise when turning right. It's the same noise as when brakes creek if you let them off slightly on an incline. Last week, on a right hand bend, the alarm went and the power steering shut off. It started again when I re-started the car. The steering is lighter when turning left than right.
Could the battery cause this as I know it was flat before I bought the car?

Trekmac said:

?.. The steering wheel still points right with the wheels pointing straight ahead. ..... Could the battery cause this as I know it was flat before I bought the car?

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Unless some major work has been done on the car before your ownership - possibly removing the steering wheel/column, or even accident repair work - your comment about the steering wheel not being 'straight' when the front wheels are straight ahead sounds an alert with me.

I would have expected that if the tracking had been correctly carried out, both the steering wheel and the road wheels would be in the straight-ahead position, regardless of any other possible faults.

The parallelism of the road wheels is just one aspect of correct track setting. The length of each track rod should also be the same side to side. If they are of uneven length then you will have a bias (tendency to 'pull') to left or right. A rough guide is to measure the exposed thread lengths on both track rod ends, which should be of similar lengths. Uneven length also produces heavier steering when turning one way over turning the other way.

It is also possible that the history of your battery is a factor, but I would reckon this to be less likely.

Sweetsixteen said:

Unless some major work has been done on the car before your ownership - possibly removing the steering wheel/column, or even accident repair work - your comment about the steering wheel not being 'straight' when the front wheels are straight ahead sounds an alert with me.
I would have expected that if the tracking had been correctly carried out, both the steering wheel and the road wheels would be in the straight-ahead position, regardless of any other possible faults.

The parallelism of the road wheels is just one aspect of correct track setting. The length of each track rod should also be the same side to side. If they are of uneven length then you will have a bias (tendency to 'pull') to left or right. A rough guide is to measure the exposed thread lengths on both track rod ends, which should be of similar lengths. Uneven length also produces heavier steering when turning one way over turning the other way.

It is also possible that the history of your battery is a factor, but I would reckon this to be less likely.

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I think the tracking has been done by adjusting only one side rather than doing both. I'm going to take it back. The noise from the power steering motor concerns me and leads me to believe I may need a new column.

Assuming the steering wheel/column has not been interfered with, make sure that whoever does the tracking gets the steering wheel aligned correctly fore and aft (sorry, I'm into boats! But you know what I mean.) BEFORE the track rod ends are touched. Then adjust the wheel track, bearing in mind the importance of track rod length as already stated.

It may even be that the servo motor on the column is 'fighting' your steering if your tracking is not spot on.

Hope you get it sorted - without too much expense.

The alignment sounds suspect. I'd still change the battery though as well.

Is there any history with the car? Perhaps you could contact previous owners to get more information on it.

Will do. Thanks.

Wee Smurf said:

The alignment sounds suspect. I'd still change the battery though as well.

Is there any history with the car? Perhaps you could contact previous owners to get more information on it.

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There is history but nothing concerning. The nearside wheel got an advisory for a slightly bent rim. All consistent with hitting a pothole. It's now tracked but it hasn't been done well and needs to be sorted. I will see if this changes the feel of the steering or the noise from the motor.

Hi, and welcome,
we've had our panda -10 years - 80K miles,

the tracking is easily knocked out - BUT cheap and easy to reset ( sounds like you are struggling with numpties)

the battery WILL be at least 50% of your problem ( tracking aside)

BOSCH battery is @£43 delivered to your door and ready to fit.

Column has it's OWN dedicated ECU , you can get this fault code read to isolate ANY faults,
then you'll know which of the 3 main components is faulty - IF ANY,

charlie - Oxford - 2004 1.1 Active

varesecrazy said:

Hi, and welcome,
we've had our panda -10 years - 80K miles,

the tracking is easily knocked out - sounds like you are struggling with numpties

charlie - Oxford - 2004 1.1 Active

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Agree with that! Any decent garage should be able to sort tracking.

Sweetsixteen said:

Agree with that! Any decent garage should be able to sort tracking.

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Hi
I've booked in for Thursday to sort the tracking and steering wheel. How does the battery affect the feel of the steering? I know it's electronic but don't understand how it could make the steering lighter one way and sound like there's a brake on the column when turning right. It vibrates too.

Hope the guys do a proper job!
Why not wait till the tracking's sorted before worrying about possible other issues?
One step at a time, huh?

Sweetsixteen said:

Hope the guys do a proper job!
Why not wait till the tracking's sorted before worrying about possible other issues?
One step at a time, huh?

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That's my plan. I need tyres but am not prepared to put them on until the steering is sorted. Hope the tracking solves the issue.

Trekmac said:

That's my plan. I need tyres but am not prepared to put them on until the steering is sorted. Hope the tracking solves the issue.

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Tracking done still not briiant as steering wheel still not perfectly aligned. I went to independent fiat garage after the tracking and they said that as the motor makes a noise when turning one way and as the steering is lighter one way than the other, it is almost certainly at fault. A new column from a place in Bristol is £218 and my garage charges £54 to fit it. Is it worth getting a column from a scrap yard?

To me, the tracking still looks suspect.
Unless the wheel has been off and put back wrongly-aligned, which is difficult because it is punch-marked from initial build and should therefore only go back in its original position- then the wheel should be in the straight ahead position if the tracking is correct.
The steering will definitely pull to one side with the wheel as it is.
It could well be that you need another column/servo motor/servo ecu - but personally I would plug away with the tracking a bit more before taking that route. Based on the principles I outlined earlier, I don't think your tracking is correct yet.