sorry to create another post about power steering again, i have read up on it and i am aware of the faults with the ecu/shaft sensors etc. but i want a bit of advice off people that have gone down the "purchasing a 2nd hand colum ecu etc". route

my old man has bought my sister an 02 reg Fiat punto for a suprise on her 17th birthday. he picked the car up cheap as it has a problem with the power steering.

the previous owner knew the steering was broken so he took it to a back steet garage who got a new "pump" (or something) and fitted it, but it still didnt work so they said it needed new sensors. now i know they couldnt have put a new pump on it and expect it to work as it needs calibrating etc and the colum doesnt come apart to replace pumps does it? any how i doubt the garage have a clue on the electric steering systems so i think they just buggered it up and handed it back to the previous owner saying it needed sensors!!!

so me and my old man want to get the car fixed for middle of feb and i am wondering where to go from here?

as the garage has buggered with it i dont fancy taking it to fiat as it will bring up all sorts of codes but if i have to then i will.

how can i sort this out if i buy a 2nd hand colum and ecu and fit it and then tae to fiat to calbrate etc will this be ok? could i salvage what i have and try a new ecu? are there any independant garages in south wales that specialise in fixing this problem for less that fiat would charge? any help is appreciated. thanks is advance.

they dont have pumps, its electric steering, check the invoice!

you cant buy the ecu or any parts separate, best off either taking it to fiat, or if you know what you are doing fit a guaranteed used complete column then take it to fiat for calibration

don't fiat themselves dish out gurentee'd refitted columns for a knock down price?

ok well i can get a 2nd hand complete unit from a good breakers so if i fit it, it will have to go to fiat for callibration??

to clear the story up the garage got a new motor and fitted it but of course it didnt work. so the guy had his money back and the garage let the car go.

are there different types of fitments to the units? and what reg of puntos can i get the same unit from to fit my sisters which is an 02 reg car. thank you for all your help. im not bothered about the gargae ripping the previous owner off as it gave him the opinion that it was going to be an exspensive repair so he sold it to my old man for pocket money £££ and under £500 laughing