Punto code reader

Hi
I have a problem with my steering on my mk2 1.9d, the light is on and the steering wheel is hard to move ie no power steering. In all the forums there is talk of getting the code from the ecu at a dealers but is that not a code reader that would do the same thing. I know that I would not be able to set the steering up if it needs replacing but I would be able to see the code. Anyone any ideas of a suitable reader?

unfortunally theres more to diagnosing a fault than just reading the error(s).

Me too !!

i parked up in town the other day started the car and the steering light came on , drove it home with very stiff steering. At first i thought it was my steering column but when i got back in it 'light had gone out !' and steering back to normal , not done it since and steering been fine.

I presume this is a faulty sensor as my crank shaft sensor went the other month and cut my fuel off ! got it replaced £70 diog charge and £30 for the sensor to be fitted so if the steering light comes on again thats what i think it will be.

fiat punto 1.9jtd 2000

Yes I know that there is more to fault found that reading a code, at work I can plug a laptop into the machines but not with a car, any error code that is in the ecu can not be seen without a code reader and one of these would be useful as a tool to use for fault finding. As I said, if the car needs to be set up than it would go to the dealer but to have to travel the 50 miles round trip to get a code out of the ecu, is to me a waste of time when I may be able to get a code reader for the car.
Sorry to go but dealers up here are not that many and the price they charge can be high.

From memory I think you can extract 2 EPS codes with a aftermarket code reader. Many errors are manufacture specific only 'extractable' with dedicated diag equipment.

Yep, if it's a steering fault you're wasting your time buying a code reader, it won't tell you anything unless it's engine/emissions sensor related. The proper fiat diagnostics costs around £2,500 because all the software's specifically designed for the fiat.

If you still want a fault code reader, this will work: http://www.ecufix.com/shop/index.php...roducts_id=197

The generic fault codes relating to steering are:

P0550 Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit Malfunction
P0551 Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
P0552 Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Input
P0553 Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit High Input
P0554 Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit Intermittent

And since the punto doesn't use hydraulic power steering, you're not going to have any of those sensors.

Does anyone know where the diagnostic test port is and can i use a universal faulty code reader on it, if not what can i test it with on a Fiat Punto 55s 1997