Had a root around and I can't find anything similar to what I'm experiencing.

I have an '03 1.2 Active 16v, nearing 136k. Always had a few niggling problems with it and it's getting to the point where it's becoming dangerous. For example, a woman front ended me in a car park, not hard enough to cause any more damage than a crack in the bumper, but I had an airbag failure message flash up and to be honest I doubt they'd even deploy if I were ever to get in an accident. The axle bushes are gone (will be getting done in a week or so) and now we have started with this funny intermittent engine light.

The engine fault light flashes up for a second, the car remains running fine, no mechanincal components seem affected, however my power steering cuts out, I don't know if the speedo etc does because by the time I have looked down and noticed the light, looked back up to see where I'm going and looked back down to check, everything goes back to normal. it all happens in a couple of seconds, but I can be doing any speed, obviously its a shock going round a corner to all of a sudden have the steering fail and having to really yank the wheel hard.

No other lights come on, I'm stumped and getting frustrated with the thing.

Thanks in advance!!

I would say the power steering issue is not related to the engine light. I presume its an orange light not red. All cars I have had that flashed up orange everything would still work as it should, its a warning that something is amiss but not dangerous. I would say power steering is dangerous hence thinking its not related. I know the power steering is electric on these cars but never looked into how they work.

Doing it every journey I make now at least once. The engine jolts, and the electrical system seems to reset- as if you just turned on the ignition. Forgot to mention it had a steering column change about 8 months ago. The column was from a different year jtd estate. Its been fine with no steering specific warning lights. Just engine light, hard jolt from the motor as if it's stalled (but it actually doesn't) and the steering goes heavy.

Any fault that puts a warning light on, even momentarily should store a fault code that needs reading to help understand where the issue occurs.

Airbag light may be related to the column change. Connector issues, or there is probably a "clock spring" in the wheel that may not be connecting properly. This spring allows the wheel to turn without winding up cables or breaking connections.

Momentarily cutting out could be an ignition fault, but also affecting the steering suggests a connection issue with the main battery cables, either the positive cable from battery to starter and/or alternator, or the earth cable from battery to gearbox to car body. Poor connections on these will often cause sudden disconnects, then reconnects. It may also signify that the battery is about to fail, or the alternator. Does the clock reset to zero at these events?

So the first step is to get the codes read. Needs to be read with either the Fiat reader at the dealer, or with MultiECUScan (see other threads on here). You need the software and the connector cables. Update your profile with your location, there might be a willing volunteer to plug their PC into your car and read the codes.

Once the codes are read, report back for further thoughts and comments. Meanwhile, checking the main cable connections is a good idea.

portland_bill said:

Momentarily cutting out could be an ignition fault, but also affecting the steering suggests a connection issue with the main battery cables, either the positive cable from battery to starter and/or alternator, or the earth cable from battery to gearbox to car body. Poor connections on these will often cause sudden disconnects, then reconnects.

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You saying that just reminds me. My neighbours Pug Partner was cutting out on left hand bends and starting again. Turned out to be earth from battery to gearbox.

Thanks for the info. The engine light is now not even showing when its happening. The clocks don't reset, its literally as if you turn the ignition of and on again. The episodes are lasting about 5 seconds now. I'll delve into it and see if I can get a code read.