Technical Electric Power Steering Failure

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Technical Electric Power Steering Failure

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Feb 3, 2009
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970
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Location
Hertfordshire
Got in the car and started up. The red 'dualdrive electric power steering failure' warning light lit up, and stayed lit. I had no choice but to continue on my trip... Getting in the car for the journey back (about two hours later) started the car, and as it should the warning light went off after a few seconds... On my third trip of the day, the light is again staying lit.

The manual says, when the warning light is on you won't have the steering assistance and more effort is needed to turn the wheel. But turning the wheel its exactly the same as if the warning light was off.

Searched the 500 section and found nothing on the subject, has no one else had this problem? But found this guide for Puntos, does it have any relevance?
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guide...ng-column.html

Will call dealership at earliest chance.
 
plophole ... I would be more inclined to put your issue down to voltage especially in this cold weather.

If it happens again and you get the chance to stop quickly restart the car to see if the light goes off.

Either way a visit to the dealer is advisable at your earliest oppotunity.
 
Will try that. Finish work around 2am tonight so I'm expecting it to happen again. Is it just a case of getting the 'battery tested correctly' like the guide says? If so, what would be the next step?
 
Mine did the same once last week, but has not done since. The car was cold, I also had the lights on at the time and probably did not wait for all the various warning lights to switch off. Turned off and restarted with no further problems.
It seems that the longer you wait after turning on the ignition the better the 1.2 cold starts.
 
Bear in mind that the fuel pump is how the injectors build up pressure (It *is* common rail, right?) so it is a *very* good idea to wait for the fuel pump to click off before turning the engine over.
 
Damn light came on again this morning, only this time it stayed on. Also not brilliant at starting. Checked the negative battery terminal which was indeed slightly loose. Probably ok in milder weather. Maybe not pushed fully home on the PDI. So I've now whacked it on properly and fully tightened it. No warning on start up. Fingers crossed.
 
Hi, i had a dashboard message saying "check power steering".I left it at the dealer who checked everything out but found no fault. 2 days later the warning light stayed on:confused: drove it to work(steering felt fine)and arranged for the car to go back to the dealer. A few hours later i started the car to take it to the dealers, no warning light :confused: I rang the dealer to explain that all seemed ok. I was asked to book it in but said i would leave it until the new year. 300 miles later and all seems good :confused: I will keep you informed.J.
 
Got my car back, after a day at the dealer. They just said there was some confusion between the electric system/computer. Nothing major and shouldn't happen again. (y)

And whilst it was there they fixed the washer jet. :D
 
Well, over the last week I've had a couple of Electric Power Steering Failure light occurences; but as I've been getting up at 4am and the temp has been about -8C I've a strong feeling its down to low voltages. At those temps I'd imagine once the cars completed doing its diagnostic check its not got enough voltage to thoroughly check everything or its getting a slightly below par reading on the steering.

Anyhow has anyone else been getting this intermittant failure light the last week or so ? Once the car has warmed up and following a restart there is no problem at all. Going to take it to the garage to get a check over. but any suggestions ?

JB
 
Well I've had it again after thinking that I'd cured it by tightening up batt leads. I've now tightened the two leads which attach to the negative terminal.
According to dealer the warning will flash up every 6 miles or each time you start up - if the fault is still there, and it may just need plugging in to diagnostics to clear the error.
In my case it has not come on when the car is warm, still I've booked it in for next week when hopefully all this global warming is finished.
 
have done loads recently, easy to prove its a voltage issue & nothing serious.
Yeah mine only popped up when the weather was cold and the car wasn't driven for a little while. Started up, went down the road and restarted and all was good.
 
I don't know, but it's never given any problems and starts better in the cold.
However, the Goodyear F1s are absolutely bloody useless in snow.

I'm finding that with the standard fit Bridgestones too. Then again, I I had the fattest knobblies available somebody else would still have the opportunity to crash into me - I'm sticking to the train in this weather!
 
hello guys
i got the check steering power message on the dashboard too today (but i think i didnt get the warning icon). And its not the only problem i am facing since the weather got cold (about 6C). The engine doesnt start up easily and it makes first a creepy sound :eek:

the dashboard message:

while trying to startup the car:

is my car dying? :(
 
Sound like the starter motor is not engaging right.
Re the steering - I had mine reconfigured last week and was told not to expect any further problems. Too early to say if this is the case as I've been in the Panda this week.
 
That noise is the starter motor remaining engaged for a second or two after the engine starts. Normally the starter pinion gear (a moving part on the starter that rotates the flywheel during starting) is automatically flung out of engagement as soon as the engine starts. Yours is a bit sticky, which could be just a cold weather thing.
 
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