So, I have some car trouble... Wondering what you fine gentlemen think:

2009 Bravo Sport 150 T-jet.

The symptoms: steering is dead, really hard to turn, get lighter at speed but really needs to be muscled to steer while parking. The traction control, and hill holder warning lights are on.

The situation: Im west of the Atlantic... I took it to the dealership told me I need to replace the whole steering column, landed cost from factory, over $4000 (3200 EUR), plus labor. Said its their policy to replace the whole damn thing, for safety reasons, and that the factory only sells the entire assembly, not the individual components.

Call the old mom and pops Fiat garage. Told me the same thing.

So I'm pretty much shafted.

My question is, do you guys know some supplier that can sell these type of parts? I know for a fact the dealership gets a markup on them, so I might get less of a gang rape by buying it myself (even with international shipping).

Suggestions?

Start with a New replacement battery, all of your symptoms are classics for a failing battery in it early stages, and use a decent replacement battery, not the cheapest you can find

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Start with a New replacement battery, all of your symptoms are classics for a failing battery in it early stages, and use a decent replacement battery, not the cheapest you can find

Click to expand...

Yeah, no, I should've opened with that.

The last time I had to check batteries something similar happened, so I thought the same, I disconnected the positive on the battery, waited a few minutes, plugged it back, nothing.

Took it for a spin thinking maybe it needed to build up a charge nope. Then borrowed a fresh battery, same thing. Finally I took it to the dealership, I'm assuming they would check for such a thing, since they scanned it and got the error codes.

Do not assume a Fiat garage did anything.
Go to a place that sells batteries; the should have the necesary tools to test the battery and the charging system.

In the worst case i would replace the steering column with a second hand unit. you should be able to get it for much less, something like 200 euro + transport

Or if you really want it new then try to contact these guys in Italy: http://www.tuttoautoricambi.it/trw-862900.html#

Try also the alternator.

Even with a new battery if it isnt being charged the power steering is one of the first things to be sacrificed..

aurick86 said:

Do not assume a Fiat garage did anything.

Click to expand...

LOL gold.

If you're going to check the battery and alternator, which you should, check this video. You can do it yourself, just need a multimeter.

Having been informed that a new steering column with integral steering motor is going to cost £1100 plus VAT and fitting from Fiat I am looking for an alternative course of action.

Assuming I can find one could a secondhand one be fitted or does it have to be coded to the vehicle?

You will not have to code it as far as i know. The motors pack up, but it's probably shared by other cars so i would first remove it and see what's actually gone. It is a hell-of-a-job to do yourself but could save a fortune.

A quick update, I bought a second hand unit for £90 and paid my local garage £100 to fit it, no coding needed, that was three months ago and all good so far.

harric what car was that replacement on? The unit for mine is massive and comes as one part.

Just to add my experience with my 2008 150 MJET Bravo power steering column death.

This info is for anyone else's bravo column that dies

I am on my fourth.

My tame mechanic friend tried the battery change but the internal CPU was dead. Fiat joked £1400+vat for a replacement, excluding fitting.

1st replacement was from breakers yard, same model/part number exactly but the position sensor was kaput, so driveable but with no abs/stability etc, working but with even more warning lights.

Fiat, as expected won't help just recommend a new one..

2nd replacement from european ebay same part number/model fully works but on starting, the ECU asks the column which reports itself as a Stylo one, so the steering warning light stays on.

Fiat as expected won't help just recommend a new one.

3rd Found another on EU Ebay for 100 that is definitely later so cant be a stylo, it does the same thing.

They all need to be re-coded to the car somehow, my electronics guy cant access the right bit. Maybe they come uncoded and when fiat install them they are coded for life?

If anyone knows please help, I would love the warning light to go off.

I resort to resetting the error and keep the engine running for the MOT

TuX said:

They all need to be re-coded to the car somehow, my electronics guy cant access the right bit. Maybe they come uncoded and when fiat install them they are coded for life?

If anyone knows please help, I would love the warning light to go off.

I resort to resetting the error and keep the engine running for the MOT

Click to expand...

Did you do a PROXY alignment?????????????

TuX said:

harric what car was that replacement on?

Click to expand...

harric

2008 Bravo 150
I bought new in 2008, now approaching 140k miles.
Replacement steering column still going strong, car past MOT last month.

aurick86 harric Heya, thanks

I've heard of a proxy alignment while googling after my second failed replacement, I don't really understand.

Apparently neither do official Fiat dealership 'mechanics' (Epsom/Croydon), They just look at me blankly, only swap parts, won't fault find, can't or wont help, will only recommend a new one.

Any ideas how to do a home proxy realignment? Without fiat help?

My last 2 columns have the exact same Stylo identity crisis, I'd bet that's not a coincidence.
harric I'm sorry for hijacking the thread a little bit but as you've swapped one over, with no ill effects, it makes you the expert here.

What fault made you replace it, if you don't mind me asking?? Was it the whole unit from steering wheel to bulkhead or did you somehow replace the motor? My garage is filling up with these.

I could just be unlucky, the replacements I'd sourced could have come from a bravo scrapped for this exact same extortionate steering replacement cost.

TuX said:

aurick86 harric Heya, thanks

I've heard of a proxy alignment while googling after my second failed replacement, I don't really understand.

Apparently neither do official Fiat dealership 'mechanics' (Epsom/Croydon), They just look at me blankly, only swap parts, won't fault find, can't or wont help, will only recommend a new one.

Any ideas how to do a home proxy realignment? Without fiat help?

My last 2 columns have the exact same Stylo identity crisis, I'd bet that's not a coincidence.

harric I'm sorry for hijacking the thread a little bit but as you've swapped one over, with no ill effects, it makes you the expert here.

What fault made you replace it, if you don't mind me asking?? Was it the whole unit from steering wheel to bulkhead or did you somehow replace the motor? My garage is filling up with these.

I could just be unlucky, the replacements I'd sourced could have come from a bravo scrapped for this exact same extortionate steering replacement cost.

Click to expand...

It was the whole unit inc motor and my local garage did not need to re-code it. Just in case, I had spoken to an auto electrician up here (Gloucester) who was pretty confident he could have done it if necessary but like I said we didn't need it. 9 months now still going strong.

The PROXY ALIGNMENT is a way for different computers in the car to know each other.
After they know each other they can communicate with each other.

For example i am sure you need a proxy alignment after replacing the steering column;
that way the steering column can send steering angle position info to the ESP/ABS computer.


You can do a proxy alignment by using MultiEcuScan (MES)with a good quality ELM327 interface ( some need modifying by removing some resistors, or adding switches to various pins on the OBD2 connector) or by using the fiat dedicated software/hardware "Examiner".

Maybe you can find some forum colleague near to you who has the hardware and software to help you.

TuX said:

aurick86 harric Heya, thanks

I've heard of a proxy alignment while googling after my second failed replacement, I don't really understand.

Apparently neither do official Fiat dealership 'mechanics' (Epsom/Croydon), They just look at me blankly, only swap parts, won't fault find, can't or wont help, will only recommend a new one.

Any ideas how to do a home proxy realignment? Without fiat help?

Click to expand...

I've got MES , so IF you ever come over towards Oxford, ;let me know,

Charlie