EPS Light and Heavy Steering

andreap1984 · May 21, 2016

Hi

I've just bought a 2004 1.2 Actuve Punto. The eps light is coming on intermittently and the steering is going heavy. Fixed by turning it off and back on again.

Where can I get a free not cheap diagnostics check? I'm a female and this is my first car, worried a garage will just tell me anything and will charge me a fortune!

I have read the forums and seen that it can be a variety of things but when I have phoned up halfords and fiat they are telling me it is most likely the steering column which will cost me in the region of £500...

They haven't even checked the car so how do they know this?

Help... :-(

varesecrazy · May 22, 2016

andreap1984 said:
Hi

I've just bought a 2004 1.2 Actuve Punto. The eps light is coming on intermittently and the steering is going heavy. Fixed by turning it off and back on again.

Where can I get a free not cheap diagnostics check? I'm a female and this is my first car, worried a garage will just tell me anything and will charge me a fortune!

I have read the forums and seen that it can be a variety of things but when I have phoned up halfords and fiat they are telling me it is most likely the steering column which will cost me in the region of £500...

They haven't even checked the car so how do they know this?

Help... :-(

Hi, and welcome,

if it's a NEW car.. then chances are it's a tired battery,
for @£40 I'd do that anyway..

the EPS uses LOTS of power..so any minor issue on power supply will cause issues,

I could do diagnostics using MultiECUScan,
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/342594-help-my-power-steering-light-start-here.html

Charlie - Oxford

stephenbebop · May 22, 2016

Hi and welcome

I agree with Charlie its most likely battery. There are lots of tyre places and motorist shops which will do a free battery test. If I were you I'd go to at least 2 of them and if they say its battery then that's the way to go.

Regards Stephen.

andreap1984 · May 22, 2016

Thanks. Took it to kwik fit yesterday who checked the battery and alternator and said both were fine ? Then told me its most likely the steering column and only fiat can replace it?

varesecrazy · May 22, 2016

andreap1984 said:
Thanks. Took it to kwik fit yesterday who checked the battery and alternator and said both were fine ? Then told me its most likely the steering column and only fiat can replace it?

did you read the PAS thread link.

the fault SHOULD leave a fault code= reading the code will reveal what the cars ECU is detecting as a problem,

as you'd see in the PAS thread - the components can be changed by any competent person / garage.

andreap1984 · May 22, 2016

varesecrazy said:
did you read the PAS thread link.
the fault SHOULD leave a fault code= reading the code will reveal what the cars ECU is detecting as a problem,

as you'd see in the PAS thread - the components can be changed by any competent person / garage.

Thank you. Yes I did red the thread and I'm hoping it's anything other than the steering column!
Taking it to a garage for diagnostics tomorrow.

Fingers crossed.

Thank youor the response

AndyRKett · Jun 4, 2016

As pointed out above, the steering uses a lot of power, so a perfectly good useable battery in any other car can still be too weak to use in the punto with EPS

It's still worth £40 on a new battery and a 5 minute job to replace. You'd probably pay nearer £100 at somewhere like quick fit.

Don't go running to replace the steering column just yet there are still other things you can try

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