So there I was about to set off on a 250 mile drive home and the steering feels like it's filled with concrete. Along with a nasty red warning light and a message telling me that there was a "problem" I deduced that something was wrong.

I rang my dealer for advice and they told me to call the AA who arrived within 20 minutes. During this time after a couple of restarts the warning lights went off but the steering sounded very "grindy". The AA guy said the motor was on its way out, when it was going to extreme lock it would cut out. He declared it safe to drive and I got home without another hitch.

The car is booked in with the dealer on Wednesday morning. Will keep you posted.

Rob - 06 GP 1.4 Sporting with 18K on the clock

Believe a few of us have had this problem. Mine did it once, however, after switching engine off and on again the problem disappeared. This was few weeks ago, and was after I had not used the car for over a week. Did a search and low battery charge is apparently a causal factor. Although this is disputed by others.

If the AA say the motor is on the way out it must be true...they cant even take of the diagnostic plug cover without breaking it

As Welfan correctly stated it can be down to a 'known issue' of voltage (your dealer should know the procedure to rectify this) or a fault internal to the column.Either way get it to dealer as soon as possible.

Can't comment on the AA as in 20 years of driving this is the first time I've ever called them out.

Oddly the car had been sitting in an airport car park for a week so possibly that was contributory. I would have thought a 250 mile would have sorted any battery problems out.

Thanks for the replies anyways and I'll let you know what the dealer says.

This happened to mine on Saturday!

It's in the garage having something replaced, am not sure what.

But same thing, power steering failure and grinding noise.

Jason_6780 said:

This happened to mine on Saturday!

It's in the garage having something replaced, am not sure what.

But same thing, power steering failure and grinding noise.

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Sounds like column mate,not a big job so you should get car back very soon

i had the same problem and i had to have a new steering column put on mine this was about 8-10months ago now and so far so good!

Hope you get it sorted soon!

littlebullet said:

Oddly the car had been sitting in an airport car park for a week so possibly that was contributory. I would have thought a 250 mile would have sorted any battery problems out.

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Hi, I'm new to the forum. Mine (1.3 multijet) has just the same problem as of Friday midnight and the strange thing was that it was after a 30 minute drive back from an ** airport carpark after 10 days**..... It was 'tripped' by slow manouvering (high motor torque?) to park the car when I got home. Drove fine this morning for 10 miles & then did it again after slow manouvering to leave car park this evening...When I got home I switched off, back on straightaway and it was ok again.

Car is 13 months old and 7k miles..I even drive like an oldie these days...so it sounds as if the components have a problem.

If littlebullet can give some feedback on what garage says I'd appreciate it.

Any further comments welcome, regards to all.

Marcus take it to dealer....this type of fault can be brought on by different parameters that might not be the same to littlebullet's.

Well apparently it was electric steering torqe regulator (????) they replaced it, but it still didn't work so I have a Active Sport.

Just back from the dealers - the steering column motor gave some errors when they hooked it up so they are replacing it next week. They also spotted a slight weep on a driveshaft oilseal which they will do at the same time.

The guy said that sometimes if the car is left for a long period the low charge in the battery might cause the warning light to come on. If it comes with vibrations then its the motor that needs replacing.

Happy that its going to be sorted
Rob

...had mine hooked up to diagnostics on Friday. Likewise it seems to be the motor. I'll confim when replacement is fitted (in stock in a week..).
If it is the case then it does sound as if the motors are a bit 'on the edge' (given that electric steering is quite new and fancy): let's hope they've been upgraded or there is a also a software tweak for the controller, else it sounds as if it might happen again...

Reagrds to all.

MarcusT said:

...had mine hooked up to diagnostics on Friday. Likewise it seems to be the motor. I'll confim when replacement is fitted (in stock in a week..).

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Marcus, do you have still have the problem or has it gone away?
My steering has been fine all week. I wonder if it has something to do with the car standing idle as mine was for a week?

MarcusT said:

...had mine hooked up to diagnostics on Friday. Likewise it seems to be the motor. I'll confim when replacement is fitted (in stock in a week..).
If it is the case then it does sound as if the motors are a bit 'on the edge' (given that electric steering is quite new and fancy): let's hope they've been upgraded or there is a also a software tweak for the controller, else it sounds as if it might happen again...

Reagrds to all.

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Electric steering has been around for quite a few years now so teething problems should not be an issue.

wellfan said:

Electric steering has been around for quite a few years now so teething problems should not be an issue.

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mmmm....well its a vauxhall set up

T14086 said:

mmmm....well its a vauxhall set up

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T. My son and daughter have both had Corsa's with this type of steering and never had a problem. I am pretty sure my wife's Punto ELX had this system and it was fine. Surely some changes have been made in the GP setup to account for the problems. My power steering has never really been that good since day one.

I've had a problem with power steering,it has failed a couple of times but come back on once the cars been switched off and on again,although there is a distinct vibration when the engine is at tick over and the car is stationary and the front wheels straight,will have the dealer look at the steering motor i think,john

wellfan said:

T. My son and daughter have both had Corsa's with this type of steering and never had a problem. I am pretty sure my wife's Punto ELX had this system and it was fine. Surely some changes have been made in the GP setup to account for the problems. My power steering has never really been that good since day one.

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You 100% sure its same set up,earlier vauxhalls had motor in engine bay wethers punto inside. same as vauxhall .... cant remember model name but its a funny name & quite new model.

T14086 said:

You 100% sure its same set up,earlier vauxhalls had motor in engine bay wethers punto inside. same as vauxhall .... cant remember model name but its a funny name & quite new model.

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Really not sure about the set up. I just assumed that with it being Vauxhall sourced it would be something similar. Bit too dark outside to look and it is baltic out there also. Anyway. You are the expert, I am just an amateur!

early vauxhalls had motor in engine bay at bottom but later ones are similiar in design to fiats.From what I understand the GP system is vauxhall design & I think its the same as one vauxhall model(still cant remember which one)...i'll try & find out more about this

(you not drinking tonight?)