hello from a newbie

[londonboi1985]

good evening all

knew to the forum

i currently have a mini cooper 1.6ltr automatic but i am planning on trading it in for a fiat 500 hopefully

i have been checking the options and the low road tax is a bonus and my insurance is more or less half that on my mini cooper

so hopefully all goes well andi will be a fiat 500 driver soon :

 

[dave]

welcome to the forum

 

[sammyjo]

hello, i am also a newbie,

and I would like some help.
I bought a second hand y reg punto on THURSDAY (after finally saving enough money to get it!) then yesterday, a light which looks like a steering wheel, (circle with a T in it) came on. and the steering got very heavy. this light then went off and didn't come back on....how ever, when i got the car i was told that all was needed was a fuse to make the radio and light work, so i went to halfords and i got the guy there to fit it, as i didn't have a clue! he put a 10v in f39. This made the light work and also power to the radio although that was asking for a code??
then i drive bout 100 yards down the road and the dash board lights up like a blooming Christmas tree, and the car cuts out, (incredibly embarrassing as I was first in the cue at traffic lights with no way around me!!)
my car was then pushed to the side, and refused to start. I took the fuse out and it didn't make a difference. could anyone give me a tiny clue as to what is wrong with my little car, so when I go back to the garage I bought it from I can almost look like I know what I am talking about please?? get the feeling that they may have taken the mick with the car knowing how badly I needed it as I start a new job monday!!!
thank you for any help that anyone can give me.

 

[londonboi1985]

sounds like the power steering electrics have failed hence why the steering feels tight could be something to do with the motor

have you checked your user manual all the warning symbols are in that and will tell you how to fix the problem ie garage or do it yourself

 

[sammyjo]

there was no user manual,

 

[rpm711]

Did the car have a flat battery when you tried to start it at the traffic lights or was it just turning over?

Check the earth leads ( - Negative, Black) which from the battery, one goes to the car body and the other to the gearbox/engine.
If it keeps turning over and doesn't start then it MAY point to the ecu (which is basically the cars computer).

Power steering requires a good battery, if your alternator is not charging then your battery will become flat!

The power steering, being electric with it's own ecu, try spraying and tightening the terminals to the power steering motor , which you'll find if you take out the lower plastic cover below the steering wheel.

Also cleaning the terminals to the battery and cables, remove negative ( - black) first then the positive ( + red) then refit with the positive first followed by negative.

Worst case it the steering column may need changing, cheaper from the scrap yard.

Hope this helps, but because you haven't explained with as much detail as possible it's difficult to find the problems.

All the Best

 

[rpm711]

LondonBoi.....Good luck with the 500 purchase! What year/model etc?

Love that car, such a head turner!