Bump...

Hello,

My 2009 panda is also showing sings of torque sensor failure. Multiecuscan shows C1002 and occasionally I get strange sounds from the servo and red light appears on the dashboard.

I can find the sensor on ebay for ~55€, but my question is can i do a refit myself? Is the licensed version of multiecuscan (which i have) enough to do a proper calibration? Or do I need some special tool like:


Reading the forum I get confusing information .

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To answer your questions:
It is possible to DIY it with some care and "normal" tools.
It is actually possible to replace sensors without needing to calibrate at all, although it is fiddly.
MES can calibrate if required.
Do not feel tempted to spin the steering wheel. You will break the clockspring.

Howevet, the "strange sounds" may indicate that it is not a sensor problem. They usually show up as power assistance working one way but not the other. Sensor replacement is not going to improve any other issues. Depending on the reasons for the noise, a refurbished unit may be your best option

There is a comprehensive guide on how to (cheaply) replace the electric power steering torque sensor on here. Search for "Newbie power steering repair"
Did mine months ago using this method, cheap and simple and no further issues..... Happy to answer any questions, Bergi.

Posters monica was Satyr Icon.
Hasn't posted since, but his write-up of steering sensor repair is excellent.
I've copied and filed it for future reference.

Sweetsixteen said:

Posters monica was Satyr Icon.
Hasn't posted since, but his write-up of steering sensor repair is excellent.
I've copied and filed it for future reference.

Click to expand...

It's also worth including a link to this thread.

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk2-2b-guides/266588-resoldering-power-steering-motor-relays.html



and this also handy

Thanks for all replies. I have ordered the sensor and will attempt the replacement. I also suspect that the heater radiator may be leaking so might as well have a look at that.

Regarding the faulty relays, from what i gathered this problem is only with "older" cars. On a local fiat forum they tell me that 2009 panda EPS doesn't have them and that fault is 99% in the torque sensor.

Good luck, I changed mine yesterday (2009 1.1), simple enough to do, tricky bit was getting the air bag off.



Android endoscope came in handy

This is a picture of one of the 3 clips that hold the airbag on, flat screwdriver worked for me.

big circlip was a bit of a challenge, made a tool from wire crimp tool.






But the power steering still does not work.

Got a fault code of C1001 from a snap-on scanner, which is a motor fault.
Italian supplier of torque sensor, did say fault code c1001 could be caused by faulty torque sensor, but not this time.

Have ordered a complete column for £85.00, should be able to make one from 2.
My power steering failed suddenly, no weakness on one side or judder, so I am thinking some other sort of electrical fault.

Battery is good by the way.

H A

Shame it didn't fix it. Kudos for trying though.
Mechanical noises or sudden loss of power both directions is usually not sensors. They usually get a bit flaky in one direction or the other for a while. Sometimes they start by throwing an error when being worked hard, and then carry on for ages with no problems.
I stripped one down to change the sensors and the whole insides was brown and rusty. Too far gone to save. Never seen another like it though.
Yours could be motor, or maybe just connector issues.
Should be easy enough to make 1 out of 2 though, and it'll have new sensors too, so should be good for quite a while.

H A

Already removed the airbag/steering wheel with no problems, but i am having problems with removing the steering column switch. I unscrewed the only bolt, but it seems like there is still something holding it and i don't want to force it. I see from your picture that you didn't remove it? Maybe for the same reason?

Seagate said:

H A

I see from your picture that you didn't remove it? Maybe for the same reason?

Click to expand...

Sorry not sure, I did not remove it because I did not need too, it lifts off with the rest of the upper column, exposing the torque sensor.

H A

Quick update. Today sensor finally arrived and maybe an hour later i got it installed. It seems like an easy procedure, and thinking about it i can't figure where i could have assembled it incorrectly.

You can only only fit the sensor inside while steering wheel is in the correct position. Lower and upper steering column also fit together only in a specific way. The shaft (rod?) that goes the the wheels can also be fitted only in a specific way. So the only thing that could have gone wrong is if i had turned the wheel 360 degrees.

I calibrated it with multiecuscan just in case and everything seems to be in order. I will now watch out it C1002 reappears.

Shown "current absorbed" is still reading "to high" though, so maybe like irc pointed out, there may also wrong with the electric motor. While the steering column was disassembled, i also looked at the motor and couldn't find any relays. I guess i will wait and see, at least now i know how to disassemble it.

Thanks for all your help.

The steering wheel and rack should be centered before tracking is adjusted. Have you recently worked on the steering joints?

DaveMcT said:

The steering wheel and rack should be centered before tracking is adjusted. Have you recently worked on the steering joints?

Click to expand...

I set the wheels as straight as i could before i removed the steering column. Wheel was perfectly aligned before the procedure and is aligned now.

I don't understand your question, i had no problem with wheels/steering alignment before, and i don't understand what this has to do with power assisted steering .

irc said:

...Mechanical noises or sudden loss of power both directions is usually not sensors.....

Click to expand...

Mine will occasionally make tapping noises and on occasion will flip out and put the warning light on - if not the torque sensor what might it be?

HP said:

Mine will occasionally make tapping noises and on occasion will flip out and put the warning light on - if not the torque sensor what might it be?

Click to expand...

My 1.2 has started making an occasional tapping noise from near the steering column. No other problems though.

Haven't investigated it yet - intended to leave it until warmer weather. It could be sensor related, but I reckon it is more likely to be relay or connection problem. Or even nothing to do with the steering at all.

I plan on refurbishing my spare motor unit with new sensors and clean connectors first, so I have a working spare unit to swap in if needed. It was a bit flaky before I took it off, but the whole car was a collection of corroded connectors, so hoping it is mainly OK.

Confirm it's not rod ends or drop links before taking it apart.

Mine's definitely from the area of the power steering drive that the noise comes from.

Seagate said:

I set the wheels as straight as i could before i removed the steering column. Wheel was perfectly aligned before the procedure and is aligned now.

I don't understand your question, i had no problem with wheels/steering alignment before, and i don't understand what this has to do with power assisted steering .

Click to expand...

We have only the information posted so give suggestions based on what we have.

Reason for comment
If the car has it's steering joints misaligned the steering will not centre properly. The steering wheel has to be centred while tracking is corrected. If its not the steering will pull as the electric system tries to centre the car.

Ok. Fixed mine - problem was the torque sensor. Symptoms were:

Occasional tapping from the steering column (sounded like relays fluttering).
No problems with random assistance or harder to steer one way than the other.
Random ASR/steering/hill descent cutting out, especially when turning slightly left.
Switching off the engine and restarting would reset the fault.

The guide referenced in this thread is very accurate and - as the chap said, having done it once I could do the job again in an hour or so.

Hello
from the site ...... which is at the top of the page I downloaded all the pdf related to the various sensors of the couple, unfortunately today I can not find where I saved them, and the site in question no longer works.
if someone could kindly put them here in the discussion? Thanks in advance
Greetings Francesco