Hello everyone,

I have a problem with my Panda and have stumbled upon this awesome community. Your assistance on the matter at hand would be immensely appreaciated. I have a Fiat Panda 1.2 SportSound from 2004 and I have a Power Steering problem. The computer does not show any malfunction lights.

Researching the problem makes clear that my issue is relatively rare as there are no topics on it on the web. I don't have the traditional power steering problem of the steering being too heavy. Rather, the steering is permanently very light with close to zero resistance! It's as is city steering is on 24/7. This is very annoying and even dangerous, as I have to rotate the steering wheel quote a lot to change direction. So while I'm, on the hightway, I can steer for roughly 20 degrees to the right and the left with minimal response from the car. So if I have to evade a car, janking the steering wheel won't cause a major change of direction as the steering is very, very light.

Does anyone have an idea to what might be wrong? Please keep in my mind I'm not knowledgeable on car mechanics. Thanks for taking the time.

Few thoughts:

If you engage City mode, does the steering get lighter still, or stay unchanged?

Have you recently fitted new tyres, and/or are your tyres inflated correctly - not over inflated?

Is this a recent occurrence, or has it always been like this? And, of course, how long have you had the car?

It sounds likely that City mode is permanently engaged - hence my first question. If so, you're looking at a wiring/electrical problem rather than a mechanical one

The electric power steering does not in anyway effect the ratio of the steering it's also not active at highway speeds. On all fiats it turns off at about 29mph as it's not needed at speed.

I'm gonna assume this car is new to you

"So while I'm, on the hightway, I can steer for roughly 20 degrees to the right and the left with minimal response from the car"



40 degrees of free play.


Are you sure. Sounds too dangerous to drive.

Sweetsixteen said:

Few thoughts:

If you engage City mode, does the steering get lighter still, or stay unchanged?

Have you recently fitted new tyres, and/or are your tyres inflated correctly - not over inflated?

Is this a recent occurrence, or has it always been like this? And, of course, how long have you had the car?

It sounds likely that City mode is permanently engaged - hence my first question. If so, you're looking at a wiring/electrical problem rather than a mechanical one

Click to expand...

Thank you for your response. To answer your questions, city mode doesn't change the feel. I've had the car for roughly 1 year, the problem occurred 5 days ago. First, the steering was light to the left, normal to the right. Then, it got light to the left and light to the right.

These issues occurred a couple of days after I had some repairs done to the car: new cantilever rubber and new left tire steering ball joint.

AndyRKett said:

The electric power steering does not in anyway effect the ratio of the steering it's also not active at highway speeds. On all fiats it turns off at about 29mph as it's not needed at speed.

I'm gonna assume this car is new to you

Click to expand...

The steering wheel of the car gives 0 resistance to steering at any speed.

koalar said:

"So while I'm, on the hightway, I can steer for roughly 20 degrees to the right and the left with minimal response from the car"



40 degrees of free play.


Are you sure. Sounds too dangerous to drive.

Click to expand...

Maybe 40 is too much, but it's at least 20.

Sounds like a steering torque sensorptoblem to me. Just changed the one on my 100HP. Pretty doable if you know what you're doing.
Do you hear noise from the steering column?
My problem started with sportmode being as light as normalmode. Then lighter to the left.
Now everything is back to normal. You need to recalibrate the steering afterwards (MES or Examiner).
I could talk you through it in dutch if you like.

gr J

With the engine off so there is no power assistance.


There should be no noticeable play at the steering wheel.


On my car if I push on the rim of the steering wheel with my index finger and moving it from side to side I get 15mm of total movement. Obviously this figure will alter slightly depending on the stiffness of the tyre sidewalls.

A3jeroen said:

Sounds like a steering torque sensorptoblem to me. Just changed the one on my 100HP. Pretty doable if you know what you're doing.
Do you hear noise from the steering column?
My problem started with sportmode being as light as normalmode. Then lighter to the left.
Now everything is back to normal. You need to recalibrate the steering afterwards (MES or Examiner).
I could talk you through it in dutch if you like.

gr J

Click to expand...

That would be awesome! PM'ed you

koalar said:

With the engine off so there is no power assistance.


There should be no noticeable play at the steering wheel.


On my car if I push on the rim of the steering wheel with my index finger and moving it from side to side I get 15mm of total movement. Obviously this figure will alter slightly depending on the stiffness of the tyre sidewalls.

Click to expand...

With the engine off I can move the wheel +/- 20mm.

I uploaded the issue to YouTube:

[ame]Https://youtu.be/0wnKTJmc6gI[/ame]

Yep that's a serious amount of play and not safe.
Loose steering rack, ball joints and so on.

Easy to diagnose if there is two of you.

Just inspect each part while moving the steering wheel.

If I was on my own my first option would be to borrow a neighbor. Followed by setting up a camera.


https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/322341-excessive-play-steering.html

Didn't get your PM, but did you get mine?

gr J

A3jeroen said:

Didn't get your PM, but did you get mine?

gr J

Click to expand...

Nope :O I sent you another one

You didn't get mine either?

gr J

Engine off

And finger pushing down where you've tested yours in the video there's no movement. Outer edge of the steering wheel rim is 7mm each way.


This is not safe to drive until fixed.

Track rod ends would be my guess. Find a friend as koalar suggest, get the front end up on axle stands and have one person turn the wheel while you inspect the steering rack, etc for play.

If you do not know anything about cars take it to a mechanic.