irc said:

Forgot to mention, I did load test the old battery, and it seemed OK-ish.
But it wasn't...

The EPS together with everything else running in winter (cold starting, headlights, wipers, heater fan, brake lights etc.) is a big ask even for a battery in good condition. On top of that, it still needs to deliver the correct voltage to the ECU, BCU and other electronics, otherwise wierd errors pop up (like the clock resetting, etc.)


On our own Pandas I have installed CTEK connectors so I can easily just plug them in for a top-up charge a few times over the winter months.
Almost certainly not necessary, but saves me messing about with battery clips, or getting phone calls about "the red light on the dashboard just came on"!

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agreed

i have written many time the Panda is odd on batteries. Measuring isn't 100%

had two fail. One that measured faulty. Would cut out on idle. But the power steering fine. 14.1V when running

other measured okay. Power steering would fail first thing in the morning or reversing into a space. Also 14.1V when running.

Having two cars does help as its a quick swap the batteries over.

Garage are absolutely adamant that it is not the battery, so I don't have a choice but to go with what they are saying.

Lorna87 said:

Garage are absolutely adamant that it is not the battery, so I don't have a choice but to go with what they are saying.

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You have the option of telling them that you don't want them to carry out any work regarding the steering column.

Sound like a bunch of bullies...

Lorna87 said:

Garage are absolutely adamant that it is not the battery, so I don't have a choice but to go with what they are saying.

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Whereabouts in the country are you?

Lorna87 said:

Garage are absolutely adamant that it is not the battery, so I don't have a choice but to go with what they are saying.

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I can understand your confusion when the forum is saying one thing and your garage is saying a different thing.

Several of us here have experienced the same symptoms as you, with batteries that tested 100%, and found the issues were completely resolved by fitting a new battery.

We can't guarantee that fitting a new battery will make the problem go away, but if it were my car, I'd try this first before proceeding further, particularly given the issues you've noticed with the clock.

Wee Smurf said:

You have the option of telling them that you don't want them to carry out any work regarding the steering column.

Sound like a bunch of bullies...

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:yeahthat:

I'd also agree that this could be a good time to take the car away from the current garage and try somewhere else, preferably somewhere with real-world experience of working with Fiat electrical power steering systems. If a new battery didn't fix the problem (easy enough for a garage to drop one in and try), a clued-in specialist would likely be thinking in terms of replacing the torque sensor in your existing column and recalibrating; that should cost nowhere near £650.

Lorna87 said:

Garage are absolutely adamant that it is not the battery, so I don't have a choice but to go with what they are saying.

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Same happened with the one I was talking about. I only got involved because someone had mentioned that I had "a yard full of Pandas", and they dropped in to ask if I would be interested in buying it for better than scrap value (actually the WeBuyAnyCar valuation)

At the time I did explain that it could be that the garage was unfamiliar with this type of issue on FIATs, but, either way they seem to have lost that customer's future business.

Thinking about it more, quoting £650 (or thereabouts) to repair seems to be a common theme. As far as I can see, that is either too cheap (to replace using new genuine parts, including fitting and VAT) or too expensive (to supply and fit a reconditioned unit).

If I was a bit more cynical I might think that someone was trying to sell me a replacement car, and then do a cheap repair (possibly by fitting a new battery)....

A battery from Halfords will cost you £50 and they'll probably fit it for free. If that sorts it you're home and dry. If it doesn't, it's only the same cost another garage using their diagnostic computer.

Whatever happens, £650 is about double what the job should cost. Please take the car away and don't let family alliances waste any more of your hard earned money.

Hi Guys, I'm new to this forum and just reading through the threads. I had similar problem with red steering light on dash. A mechanic suggested the tyre pressure maybe too low and suggested check pressure and inflate if necessary. This I did and light did not come back on. He said low pressure may have put a strain on column which may have indicated a steering problem. Perhaps you might try this before going to any expense.....or maybe I was just lucky . Haven't had a problem since and that was two years ago.

It's an electric power assisted steering system. Try turning the steering with engine off and you'll realise just how hard it has to work. Tyres under-pressure will add even more load.

At low engine revs, the battery has to provide that power as alternator won't be going fast enough to be useful. A cold battery won't do as well. A cold, old battery can drop the system voltage so faults appear.

Saying that, a weak alternator can also cause the problems. My wife's Panda is fine until it's doing a frosty cold start. The battery is new but steering still drops out. There are no dash warnings then about 1/2 mile up the road it all starts working just fine. (another job for me to swap the alternator)

Strange behaviour at the steering wheel (e.g. pulsing just off straight ahead or even turning itself when parked) would be the steering sensors that control how much power assistance is delivered. These can be replaced (How To threads on here and You Tube) but a service exchange rebuilt column at around £200 is most people's solution.

Hi all

Just to say I listened to your advice and changed the battery. The light never came on again until about a month ago - have posted a new thread about this.

Good that you didnt get conned into £650 of unnecessary work

We are now halfway through a cold and damp uk winter.. battery charge could still be an issue.

I will now revert to other thread

Lorna87 said:

Hi all

Just to say I listened to your advice and changed the battery. The light never came on again until about a month ago - have posted a new thread about this.

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I just had mine lit up after not using the car for about 7 days, steering was very heavy but switch off and restart corrected it but the light came on again after a few minutes, the volts in the battery were lower than ideal, I think this is going to be an issue for everyone in winter, so changed for a new higher power battery, all seems ok now fingers crossed.

This is why I bang on about fitting a cheap voltmeter. The digital devices are pretty good and you don't need workshop accuracy.

It will tell you if the problem is battery or alternator or by deduction something within the steering system. Watch the volts when it's playing up and you'll soon suss out where the problems lie.

In other thread:

Panda completed 3 hour journey.. no issues

Return 3 hours.. no issues

Looking like it was short trips.. low battery charge to blame.

varesecrazy said:

In other thread:

Panda completed 3 hour journey.. no issues

Return 3 hours.. no issues

Looking like it was short trips.. low battery charge to blame.

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mine fails if I don't drive it for a week. Loose power steering and okay after a restart.

but my battery is getting old.

seems Fiat know the original spec battery wasn't enough as the

originaly was a 40AH to 44AH as fitted to a 1.2

then upgraded in 2009 to 54AH 530A

but cars with start stop is upped again to 60AH 560A

My 100HP had a cheaper battery fitted and recently replaced with a similar one. It had lasted 5 years so I'm not sure the bigger fatter more costly job is really needed.
I mention the model because the 100HP with it's wider wheels works the steering much harder.