Technical PAS packed its bags... (yet another PAS thread)

[Xen]

The PAS on the MK2 has decided to pack its bags and fook off for good. Was working on and off the other day, now its having none of it. Strangely it was after i'd had to disconnect and reconnect the battery - not sure if that coincidence.
I've read through all the millions of threads on this, and rather than mess around trying to find the fault, im just gonna meet my good friend at the scrappies for a steering column... hopefully since i know him kinda well he'll sort me out with a guarentee of 'if its a duffer when you fit it, i'll give you your money back.'

My question is, is the entire PAS system on the column? I.e, theres no other components hiding anywhere? (bar the dash indicators, city switch and fuses etc.) So no matter what the fault is, if i get a good complete steering column from the scrapper, it will solve it (cos theres nowhere else the fault could reside)?

 

[T14086]

might not be getting speed CAN signal,without this the PAS wont work neither would it work if theres a fault in the charging system.

I'd check you connected battery correctly (all wires) & have a look around the wiring engine bay first.

 

[Xen]

Cheers for the reply bud.

Yeh, checked the wiring to and from the gadjets on the steering column, tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, checked the fuses. Still get this damn PAS light and heavy steering. This speed CAN thing your on about, whats it do and where is it?

Damn technology why'd they have make things so much more computery in these modern cars. The MK1 is much easier to track down and repair faults. Time to get a haynes bible methinks...

 

[T14086]

This speed CAN thing your on about, whats it do and where is it?

Speed signal is put up on the CAN network (series of 1's & 0's binary code) & distributed to various nodes/modules (body computer/cluster/ECU/radio etc) it just seems very strange that it has only happened since disconnecting battery might be time for garage to read codes.

 

[Xen]

hmm.. hoped it wouldn't come to that, but with there being so many possibilities, i spose ill probly have to visit the garage is it only fiat dealers who can get the codes and tell you what the code refers to or can other garages do it? any idea how much were talking for a code check?

Edit: is it possible for someone to tell the steering computer to ignore the code (and hence why its come back after reconnecting the battery)

 

[T14086]

codes are vehicle specific so yes on a fiat garage,expect £40-55 for diag & recallibration.

 

[Xen]

If i were to replace the steering column, would i be able to tell if it was a good, working column before callibration? would it still work (albeit badly)? Don't wanna fit a column then have to pay for callibration before i know its a functioning one

I had a poke around with it tonite trying to figure out what does what. There are 5 connectors going to the steering control unit. From left to right (as viewed when installed) i figured they were;
1) ??? ( 6 thin wires in yellow heatshrink)
2) Torque sensors in motor assembly
3) Motor power
4) Main power to the entire system
5) Dash light and City button

Does anyone know what the 6 wires in the first connector do?

If it helps trace my fault, the PAS light comes on for a few seconds with one turn of the key, then dissappears. When the engines started it returns.
If i disconnect the first connector, the torques sensor connector or the motor power connector, the symptoms are the same. I can also disconnect the first connector and the motor power connector at the same time and the symptoms are the same. Any other combination of connections/disconnections show a constant PAS light with one turn of the key.

 

[Ianstep]

Hi
On my punto the PAS light has come on, but the PAS system is still working OK, any thoughts as to why this should be so?
I have checked all the fuses etc, the only thing I haven't tried is removing and replacing the battery.