Technical Delphi Electric Steering Punto Mk2 with 'Fiatecuscan' diagnostics software

[Keithn]

Hi,

Someone recently broke into my car and stole the complete steering column of my Punto Mk2 1.2/8v

After finding out that the dealer wanted to charge me more than the car was worth for a replacement, I decided to buy a second hand column and fit it myself.

After I fitted it, it worked fine, including the power steering in both normal & city modes. However, after a few miles driving, the steering became heavy and the power steering warning light came on. I tried everything to reset it, including disconnecting the battery overnight, as recommended by some posters on various forums, but nothing worked.

I then decided that the steering probably needed recalibrating and so I took it to my dealer and asked them to do it. They connected it to their diagnostics system and told me that 'the system had disabled itself and they could not recalibrate it - sorry, that will be EURO 50 please' Needless to say I was pretty annoyed by their disinterest.

As an electronics engineer by profession, I then decided to buy the 'Fiatecuscan' software and an ELM327 OBD II cable so that I could inspect the system for myself.

I can connect to the steering ecu ok and I can see that there is a logged fault regarding the motor, which I can clear. I can also read out all the parameters (which is great ) but when I try the system adjustments, I have only partial success:

Torque Sensor Calibration - Test runs OK
Torque Sensor Position Calibration - Test runs OK
Position Sensor calibration - FAILED TO EXECUTE - Incorrect Conditions for this test
System Calibration - FAILED TO EXECUTE

All tests performed with steering wheel & front wheels in the straight ahead position. All fuses connected with the power steering circuits have been checked. After doing these, I start the engine and the steering light comes on again immediately and the same fault is stored again

My questions:

1. Why should the Position & System Calibrations FAIL TO EXECUTE? What does 'Incorrect conditions for this test' mean?
2. What should the Position Potentiometer voltages 1 and 2 be, when the vehicle is in the straight ahead position? Mine are 2.4888v and 0.0000v respectively
3. Parameter Feedback Offset voltage on my system is 0.2352v whereas the parameter Max Feedback Offset Voltage is 0.1232. Why is my feedback offset voltage higher that the max value and what does this parameter tell me?
4. Does anyone have a set of figure for the same or a similar vehicle so that I can compare them - not necessarily using Fiatecuscan, but other systems such as Leonardo etc?

I think the Fiatecuscan software should be able to help me fix my problem (it's a great piece of software & a credit to Yani, it's author), but I would be very grateful for any advice or help from other users.

If anyone requires further information, please ask.

Many Thanks

Keith

 

[Scoobysnacks]

Hi,

Someone recently broke into my car and stole the complete steering column of my Punto Mk2 1.2/8v

Now THAT is stealing with style! Most thieves would at least have taken it away to strip it down!

I'm afraid I can't help with the technical problem, but that is one determined thief!

Is it possible that the thief damaged something removing the old column? A connector maybe?

Also are the steering ecu's coded in to the other electronic systems?

 

[DaveMcT]

People have posted threads on steering with faulty circuit boards and some have been repaired by re-soldering dry joints. Its got to be worth taking out the steering electronics and going over it with a good maginifier. And dont forget to check the cabling as SS says.

 

[ChrisUK]

Is it possible that the thief damaged something removing the old column? A connector maybe?

Also are the steering ecu's coded in to the other electronic systems?

1.) Possibly

2.) No, they just need "calibrating" using the relevant software, either at a dealer or using fiatecuscan.

And sorry I can't help further but try PM'ing T14086 as he's a Fiat Tech and normally very helpful .

 

[Moosey]

Now THAT is stealing with style! Most thieves would at least have taken it away to strip it down!

I'm afraid I can't help with the technical problem, but that is one determined thief!

Crap situation, but i gotta agree with Scoob here. That is one determined thief, to break into a car and steal just the steering column, without even taking the car away!

 

[T14086]

1) is the secondhand column 100% ok

2) is it the right column?

Normally not being able to carry out a test means something is missing or a parameter is missing (such as VDC sensor etc)

As or the theft of the column the steering lock would have to be broken.

 

[Keithn]

Thanks for the replies so far and empathy with my situation.

@ T14086:

1. Yes, the column was 100% when I bought it and did work perfectly for a short while after I fitted it.

2. It is the correct column with ecu 6670 - I checked before buying.

3. You are right, the thieves did smash off the steering lock and left my lock barrel dangling on it's connecting wire, so thankfully I was able to retrofit it into the replacement column. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to even start the car.

The torque sensors and torque position sensors recal OK and I can dynamically read out the steering wheel torque and the two steering position potentiometer voltages (as well as other parameters such as thermistor voltage and feedback offset voltage (which as I indicated earlier is strangely larger than the MAX feedback error offset)).

What is the VDC parameter? I have ecu supply voltage @ 12.4 and permanent ecu supply also at 12.4. In fact all the parameter fields for the Fiatecuscan software contain valid information except the calculated steering angle fields which always show up at 0.0 deg, even when the steering is being moved. It seems to me that the system is disabled,

As a FIAT tech, can you tell me what the voltages (particularly position potentiometer 1 & 2 voltages and the feedback error offset) should be when the vehicle is set with wheels straight ahead? It may help me in comparing mine with a known working system.

Many Thanks Again,

Keith

 

[Keithn]

Re: Delphi Electric Steering Punto Mk2 -Problem Solved!

PROBLEM SOLVED!

The steering fault was caused by cracked solder joints on the relays on the pcb inside the motor housing. I re-soldered everything, built it back up, reset & re-calibrated the steering using the excellent Fiatecuscan software & an ELM327 OBD interface cable and BINGO - away it went. Works perfectly now in both normal & city modes.

Thanks to all who replied.

Regards

Keith

 

[Scoobysnacks]

Excellent Keith, glad you got it sorted!

Brave man to tackle taking the column to pieces, but it's probably saved you a fortune!

 

[Moosey]

Re: Delphi Electric Steering Punto Mk2 -Problem Solved!

PROBLEM SOLVED!

The steering fault was caused by cracked solder joints on the relays on the pcb inside the motor housing. I re-soldered everything, built it back up, reset & re-calibrated the steering using the excellent Fiatecuscan software & an ELM327 OBD interface cable and BINGO - away it went. Works perfectly now in both normal & city modes.

Awesome work, Keith!