Hi Guys!!

Finally signed up here. Relatively new and so is my Fiat punto 54 plate 1.2 active sport 16v, face lift version mark 2! Basically bought the car from a dealership near me a few days ago with a 28 day warranty. Came up to a parking barrier today and the dreaded power steering light came on and my steering went heavy, Parked up did the old turn off and on and it was working again. Again when leaving the car park up to the barrier it went off again. Went through the barrier pulled over, turned off and on then it was fine all the way home.

Now I've looked it all up I know there is problems with the power steering with puntos but mainly with 03 and prior punto's mines a 54? Could the car park barrier sensor triggered a malfunction in my cars sensor for it to knock the power steering off?? Or am I being nieve? I mean I got the car literally 2 days ago. I've read all on here the only way to really know is to run a diagnostic but my dealership isn't a garage. Will they take the car off me and do all that themselves?

Now when I bought the car, and test drove it the car dealer said he thought it was lucky it had started as it had been stood there a while and not been turned on as he had been on holiday! So it could be the battery isn't fully topped up yet and maybe just needs a good run out? Again am
I being nieve?

I don't want to take it back to the dealer and there is no light on and the power steering is fine!! I'll look a pleb!

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Soon as this matter is over with I can get stuck in as a real Fiat head!

Hi , and welcome,
The Electric power steering can be quite greedy for power,
logically you'll be at tickover at the barrier , therefore the alternator wont be charging fantastically,
maybe try and get the battery charged - give it a good run,
I don't believe the PAS light on wil leave a stored fault code for a garage to find " after the event",
Charlie

I had the same issue, i purchased a used punto that had been in storage for a while and the light came on every time i parked - I found that i either had to use the car every day to prevent the battery from getting low, or get a new battery

antipesto93 said:

I had the same issue, i purchased a used punto that had been in storage for a while and the light came on every time i parked - I found that i either had to use the car every day to prevent the battery from getting low, or get a new battery

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Excellent reply both of you thanks. Thought it was just me! Well reckon I should give it a good run out like you say. I have another 24 days warranty from tomorrow so maybe it's best seeing how I get on within that time and if it happens again take it to the dealer and get them to sort it!! When you google the problem as well as look on this forum it doesn't look good. I do believe it could be the battery though!

I think the timing of it cutting out makes it sound like the battery,

as you say- have a good couple of weeks with it, and see how it goes,

Charlie

Take it back now. You don't have to prove that it's not working, but take a few pics when it happens.

Even if it is "just the battery" you're going to be out of pocket to the sum of £ 50. Have the dealer fix it properly.

hi DenzilJames
i will give you a definative answer as i get this with the puntos i sell
its very car dependant and battery dependant
your car will indeed have fault codes logged for the power steering and can be accessed but unless the dealer is set up for fiats like me then he wont easily be able to access them
if you want the cheapest best option its to confirm charging system up to spec at dealerships expense and if it is get them to fit you a better battery thats newer and on top of the job
i am well aware that puntos can and do give issues after sale on this problem but your seller may not be

Just brought means it probably been stood

its probably just been frozen to death nearly by the cold snap making it weak

The poor alternator cant charge a battery that doesn't want to be charged, and it cant take the full load = Red light on

A Good battery maintaince MAY cure this for a short while, but i think s+b will agree here, once they start to die with age, they fail shortly after

A good clean up of the contacts from Alternator to Starter to battery may also help with power delivery - even replacing might be an option there quiet cheap power cables, but if the battery is at fault, it will only aid a fix, not cure it

Ziggy