High All,

Bought my 53 Punto active sport over a year ago since then it has been back to the garage 5 times with the steering pulling violanlty the right loosing control of the car the first 4 occasions they could not diagnose the problem as there was no warning lights so it was not logged on the ecu. They apparently replaced the steering columm on the 5 occasion as this time I did have a warning light. Everything was fine for about three months but its started happening again this time the power steering just freezes completley no left or right im in talks with the HP company and fiat to try ang get my money back.

Anyone else had the same problems?

G

Never had that problem - Mainly because I don't gots power steering - oh and i'm not driving yet, but what I can say is that sounds very dangerous - and you are lucky it didn't freeze up and end up in an accident. Get it fixed ASAP, you maybe even able to blame the company as it's been 5times you say that the steering collum has been replaced - maybe they aren't fitting it correctly?
Heh there's me always trying to get an extra bit of free service/money

Good luck.

Edit: Welcome to the forum!

It does sound like an electronic fault deffinatly Im sure one of the techies will see this soon

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=53717

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=11163

You have already asked this question twice!!!

Like it or not its no good keeping posting here,there is NO magical cure,you have to take it back to the dealer(prefably another dealer by the sound of it)and get it checked out! Aslong as your service book is up to date it will be covered by 3rd year warranty.
Did they calibrate the new column(s)?


53 plates suffered VSS problems that bring on steering light & often log P0500 errors in the body computer & engine ECU,if your car is non-ABS i'd ask them to check this.

Thanks for your comments, sorry new to the site (great by the Way) have been trying to find the right thread to put my comments in.

Not understanding the mechanics, All I was told was that the steering Colum had been replaced they said also it might need a new Steering rack but this wasn't done? what is VSS and what does this have to do with ABS which mine does not have. it's due in for the 5th time on Monday and it supprises me that they cant seem to rectify the fault when it seems to be a common occurance?


Thanks
G

gfunk said:

Thanks for your comments, sorry new to the site (great by the Way) have been trying to find the right thread to put my comments in.
Not understanding the mechanics, All I was told was that the steering Colum had been replaced they said also it might need a new Steering rack but this wasn't done? what is VSS and what does this have to do with ABS which mine does not have. it's due in for the 5th time on Monday and it supprises me that they cant seem to rectify the fault when it seems to be a common occurance?
Thanks.G

Click to expand...

Well column comes complete with steering ecu & motor,if this hasn't cured it then I would get the suspension carefully checked & wheel alignment as if its pulling that bad there must be something mechanically wrong.
VSS is vehicle speed sensor,03/53 plated puntos suffered from loss of speed signal & a wiring modification was brought out(not covered by 3rd yr warranty)to ensure the engine ecu,steering ecu & body computer recieved the signal.Without this the engine ecu wont know how fast the car is going(can lead to hesitation/over fueling or under fueling etc,sometimes speedo would drop out for few seconds)and steering ecu wont be able to understand how fast car is going and therefore unable to vary resistance.Often this is sorted by simply turning ignition off/on again.....until next time! More than often it simply brings engine & steering warning lights on.
From what you describe it does sound more mechanical though?

Update,

Took the car in to have the steering checked again! they told me it would need a new steering rack I was allowed to take it home again whilst they ordered a new one. I got a phone call back the next day to say they couldnt get one immidiatley? it's apparently a very uncommon fault so uncommon they don't have any in stock in the country. Not even Italy can supply them with one. Its going back tomorrow (on High Loader) as they have declared it unsafe to drive in the mean time i'm sure ill enjoy my time in a new Coutesy Fiat Panda (Not). Which is mine for at least 4 weeks whilst they get me a new rack from the manufactures in Italy.

Hopefully this will be the end of my steering problems

Whats wrong with the Panda? They are very curteous. Always saying please and thankyou.

How do you Donate cant find on the forum?




G

https://www.fiatforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42