Technical Total loss of power steering

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Technical Total loss of power steering

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Jun 3, 2004
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So there I was, comming up the M6 in the fast lane when for no reason, an f plate volvo dithering up the middle lane (with no traffic in the slow lane or in front of him) moves into the fast lane in front of me. Hes going rather slow and im doing about 80. I slam on as he did this at the point of no return.

some ABS shudder, one cloud of tyre smoke, a screech and then something suprised me- the steering wheel shot back into the dash...with out the position lock comming off. I then get a power steering failure message, and ABS failure and summat else i dont know what is. Im missed him by an inch. he then pulls into middle lane. Im now on the motorway with no ABS and no steering doing 50mph. I thought the steering was a false message until i had to turn- and couldnt as my stilo now has no power steering and no power to the hydraulics. I managed to get onto the hard shoulder, and stop the car, turning it off and on sorted the ABS out and the other thing but the steering msg still would not go off and not work. the wheel would reposition and lock as normal and on the fourth attempt, just before calling the AA the steering come back on and has worked fine since.

This was the biggest poo pants moment in my driving career, and im going to mention this to the dealer when its service time as it scared me and the mrs.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?
 
Erm, nor had it done it before....lot of good that record meant for it never happening.

I wouldn't get in a car that did that to me, not unless it had had time spent on it by a fiat 'expert'.
 
That's almost got the hallmarks of some form of device pulling the steering wheel into the dash as it would in the event of an impact, to pull the wheel away from any potential chest/face impact.

I didn't think the Stilo had that kind of thing though, to be honest.
 
You say the steering wheel shot into the dash.... err.... steering wheels ain't ment to do that! Get it in the garage... Scary as f**k! Could you rack have jumped? could it be loose? could your power steering being going daft, could you maybe not have had your wheel locked in position properly?

As for Matiz, very entertaining car! 800cc of raw power, sound great to! Lol, nah speed, but still fun.
 
Used to regularly drive my wifes one at 80+ on the motorway, great fun until you hit a steep hill with the aircon switched on, or you get caught in a cross wind. Other than that great cars around town, too cute and cheeky to get blasted for cutting out on folk etc. No space is too small either.
 
I hired one in kephalonia(greek island)a few weeks ago,it was cool,apart from having to turn off the a/c to get up some hills it drove fine for a small car(looked like a twintub washer though in white.)
 
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