Punto (Mk2/2b) EOBD and steering warning light on URGENT. Can i make it home?

[Punto grrr]

Hi people,

Can any1 point me in the right direction of the first to do when this happens and how much it may cost

URGENT HELP REQUIRED as i was wandering if i can make it home in one piece

Thanks

 

[crazyfrenchbird]

I used to have that problem on my old punto (1.2 8V V reg) but I don't have it on my new one (53 plate).... its a very common problem. Can you make it home safely... absolutely yes dont worry. The car is perfectly safe to drive with the power steering on ... the steering is just as stiff as it was in the old cars when we didnt have power steering... but the best way to clear it is turn the engine off completely and take the key out for 1 min and start the car again and it should clear. If it happens whilst driving at some speed ie over 40mph you can just turn the key towards you as if you were turning the engine off but dong go all the way and the car will restart on its own and it should clear the light. However if it doesnt clear at all after doing either of those two things (ie turn the engine off completely and restart or the half restart at speed) then that means you electric power steering pump needs to be replaced (that's the large round grey aluminium coloured part that's attached under you steering wheel). They are about £40 on ebay for a used one from a breakers and they usually come with their own ECU which will be needed to be replaced too. It can take about 2 hours to replace it so find yourself a mechanic or buy the haynes book and do it yourself. I found out that having the City button on makes it three times worse so try not to use it all the time only for a few minutes at a time for parking only that's what its there for.... having the City steering on all the time drains your battery and in essence makes the electric power steering pump and ECU fail due to low voltage and short circuit. it also can sometimes be regarded as an MOT failure but not all garages class it as one so it's worth shopping around for one that will pass it if it happens to them whilst they do the MOT. My old car used to have that problem mainly in damp and very cold weather especially in winter so I made sure I did my MOT middle of summer so it was never detected. If your has completely failed you will need to replace it completely.... hope that helps

CFB

 

[atom0007]

Wow, sounds like I'm totally raining on your parade tonight

Turning your key off at 40mph? Sounds like madness to me.

If city was for parking, it would be called parking. Decide for yourself if you prefer it on or off. I have it on permanently, I think it's easier to feel a 1% change in the road when your forearms are not at 90% effort. But that's a personal opinion.

Edit: in fairness, you said don't don't turn it all the way, but that still seems dicey.