Technical Imprecise steering?

[Mad Mike]

Hi All,

My GP (registered March 2007) has now had the anti-roll bar, steering rack, both front shock absorbers and rubber mountings replaced.

The steering on my Dynamic 90 (diesel) has never been the same since the steering rack went US and another was fitted. The new rack feels much stiffer than the old one was when new. This would probably be OK if a large chunk of rubber were not fitted between the steering wheel and the steering column - presumably to absorb vibrations. When turning the steering wheel, the rubber needs to be "wound up" before the torque is sufficient to turn the steering column shaft. The effect is most noticable on a smooth road (motorway) at around 60mph. The steering is rubbery and imprecise. The wheel needs to be turned 2 or 3 degrees (around 5mm at the rim) in either direction before the car changes course. This introduces an annoying lack of control. My partner and I hate it! I had to do an emergency stop this week and came to the conclusion that bumps in the road had caused the car to change direction while the steering was held straight.

Three members of staff at my local dealer have now driven the car and tell me that there is nothing wrong with the steering. I have informed Fiat of my dissatisfaction but if no fault is identified then no remedial action will be taken - in which case I will almost certainly sell the car.

I would be interested to know if there are any other GPs (or their owners!) with this problem.

 

[T14086]

I'll be honest & say I have nbever noticed or had a customer saying the same as yourself.I reckon its miles better than the older (188) punto,have you had tracking done(should be carried out after rack fitted)?

 

[Mad Mike]

I'll be honest & say I have nbever noticed or had a customer saying the same as yourself.I reckon its miles better than the older (188) punto,have you had tracking done(should be carried out after rack fitted)?

Hi Moderator,

Sorry if I have misused the forum.

Tracking was done after the rack was fitted. Part fitted was F0071748650. If you ring your local parts department they will tell you that part is not fitted as a warranty replacement steering rack (mine was). There is more to this than meets the eye.

Mike

 

[T14086]

Hi Moderator,

Sorry if I have misused the forum.

Why

Tracking was done after the rack was fitted. Part fitted was F0071748650. If you ring your local parts department they will tell you that part is not fitted as a warranty replacement steering rack (mine was). There is more to this than meets the eye.

Mike

I think warranty rack is basic rack,non-warranty is with track rod ends etc...could be wrong but I suspect thats what it is,Anyone else know?

 

[Mad Mike]

Hi Moderator,


I thought your text

"Please don't PM for advice...post it on the forums "

implied I had done something wrong!


Thank you for your input.

Regards,

Mike

 

[T14086]

Hi Moderator,


I thought your text

"Please don't PM for advice...post it on the forums "

implied I had done something wrong!


Thank you for your input.

Regards,

Mike

LOL.....nah alot of people personal message for help/advice but prefer it was posted up for all to see & benefit from

Let us know about that part number or even if you could find out its cost

 

[luvduvs]

I wouldn't worry about mis-using the forum, but

I'll be honest

means T hasn't been honest with us all along?

 

[Mad Mike]

I'll be honest & say I have nbever noticed or had a customer saying the same as yourself.I reckon its miles better than the older (188) punto,have you had tracking done(should be carried out after rack fitted)?

The fact that no one else seems to have this problem implies it is an unusual fault on my car. I drove a 2004 Active Sport and the steering was fine. The steering on my GP was also OK until the steering rack was changed.

 

[oilrag]

means T hasn't been honest with us all along?

Looks like T`s having a night off Kev, 8.59PM and no show

Mad Mike, Hi, Hope you get it sorted.
Regards

 

[Mad Mike]

Thanks Oilrag,

I don't think anything will be done while my dealer dismisses my criticism of the steering. I really like every other aspect of the car but, being a keen driver who does 18000 miles a year and has a tendency to go fast around bends and through narrow gaps, I can't risk driving a car with rubbery and vague steering.

Mike

 

[T14086]

21.30 & i'm back:devil:

Ask/request if a fiat field engineer can test the car as you are certain there is a fault.

 

[oilrag]

. I really like every other aspect of the car but, being a keen driver
Mike

I would follow T`s advice Mike. He`s a tech working on Fiats as well as a Moderator. ( sorry if you already know that )

I would just persist with it and not let it put you off the car. Personally I think you get a lot further with a dealer by being decent about the issue as you are.

If T`s approach is rejected by the dealer, you could always write to Fiat UK. It seems they are quite sensitive these days to customer issues.

Your `free play` at the wheel should be measurable when stationary. As such comparable with other new models on the forecourt and the design specs.

In other words not dismissable as a subjective impression.

The bottom line is that once your rack problem is sorted, the car will be as new.

Regards

 

[Mad Mike]

Thank you very much for your advice gentlemen. The car will be test-driven by the service manager at another dealership next week. Also, my local dealer is kindly allowing me to drive a new 1.3 diesel so I should know after that whether my car is sub-standard.

The problem with the rack is that the servo is too stiff. When City mode is selected (and the car is parked with the engine running) the wheels turn as soon as the steering wheel is turned. When City mode is not selected, the built-in servo stiffness is excessive. The steering wheel needs to be turned against this force (torque). The rubber mounting beneath the steering wheel twists with no effect on the steering column until the transmitted force exceeds the holding torque of the servo. One can move the steering wheel about two degrees each way before the wheels turn. If the holding torque is increased as the car increases speed then this will make matters worse. At 60mph one can wobble the steering wheel from side-to-side through a significant angle with no effect other than twisting the rubber mount. I would be happier if the steering wheel were rigidly mounted to the steering column. Perhaps this is the area in which the problem lies?

Fiat are aware of my dissatisfaction and the case is currently receiving attention. I will certainly consider applying for a Fiat field service engineer to inspect the car if the forthcoming tests suggest/prove that it has a fault and the local dealer refuses to acknowledge it.

Regards,

Mike

 

[Mad Mike]

Hi All,

The good news is that last week a technical specialist at a second Fiat dealership recognised that there was a problem with the steering and agreed that free play existed just below the steering wheel.

A new steering column was fitted today and the difference is staggering. The steering is much lighter and more responsive. I can only imagine that the old one had been binding - making it stiff to turn and the car unpleasant to drive for the last 5,000 miles. The car has been transformed and I am enjoying driving it again.

Needless to say, a letter of complaint has been sent to the owner of my local garage who failed to diagnose the problem.

Regards,

Mike

 

[T14086]

Good stuff & thanks for getting back to us with the outcome

 

[Jason_6780]

Glad to hear it's sorted.

 

[djabbey18]

always nice to hear when people get things sorted, gives you a sort of hope that if you ever needed somthing sorted then it would be in the end.

 

[Jason_6780]

Yeah it is, it should be happening more often if you ask me.

 

[luvduvs]

gives you a sort of hope that if you ever needed somthing sorted then it would be in the end.

That idea went promptly out the window after I bought a Fiat