General New steering rack.

[BenP]

Had a knocking noise develop from somewhere beneath my feet but I couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. You could hear it when rocking the steering wheel quickly left-right-left-right at a standstill. The car also felt very imprecise on the road and I lost a lot of confidence in my ability to place it. Lanes that I'd happily fly down were reduced to 40mph or less in an effort to keep it on the island.

Anyhow, put it on our ramp and did all the usual checks and couldn't find anything obviously wrong. No play in bearings, struts, top mounts (already replaced those) track rod ends, suspension arms, bushes and so on and so forth. The only thing I could put it down to was either the rack itself (Panda racks have ball joints on the inside of the rack too, much like Corsas) or the electric steering pump/motor.

Either which way I decided to give the problem to Fiat as the car is still under its third year warranty.

They rang just now to confirm that the rack is indeed toast and that a new one is on order...back order. No idea when it'll be it but as I've got another car I'm not too fussed - just glad I got my diagnosis right!

Don't want to instil panic in people but if your steering does knock/clonk at a standstill it might be worth getting it looked at as new rack out of warranty isn't going to be cheap...

Ben

 

[jimbo118]

What mileage had it done?

 

[BenP]

22,400.

 

[JD82]

My old Corsa B had a very similar electronic system and that started to knock at very slow speeds. The headgasket went so I got rid of it and ordered the Panda but it seems if the HG didn't go I may have had a very big bill for a new rack!

PS did you use the city mode much?

 

[BenP]

PS did you use the city mode much?

Never use city (or normal in the HP), just leave it in Sport 100% of the time.

Ben

 

[swana1976]

22,400.

Took my 100HP into the dealer today - needs a new rack and drop links. Has nearly done 25k miles.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Power steering and the steering rack are two different components. Power steering is in the column (although I'm not sure where the torque sensors are). Using City or not shouldn't have any affect on the steering rack. I'd be suspisius if they're saying its the rack, especially if out of warrentee. Have you checked that its defo covered by the 3rd year warrentee? Don't want a surprise bill on collection.

 

[swana1976]

Mine is just out of it's 2nd year warranty and the dealer is still going to do the work under the 3rd year. I think with major items like this they can still claim off Fiat for the work. A duff rack after 20 odd thousand miles can hardly be seen as "wear and tear"

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Compleatly agree, defo a defective part.

 

[BenP]

Power steering and the steering rack are two different components. Power steering is in the column (although I'm not sure where the torque sensors are). Using City or not shouldn't have any affect on the steering rack. I'd be suspisius if they're saying its the rack, especially if out of warrentee. Have you checked that its defo covered by the 3rd year warrentee? Don't want a surprise bill on collection.

It's definitely the rack and it's definitely covered. I made sure of this as otherwise one of my guys would have been doing it!

 

[BenP]

Well it's back - only took five weeks! The rack was on back order.

Marked difference though and now no knocking whatsoever, so if yours does knock a little it's well worth getting it checked before your warranty runs out.

Ben

 

[babbo_umbro]

Well it's back - only took five weeks! The rack was on back order.

Marked difference though and now no knocking whatsoever, so if yours does knock a little it's well worth getting it checked before your warranty runs out.

Ben

You said the 100HP was into its third year - can you give a more exact age as mine has done 17,000+ miles in 19 months and it would be useful to know, perhaps there's a batch of faulty racks.

 

[BenP]

You said the 100HP was into its third year - can you give a more exact age as mine has done 17,000+ miles in 19 months and it would be useful to know, perhaps there's a batch of faulty racks.

Yep it's an 08/57 registered end of January 2008 and has done 22.5k miles.

Ben

 

[babbo_umbro]

Yep it's an 08/57 registered end of January 2008 and has done 22.5k miles.

Ben

Thanks - hope I won't need the info but you never know.

 

[putneyrower]

Hi I've seen a few threads re steering on the Punto. I have a 06 reg Punto 1.4, with 22k miles and it's started making a grinding noise when turning the steering wheel when the car is at low speeds (below 10mph) / stationery. it sounds like the entire dash board is vibrating. It does not improve with using the City function. I've booked it into Fiat to be looked at after Kwik Fit told me to get some crutches and bandages ready for when I hear the bill. I'm disgusted I'm having to pay £60 to have a problem that I won't even understand diagnosed. Clearly I'm now out of warranty as well - can anyone offer any advice or ball parks for what I'm going to have to pay, bearing in mind I only bought the damn thing out of it's lease six months ago for £3k. Is there any chance of claiming against Fiat for any of this - it's extraordinary that a car that with low mileage (about 16K of the 22k is motorway miles) and only 4 and a half years old could need a new steering system. I can't believe I'm being dumb enough to buy another fiat and get caught like this.
Help anyone please?