Technical Notchy/sticky EPS

[AAB1992]

Hi there I’ve got a 2004 1.2 8v with 165k that’s not been on the road in 5 years. Recently it’s had a new clutch & hydraulic system to get it roadworthy as a second run around.

Since I’ve been driving it this last week, I’ve noticed the power steering feels unusual (compared to my Tipo Cross at least). Whist there are no warning lights or fault codes for the EPS, there is a notchy/sticky feeling to the steering. This makes it more difficult to keep the car in a straight line on motorways for example. It’s reluctant to return to centre too from a small amount of lock. I vaguely remember this being present prior to placing it in storage. At a standstill when you rock wheel side to side you can hear the motor groaning quietly. I’ve done all the system recalibrations via Multisacan and it’s made no difference.

Given the car is worth next to nothing, I may go down the route of replacing just the motor or the entire column with a second hand one (if I can find a low mileage one). I’m well aware of the documented faults with the panda EPS and I’ve rarely had any bother from mine.

My question is - are the EPS columns programmed to each vehicle? Or are they plug and play.

Do you just think this at motor fault as opposed to any other components?

Second hand ones are around £100ish and I know remanufactured ones £300ish.

What are your thoughts?

 

[koalar]

Rusty top mount bearing would be my guess

Is it worse at higher speed by any chance

Yes the column is plug and. Play, as long as they are taken off and out back with the wheel pointing straight ahead

I doubt it will need a EPS car sat for 5 years will almost certainly be mechanical

 

[koalar]

Lift the front wheel and turn the steering lock to lock with the engine off would be a sensible first step

Unfortunately it will not show up everything, as the suspension isn't under the same weight and load

A better way would be to use some turn plates, but not the average kit for DIY

 

[AAB1992]

Rusty top mount bearing would be my guess

Is it worse at higher speed by any chance

Yes the column is plug and. Play, as long as they are taken off and out back with the wheel pointing straight ahead

I doubt it will need a EPS car sat for 5 years will almost certainly be mechanical

Its been in dry storage for all that time and the battery charged every few weeks. The front suspension had an overhaul around 20k ago with new Bilstein B6 dampers and top mounts. Could it be down to lack of use?

 

[koalar]

Its been in dry storage for all that time and the battery charged every few weeks. The front suspension had an overhaul around 20k ago with new Bilstein B6 dampers and top mounts. Could it be down to lack of use?

Yes

Dry storage as in a cold garage or heated room


B6 are normally horrid on rough roads


Is it worse at high speeds, or at parking speeds

 

[AAB1992]

Yes

Dry storage as in a cold garage or heated room


B6 are normally horrid on rough roads


Is it worse at high speeds, or at parking speeds

Cold garage.

Its worse when I've been driving for a while and faster roads where you need to make small inputs to keep in a straight line. It feels like the EPS motor doesn't want to cooperate.

 

[koalar]

EPS is proportional to speed the faster you go the less the EPS assist, at 50 mph it's almost none existing

99% something mechanically and not the EPS

If you want to eliminate the last 1% you could always pull the EPS fuse, they drive fine at 50MPH and above

are we saying the steering is stiff and notchy

Or

Is the car wandering when driving in a straight line


We're the suspension arms done

 

[AAB1992]

EPS is proportional to speed the faster you go the less the EPS assist, at 50 mph it's almost none existing

99% something mechanically and not the EPS

If you want to eliminate the last 1% you could always pull the EPS fuse, they drive fine at 50MPH and above

are we saying the steering is stiff and notchy

Or

Is the car wandering when driving in a straight line


We're the suspension arms done

It just has an unnatural feeling. It’s not stiff just notchy as if the motor is sticking. The car doesn’t wander. The suspension arm were replaced at the same time

 

[koalar]

Post 3

With the front wheels off the ground, engine off

Turn the steering slowly a few degrees each way as if driving down a straightish country road

How does it feel

Almost certainly something binding due to being layed up for 5 years

You already 95% confirmed it's not the EPS as it's worse on faster road where there virtually no input from the EPS, if you want to eliminate the last 5% pull the fuse and take it for a test drive, slower speeds are fine because the EPS is giving the most assistance and masking the binding, unless the fault is tramlining in which case it likely to be suspension arms

You could try the city button and see if that makes a difference

My guess would be top mounts, yes I know they are new, or UJ joints in the steering column

But without any feedback from any diagnostic or questions it's pure guess work

 

[ZaphodB]

or UJ joints in the steering column

This is my guess

Should result in the same notchiness at the same place(s) on the wheel as you turn the wheel from one end of travel to the other