Technical Power steering failure! should i scrap or not??

[jaidee]

Hi all,

I currently own a 1.2 2000 Punto. Yesturday the power steering failure light lit up and since then has been intermitantly failing. It tends to happen when the wheel is in full lock and after that it is nearly impossible to drive.

I have checked the fuse box under the bonnet and i have checked the connections in the steering collum, all of which seem to be ok. The steering also makes a dull screeching noise when i turn the wheel. Would this be the torque sensor? or the ecu? Is there anything else i need to check???

I think this could be a worst case scenario, so im stuck at what to do. I believe my car is worth £1200. I definately cannot afford a whole brand new replacement which i feel any fiat garage will advise. My mot is up in January, would it be advisable to buy a unit off ebay and get it privately fitted?? I'm trying to figure out the least costly option so that i can get it through an Mot and then sell it, as i feel this problem could happen again!:bang:

Any suggestions folks????
Please!!!

 

[buzz44]

well a power steering pump is around £50 and a power steering motor is around £200 to buy. If im right the mot wont fail you if you dont have your power steering working. also i dont have power steering on my car and i barely notice it. Also if you take it to a local garage ask them how much its going to cast and what price the parts are if the parts are more expensive than you can get them for buy the parts yourself then ask them to fit it. mobably cost you around £500-£600 in total..

 

[dave]

mk2 don t have a power steering pump

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guides/70703-punto-steering-column.html

 

[turbocinq]

Hi

These electronic steering units are available for around £200 with a 2 year warrenty and one can be fitted in about 1.5hrs so if you take it somewhere and they quote much more than £325 all in walk away.

Rich

 

[Dark_Crusader]

If im right the mot wont fail you if you dont have your power steering working.

BZZZZZZT! WRONG!! Unfortunately buzz44 I know you CAN fail an MOT because of this...it happened to me 6 weeks ago! Just gotta order the column to swap over so I can get back on the roads again, even though I'm REALLY enjoying taking Public Transport at the mo... :yuck:

 

[T14086]

if you take it somewhere and they quote much more than £325 all in walk away.

why?

 

[DaveMcT]

I'm with T14086. It depends if you know the garage and if they know Fiats (or other Mfrs that use the Punto underpinnings). You do get what you pay for. AN before anyone says DIY is free. No its not. The tools cost £loads and the time and hassle are not cheap especially when you wife/GF/Employer moans at you for never being in/at work.

But I would also add that a monthly payemnt premium on a new car wont be much less than the cost of a fitted steering column. If the car is otherwise OK its lower cost in the long run to keep it.

 

[turbocinq]

why?

Because I own/run a garage and thats what I charge for doing them so if another garage charges much more then they are overcharging.

What are these special tools that are required then??

I dont use any specialist tools to do them.

 

[T14086]

so your saying you charge £125 to fit dealership only charges 1.0 fitting which at my nearest is £55. (plus 10% discount if car over 5 years old)

Also the column should go on examiner to be callibrated and there is a sequence for tightning the mounting bolts.

 

[Dark_Crusader]

so your saying you charge £125 to fit dealership only charges 1.0 fitting which at my nearest is £55. (plus 10% discount if car over 5 years old)

Also the column should go on examiner to be callibrated and there is a sequence for tightning the mounting bolts.

T14086 you would'nt happen to know what that sequence is would you ? As I'll be doing mine soon unless it's not a major key part in fixing the column but as you mentioned it I'm assuming it is Is it a universal sequence for all Mk2's ?

 

[sid23456]

Maybe worth swapping over the sterring motor. Shouldn't cost much (ebay £50-100?). Easy to swap over.

Fixed my steering problem about 1 year ago.

 

[paul12345]

you could also try test the voltage at the motor, if there the correct voltage then just replace the motor

 

[tambo]

i went to local scrappy,charged me £60 for power steering motor,i fitted it,problem solved

just so happened that i bought one and got 1 free

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

BZZZZZZT! WRONG!! Unfortunately buzz44 I know you CAN fail an MOT because of this...it happened to me 6 weeks ago! Just gotta order the column to swap over so I can get back on the roads again, even though I'm REALLY enjoying taking Public Transport at the mo... :yuck:

Why did they fail it?

 

[Dark_Crusader]

Why did they fail it?

MEP, I think they were looking for something to fail the car on and make some money as it had passed two years prior with the Power-steering NOT working, albeit that was a different guy doing the test at the garage for me, whereas this new one tells me that it had 'gotten worse' Which I knew was a croc of tish as I'd been to WALES and back the day before with no issues whatsoever, oh and a parking light bulb had blown too I was informed by an FF member that it was in fact an MOT failure point for the PAS not to work and that it should have failed the first time. Oh well...

 

[girlracerdraper]

A new power steering column I have just been quoted by fiat is £688.57 ALL INCLUDED!

So who ever is doin it for £325 please pass me details coz thats bloody cheep with a 2 year warranty!!!

ADVISE! DONT DRIVE WITH CITY STEERING THATS WHAT MUCKS UP THE POWER STEERING! LOL

 

[T14086]

ADVISE! DONT DRIVE WITH CITY STEERING THATS WHAT MUCKS UP THE POWER STEERING! LOL

Who told you that, mines been on for nearly 7 years!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

MEP, I think they were looking for something to fail the car on and make some money as it had passed two years prior with the Power-steering NOT working, albeit that was a different guy doing the test at the garage for me, whereas this new one tells me that it had 'gotten worse' Which I knew was a croc of tish as I'd been to WALES and back the day before with no issues whatsoever, oh and a parking light bulb had blown too I was informed by an FF member that it was in fact an MOT failure point for the PAS not to work and that it should have failed the first time. Oh well...

Just interested to find out the exact reason they gave. As was it 'due to powersteering failure light' or 'heavy steering due to PS failure' etc.

Who told you that, mines been on for nearly 7 years!

:yeahthat:

 

[Dark_Crusader]

'heavy steering due to PS failure'.

:yeahthat:

 

[girlracerdraper]

Ive been told by 2 fiat garages its to to with the city steering?? God knows why?

They are having the same problem on the grandes now too