General power steering relay

[jim whitehead]

Hi there; where would I find the power steering relay

Thanks in advance

Jim

 

[Brendan W]

I'm not aware of any external relay as such. There is 60A whopper fuse in the engine fusebox. There are two relays inside the p/s motor on the pre 03 cars. These fail and can be replaced.
What's happening ?

 

[Scudmonkey]

Mk2 have 2 relays on the end of the PAS Motor (These can be replaced with the motor taken out), Mk2/B have a Relayless PAS. Apart from that there is just a fuse in the main fusebox.

 

[Ziggy122]

Mk2 have 2 relays on the end of the PAS Motor (These can be replaced with the motor taken out), Mk2/B have a Relayless PAS. Apart from that there is just a fuse in the main fusebox.

Just a Note - you cant interchange the motors
mk2 Relay motor Cant go in a Mk2b Relay-less setup

You need ECU too i believe - but still not sure if that'd cure the issue 100%

Ziggy

 

[jim whitehead]

It's a mk2 2000 plate. Start car and power steering warning light comes on intermittently I am wondering if the relay is corroded?

 

[Ziggy122]

It's a mk2 2000 plate. Start car and power steering warning light comes on intermittently I am wondering if the relay is corroded?

It could be anything
Could be low battery
No speed sensor response
Torque sensor open circuit
ECU dead
motor could be shorting out
Lots and lots of reasons

Since its free and v. easy to eliminate battery
Go to halfords and ask for a free battery check

if the battery comes back as been low on charge (a recharge should cure it)
Or battery under performing.... then replace it

The P/S on punto's are very very picky about voltage, they like a good strong healthy supply, a weak battery after cranking throws a low voltage code, PS shuts down to prevent notchy steering

Ziggy

 

[Brendan W]

Have a look at this https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/342594-help-my-power-steering-light-start-here.html

Battery issue is quite common, your are also in the time frame for the dodgy relays. Sorting itself out immediately after restart would point me to a battery/voltage issue.
Good news on relays is they are less than a tenner a pair and not a big deal for someone handy with a soldering iron.

 

[jim whitehead]

Battery is almost brand new... also having electrical problem with the indicators going double speed ?

 

[Brendan W]

Battery can be new but if the alternator is not charging it adequately or if you have bad connections or earths the voltage seen by the power steering will be too low.
Clean off all battery terminals pay particular attention to the small wire piggy backing on the negative terminal. Check the main earth strap where it attaches to the top of the gearbox.
Are all indicators doing double speed ?

 

[jim whitehead]

Thanks Brendan... I think I will replace the relays what price did you pay? Was it a straight forward job...?

 

[jim whitehead]

Yeah all indicators going double speed ?

 

[Brendan W]

Less than a tenner for the pair delivered on Ebay. Can't recall the number but ebay is full of them. Think I went for a French supplier in the end.
They live inside the power steering motor on a small board. The motor is easy enough to remove. Removing the old relays and resoldering the new is not impossible for a novice but easier if you have already some experience. Some have brought them to TV repair guys.

 

[Ziggy122]

Yeah all indicators going double speed ?

Somewhere you have bulbs out then
OR
you've got a poor earth return on the rear light clusters - the rear lights are doing disco lights instead

It gets much worse the more lights you have on (sidelights and brakes and then indicators does some fun things )

Get out and visually inspect

Also check correct bulbs fitted - F+R 21w
and iirc the side wing indicators are 5w's

Mk2's were white bulbs
mk2b rears have to be orange dipped ones

Ziggy

 

[jim whitehead]

It could be anything
Could be low battery
No speed sensor response
Torque sensor open circuit
ECU dead
motor could be shorting out
Lots and lots of reasons

Since its free and v. easy to eliminate battery
Go to halfords and ask for a free battery check

if the battery comes back as been low on charge (a recharge should cure it)
Or battery under performing.... then replace it

The P/S on punto's are very very picky about voltage, they like a good strong healthy supply, a weak battery after cranking throws a low voltage code, PS shuts down to prevent notchy steering

Ziggy

Thanks ziggy for advice. Jim

 

[s and b]

hi jim
you are assuming power motor problem
this is like sticking a pole into a wasps nest
its quite possible on your car its the torgue steer setting thats gone faulty
these often did on these year puntos
i used to swap out the steering column for a used good one and keep my old working motor if i came upon this
i used to use ecuscan to confirm before replacing anything though as bad connections in cables (high resistence) was often a problem in the main cables from alternater to starter to battery
not saying its not motor just advising bigger picture

 

[flisko]

Just a Note - you cant interchange the motors
mk2 Relay motor Cant go in a Mk2b Relay-less setup

You need ECU too i believe - but still not sure if that'd cure the issue 100%

Ziggy

even if you get pas ecu and steering column sensor it wont work on mk2b

 

[Ziggy122]

even if you get pas ecu and steering column sensor it wont work on mk2b

Good to know

 

[s and b]

even if you get pas ecu and steering column sensor it wont work on mk2b

have you tried a mk2 punto steelling column with the mk2b ecu and motor mk2b though

 

[flisko]

have you tried a mk2 punto steelling column with the mk2b ecu and motor mk2b though

mhm, havent tried that yet, for that to work you would probably need to have same color sensor wire or maybe body ecu wont see pas relays and it wont work or other way around, fitting mk2b column with relayless pas motor to mk2

 

[jim whitehead]

Thanks for the advice... I cleaned up all the connections... earth and battery etc... and it's not come on since. Another fault is that the indicators are going double speed and when I brake the electrical fault light comes on. Any ideas?