General power steering? yes please!

[flippin fiat]

Hi every one,

wife is always moaning that the steering is too heavy on her 98 (S) spi seicento sporting 1.1.

can a power steering columb and power motor etc be fitted from a doner car with ease?? can i uprate it to power steering? what is involved?

your comments welcomed as always.

 

[chaos]

Personally, if the lack of power steering is a real issue then I would get a Sei that has power steering already fitted. It might be a lot of faff...

 

[fingers99]

If you can find it in an SPI Sei, (it seems to have been fitted to a few as an option) it should be easy enough. The one fitted to the MPI car requires its own ECU, the power column, power rack, speed sensor and -- probably -- the suspension top mounts. Add the associated loom, and it's a big, big, job.

The standard steering, on standard tyres, should not be very heavy unless your missus insists on turning the wheel while the car is stationary (which is a "thou shalt not").

Check the tyre pressures (about 32psi), see if the bottom balljoints and top mounts are not partially seized.

 

[flippin fiat]

thanks for your help, though getting another car is not a good suggestion!

is the tyre pressure on the front realy 32PS ? i have run it at 30 and thought that was over the top. i'll give it a try before the next step of seeing if i can locate a scrapped power assisted spi model.

thank you all.

 

[rallycinq]

Check that the top mounts haven't seized.

Cheers

D

 

[SuicideUK]

I have the SPi without power steering, maybe it's me being manish but I think it's really light, I'm only 10.5 stone as well.

Luke.

 

[chaos]

thanks for your help, though getting another car is not a good suggestion!

Like I said, it could be a big job and cost more than its worth. There's a fair few PAS Seis out there.

But checking if there's something wrong with the suspension or steering would be the first port of call.

 

[eMz]

I have the SPI without Power Steering also. It's fine when driving normally, only problem i find is when i'm parked in a tight parallel space.. that's a bugger! lol it would usually take me several attempts to get out.. and leave me very knackered afterwards lol, but then that's probs just be being weak

 

[Rosso83]

I didnt realise power steering wasnt standard on the Sei's learn something everyday!

 

[David C]

is the tyre pressure on the front realy 32PS ? i have run it at 30 and thought that was over the top.

2.0Bar (30PSI) or 2.2Bar (32PSI) fully loaded.

I run mine at 2.2Bar.

 

[+Speed++freak++]

Personally, if the lack of power steering is a real issue then I would get a Sei that has power steering already fitted. It might be a lot of faff...

Your right better to get a later model with mpi....Power steering is great

 

[randomizered]

You will need the clocks (speedo pod), VSS, PAS ECU, PAS coloumn, steering rack, strut top mounts and some custom wiring to get it all working.

I just ditched mine! It won't be too easy to retro fit, imho.

Kristian

 

[AppleSei]

I didnt realise power steering wasnt standard on the Sei's learn something everyday!

1998 option only

sometime in 1999 it was standard

 

[SuicideUK]

I'm thinking it was only when the MPi came along that they made it standard, option only with the SPi. I've got a T reg 1999 and that's got non PAS.

Luke.

 

[AppleSei]

I'm thinking it was only when the MPi came along that they made it standard, option only with the SPi. I've got a T reg 1999 and that's got non PAS.

You shouldnt be thinking

Nope as said sometime in 1999 it was standard. No one is sure of the actual date

You might be on a 1999 T but your car may have been stood in the docks for a year/period of time before it was on the road

When it comes to knowledge on the revisions, i dont loose often as many will testify on here its often my name that is brought up when things like this are raised

You will find SPI owners with PAS as standard on Sporting and SX are members on here

 

[SuicideUK]

Sorry Apple, I need to read more heh.

Luke.

 

[fingers99]

I wonder what the differences might be between the "option" for the SPI Sei and the MPI set up?

You'd think that the option might use the original instruments (for example) with an add on speed sensor. That's why I suggest looking for one of the option cars, rather than an MPI.

 

[randomizered]

this is a nice read

View attachment 7.Steering.pdf

Kristian

 

[AppleSei]

this is a nice read

View attachment 40998

Kristian

the link brings up a load of gibberish for me, think my adobe or whatever is a bit out of date, a brief outline of what the pdf file contains?

 

[fingers99]

Basically, it's a breakdown of how the system works, the rationale for adopting it, schematics, fault testing, wiring diagram.

The speed sensor in that one does look a bit like an add on one.

Adobe is free, go get an update!