Technical Powersteering - another question

[Mike1alike]

He did say voltage drop testing was done and nothing found.
But yes, it's good to clean them, always.

 

[Aad Doix]

Last update: quite cold in the Netherlands, but did 80 miles last week on Monday and 80 miles on Tuesday, a short 5 mile trip on Wednesday, then the car was parked till this morning and just drove 40 miles to work and everything is working fine so far, no dashboard lights, no strange feelings in steering wheel, still only that loud *plop* sound in the speakers when starting, but that should be the radio which I still need to check (but a lot of work, private appointments and cold outside, so still on the agenda yet ) but so far so good .....

 

[Mike1alike]

I don't know if it's been mentioned, I'm assuming engine is petrol.
If so, radio parasitic disturbances can be caused by worn out coil leads.

 

[PuntoGeorge1982]

If you have acces to a digital multimeter, check the difference between the negative pole of the battery and engine block. It should not be more than 0.1-0.2. This way you can check one earth cable. On my punto I have noticed that when I powerwash my car the battery poles get wet. After replacing the battery and cleaning the clamps, I've covered them with a very thin layer of battery pole grease. In my case, the problem only appeared in the mornings, on the way to work in the winter onn humid/rainy days, but never on the way back, or in the summer.
There is a similar thread, a sticky one, on the grande punto section, and you should check it. I'm sure your problem is not EPS unit, but a electrical glitch, maybe weak battery or earths. About the battery, check the manufacture date, just to rule it out.

 

[DaveMcT]

The "plop" from the radio on engine start suggests it is not being switched out when the ignition key is turn to engine start. That suggests the radio is not correctly wired and pulling power all of the time. You need to isolate the radio (eg remove it from the car) to rule it out as a source of trouble.