Technical Replacing electric power steering column?

[dac69er]

I'm thinking it's possible you may need to recalibrate the steering if fitting a unit that's been calibrated in a different car.

The impression I got is that the power steering units are calibrated as a unit and not to the car. I just wasn't sure if there was something else that needed doing when swapping over.

Others who have bought reconditioned exchange units seem to have been ok, so I don't think it would need doìng on a used part either?

 

[dac69er]

is it for a 100HP ?


they might be rare if different ?


51771048 ?


I dont have Eper that includes the 100HP

I made sure I contacted a breaker who was breaking a 100hp specifically. They have matched the part number up and have one to suit.

 

[jrkitching]

The impression I got is that the power steering units are calibrated as a unit and not to the car. I just wasn't sure if there was something else that needed doing when swapping over.

Others who have bought reconditioned exchange units seem to have been ok, so I don't think it would need doìng on a used part either?

I think that's probably the case, but I'm not certain, which is why I flagged it as a possibility. Anyhow, if you've got a licenced copy of MES, you're prepared for every eventuality.

Please do let us know how you get on.

 

[DaveMcT]

The "standard" Panda normal mode has the steering in low power assistance. "City Mode" lightens the steering. 100HP defaults to high power. It drops to low power when you press the "Sport" button (which I never use). That puts more strain on the motor with the wide tyres adding even more. Maybe someone knows if a "standard" column will work on 100HP, but chances are it's not the same and wont work properly.

 

[koalar]

I think that's probably the case, but I'm not certain, which is why I flagged it as a possibility. Anyhow, if you've got a licenced copy of MES, you're prepared for every eventuality.

Please do let us know how you get on.

fiat use the power steering motor to do the majority of the self centring

it may pull to the left, right or be okay but not a big deal with MES for recalibration

 

[DaveMcT]

The forum search has taken ages to find this, but might be useful.
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk2-2b-guides/266588-resoldering-power-steering-motor-relays.html

Then I found this lot so it might just be a case of replacing the sensors
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...osacat=0&_odkw=fiat+panda+500+steering+relays

 

[koalar]

The forum search has taken ages to find this, but might be useful.
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk2-2b-guides/266588-resoldering-power-steering-motor-relays.html

Then I found this lot so it might just be a case of replacing the sensors
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...osacat=0&_odkw=fiat+panda+500+steering+relays

the top one was a common problem so Fiat changed the design so shouldn't be a problem any more.

 

[DaveMcT]

the top one was a common problem so Fiat changed the design so shouldn't be a problem any more.

How would you detect if the column has failed or if it needs a new relay pack?

 

[koalar]

How would you detect if the column has failed or if it needs a new relay pack?

because they are now rely less ???

 

[happy1966]

Im not 100% sure as trying to remember years ago when i did mine and to be honest i struggle to remember yesterday.
I think when you get an exchange unit that has the lift time guarantee they tell you to make sure the steering is centre when you take the old one off so the exchange one should be calibrated.
If you get one from breakers yard i have no idea if the calibration would be out.
Sometimes trying to save money will be a right pain in the arse and end up costing you more.
Go for the exchange is my advice but good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[dac69er]

Im not 100% sure as trying to remember years ago when i did mine and to be honest i struggle to remember yesterday.
I think when you get an exchange unit that has the lift time guarantee they tell you to make sure the steering is centre when you take the old one off so the exchange one should be calibrated.
If you get one from breakers yard i have no idea if the calibration would be out.
Sometimes trying to save money will be a right pain in the arse and end up costing you more.
Go for the exchange is my advice but good luck with whatever you decide.

The car is maybe worth £1000, if i spent nearly half that on a steering column it makes it unviable.
If I spend £100 on a steering column, it makes more sense to me.

I'm not bothered about the calibration as I can do that myself, I don't think calibration is worth another £300!
It's also hard to know whether some of these companies actually do anything other than buying a unit from a breaker, dust it off and sell it for a premium anyway.

I don't generally trust anyone, always better to do something yourself then you know what you are getting ?

 

[happy1966]

The car is maybe worth £1000, if i spent nearly half that on a steering column it makes it unviable.
If I spend £100 on a steering column, it makes more sense to me.

I'm not bothered about the calibration as I can do that myself, I don't think calibration is worth another £300!
It's also hard to know whether some of these companies actually do anything other than buying a unit from a breaker, dust it off and sell it for a premium anyway.

I don't generally trust anyone, always better to do something yourself then you know what you are getting ?

My recon one cost i think no more than £200 and if i remember right they were even cheaper the following year as more places did them.
When i get home tonight i will see if i can dig out the receipt to check.

 

[koalar]

My recon one cost i think no more than £200 and if i remember right they were even cheaper the following year as more places did them.
When i get home tonight i will see if i can dig out the receipt to check.

never looked at prices before and the 100HP is probably different

but a quick search

500 s/h £50 and remanufactured £275 some much more.


which means you could set up a business cleaning up a £50 one (probably cheaper if bought in bulk) and throw them back out and still have enough profit to swap out any under warranty


I am not saying anyone is doing this. Just it is possible.

 

[Scotty100hp]

never looked at prices before and the 100HP is probably different



but a quick search



500 s/h £50 and remanufactured £275 some much more.





which means you could set up a business cleaning up a £50 one (probably cheaper if bought in bulk) and throw them back out and still have enough profit to swap out any under warranty





I am not saying anyone is doing this. Just it is possible.

Had mine removed, fixed and refitted while I waited for two and a half hours at one of the well known specialists a few years ago. Which might help explain how he turned up in a new Audi RS5...

 

[dac69er]

My recon one cost i think no more than £200 and if i remember right they were even cheaper the following year as more places did them.
When i get home tonight i will see if i can dig out the receipt to check.

Prices vary quite a bit. 100hp columns tend to cost more.

I have contacted a couple of the cheaper companies and both ignored me, so not really too keen on using them.
Many also don't do exchange units so you either need to drive to them if they do it while you wait or do without the car for a week or so.

If anyone can recommend a company that does a guaranteed 100hp column for <£200 on an exchange basis then I will definitely consider that.

 

[happy1966]

Prices vary quite a bit. 100hp columns tend to cost more.

I have contacted a couple of the cheaper companies and both ignored me, so not really too keen on using them.
Many also don't do exchange units so you either need to drive to them if they do it while you wait or do without the car for a week or so.

If anyone can recommend a company that does a guaranteed 100hp column for <£200 on an exchange basis then I will definitely consider that.

Had a look around last night and am amazed the prices being asked for a recon one.
Just dug out the receipt for mine and was from ACS Power Steering in Tamworth. Price i paid was a little more than i said, £218 and it was on 22/04/2015, (70,000 miles ago) and still working perfect.
There were cheaper people doing it at the time but chose them because close to me.
Seems prices are a lot higher now looking on ebay with less people doing it.

At the time i did mine people were asking nearly what i paid for a recon one from the breakers hence why i went down the recon route.
Seems recon ones have nearly doubled so yes well worth the risk if you can find one from breakers yard.

My car has done 160,000 miles now and really need to think about replacing the car now as a few big jobs will need doing and not keen on putting much money into it and the good news for me is the recon steering it it has doubled what the car is worth lol.

Good luck with your search.

 

[DaveMcT]

Western Power Steering and ECU Testing offer a lifetime warranty so it's doubtful they just polish off the dirt.

 

[koalar]

Western Power Steering and ECU Testing offer a lifetime warranty so it's doubtful they just polish off the dirt.

I dont image they do.

I just said I could knock them out at nearly £400 including VAT exchange and wouldn't worry about the warranty.

Most people dont keep the car that long anyhow and any cars scrapped or crashed are a bonus. Plus I have a column thats likely to be repairable for less than £20 in parts.


if the were rare I would be tempted to buy a scrap car rip the wiring loom body computer and ECU out and start fixing them on my kitchen table. I already have the software to test them and calibrate them.



"The warranty is specific to the purchaser owning the vehicle, it is not to be passed on to a new owner. Warranty period will be void if the vehicle is sold to another person"



I have helped some remanufacturing alternator's. These are stripped to its separate components. Shotblasted painted reassembled with new bearings and so on. Even then some of these companies do nothing more than fit new brushes or regulator and knock them out and hope for the best and these dont live in the cosy interior of the car.

 

[dac69er]

Western Power Steering and ECU Testing offer a lifetime warranty so it's doubtful they just polish off the dirt.

And they charge nearly £400 for the privilege.

The car has done 150k miles so it's hard to justify that kind of spend

 

[jrkitching]

And they charge nearly £400 for the privilege. The car has done 150k miles so it's hard to justify that kind of spend

I'd agree.

This thread illustrates well what I've been saying for a long time about the viability of running an older, higher mileage car - it all depends on how much of the work you can do yourself, and on the availability of lower cost (aftermarket or secondhand) replacement components.

With your skill set and approach to parts procurement, it's cost effective for you to keep your car on the road for much longer than would be viable if you were dependent on using the trade to carry out all your repairs using new or certified refurbished parts.

The problem with using an independent garage to fit parts you've sourced yourself from a breaker is that, quite reasonably, noone is going to guarantee the labour element in the job (which may be the largest slice of the cost). If it doesn't work out, all you've lost is some time; if the work were being done by a third party, you'd be putting a lot more cash at risk, which is why many folks in that situation would call it a day on the car.

Much of what's currently thrown away (and not just cars) could likely be put into good working order for relatively little cost by folks with the necessary expertise, tools and facilities. Sadly, both the attitude and skill set are dying out fast.