Technical Steering excessively rough MOT failure

[fiat user]

I am a bit puzzled. the Punto went for an MOT today and was failed on two counts.
1)Exhaust leakage from the tailpipe joint - new tailpipe just over a year ago slight leakage from joint, took it apart put in exhaust cement put back together. Fixed.

2) Lock to Lock Steering system excessively rough. I asked him what he meant by this and he said that when turning the wheel when stationary, there was a slight notchiness. Well yes, I entirely agree. It was there when I purchased the car at about 30,000 miles and it is there now at 97,000 miles. Put it on City mode and the notchiness mainly goes. Turn the engine off and turn the steering wheel and the steering is very heavy. I thought City was the only mode in which assistance was offered but obviously that is wrong. I asked what I needed to replace and the tester was a bit vague - the steering rack some ball joints ? I am not quite sure that doing so will solve the problem. The track rod ends and ball joints seem fine and the notchiness is not specific to a position. go to full lock once and the "notch" occurs at 8 O Clock, repeat it and the "notch" occurs at 10 O Clock. you can hear it at the steering wheel but with an assistant turning the wheel and a hand on track rod or steering rack or anything else for that matter, under the bonnet, no "notching"can be felt. Any ideas guys. Anyone else had a failure like this ?

 

[s and b]

try undoing the steering pinch bolt to slack by your left foot in car
slightly waggly steering so it finds its comfortable position
retighten the pinch bolt
i think your tester is being finicky by the way
lots of puntos show this trait and they are sound no play in any joint and certainly safe

 

[fiat user]

try undoing the steering pinch bolt to slack by your left foot in car
slightly waggly steering so it finds its comfortable position
retighten the pinch bolt
i think your tester is being finicky by the way
lots of puntos show this trait and they are sound no play in any joint and certainly safe

Many thanks. Yes the "notchiness" is coming from the UK just on top of the rack by the left foot. I can feel it "notching" when I turn steering. I have just loosened and re-tightenend the pinchbolt and cannot notice any change in feel. Still feels very much the same. Will a new UJ remove the problem ? Certainly I can recall that it has always been the same when the car was stationary and this same trait can never be noticed when the car is on the road.

 

[s and b]

give it a squirt of oil and take it to another tester is my advice
ive used many testers over the years some get the keycard and lose reality

 

[FiatPuntoMad]

Maybe a top mount? Just a thought as my steering feels a bit rough from time to time and has done for years because of a top mount.

Never failed an MOT on it though.

 

[dave]

have a read through the manuals at reasons for fail http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/ i had a quick look and couldn't see "slight notchiness" i think maybe the bloke is trying to get a few hours investigation labour money

 

[fiat user]

Went back today. We both had another look at it and chatted it through. Told him that I had undone and done up the pinch bolt a couple of times. Passed with the steering "excessive roughness" as an advisory. Happy with that. Many thanks for those who advised me.