Technical Steering Jerking, Jolting And Locking.

[GizmOwin]

Hi,

This morning i left for work and got to a roundabout, as i was going round the steering jerked to left and i couldnt turn it back to the right. It did this two more times before i got to work.

Ive gone to a supermarket car park and tried to make it happen again and it seems to do it when im switching directions, but doesnt seem to do it when using city steering.

Any ideas what this could be? Ive checked battery terminals are tight, a similar problem was caused on my punto, and it was just the terminals.

Any help appreciated.

Owen.

 

[Davren]

Does the red steering failure light come on when the problem occurs? suggesting it's an electrical fault. (intermittent power failure perhaps?)

If the light doesn't come on, it would suggest there's something mechanical locking the steering, eg. suspension, steering rack, steering column universal joints etc.

 

[Shadeyman]

The power steering unit is located near to the steering wheel and is quite robust. However the sensor that controls the power steering unit can sometimes fail. Check for loose or corroded connections first but you may have a faulty steering sensor.

 

[GizmOwin]

Hi guys, all morning it didnt come up with an error messages, but my dad just had a go and he got a loose connection warning. Im starting to think it might be the sensor. Is it a job i can do myself?

 

[Davren]

Loose connection is a bad translation from Italian of lost connection.

Check that the 2 EPAS fuses in the engine compartment fuse box are making good contact and the connector plug on the EPAS unit.

 

[Mal126]

Hi,

This morning i left for work and got to a roundabout, as i was going round the steering jerked to left and i couldnt turn it back to the right. It did this two more times before i got to work.

Ive gone to a supermarket car park and tried to make it happen again and it seems to do it when im switching directions, but doesnt seem to do it when using city steering.

Any ideas what this could be? Ive checked battery terminals are tight, a similar problem was caused on my punto, and it was just the terminals.

Any help appreciated.

Owen.

This actually sounds like a steering rack issue to me, really need to check, major issue if it is.

regards

Mal

 

[cris1117]

Hi, I had a similar sounding problem check bolt no. 9 on shadeyman’s diagram, if I remember correctly it was snagging on something.
You will find it above the pedals I think, just get your head down in the foot well, and rock the steering and you will see it.