Technical Steering wheel locked whilst driving

[meganliliana]

Hi everybody,

My steering wheel locked today on my grande punto whilst I was driving, I was only going about 2mph as I was slowing down.
It was at priority road bump and I was pulling in to let the opposite side pass if this helps at all.
I turned the car off and on again and it was fine after that.
I phoned my mechanic and he said it's the electronic steering column and its really common for this car and that a new one costs £700!
I really don't have that kind of money just lying around and I can't afford to loose my car for a day.
I guess my question is, will it be okay to drive and is this the average price of a new one or is he over charging me if I do need it doing?

 

[cmosfxx]

The steering wheel is impossible to get locked with out removing the key first.

What happened is the steering motor stopped working and you thought that the steering wheel locked. It's just harder to turn.

Now before you replace the column, make sure there is a problem with it.

Most of the times the problem is electrical (cables, battery, alternator etc) and has nothing to do with the actual column.

 

[flisko]

do you need to change whole column if pas motor fails?

 

[cmosfxx]

do you need to change whole column if pas motor fails?

Unfortunately yes. It's one part (column-ecu-position sensor-motor).

 

[flisko]

700squid is new one, used are cheaper 70squid