Technical Stilo power steering problem

[sharvy]

Hi fiat folk new to this forum so please be gentle with me! I have just bought an April 2003 Stielo 1.2 Active with 37K miles. Heres the thing - wee problem, I bought it worth the £ as the power steering isn't working. I don't know the history as it was traded in this way. It appears to have new battery. I ran a scan on it and fault code came back U1700 - does anyone know this one as I don't.

I have searched this forum and tried some of the ideas re bad earths etc. The steering is not working at all it has a city button and the OSF electric window isn't working - would these 2 problems be linked?

Just wondering has anyone got a step x step guide to replacing the steering column.
All info / ideas gratefully accepted.

Cheers

Sharvy

 

[Deckchair5]

Have you checked the steering system fuses? Big jobby 70amp F2 and F24 10amp in the engine bay? Check for bad contact corrosion there too. Ah but that would be too simple

U1700 is certainly a can bus fault and the window control is can bus too so they're related in that respect but maybe not directly related

U1700 is can bus NCM to NBC
NCM – Controle do MotorNCM - Engine Control
NBC – Computador de Carroçaria ("Body Computer")NBC - Computer of Bodywork ( "Body Computer")

So it's saying problem on the CAN bus between the engine bay and the body computer- that could easily be a problem at the famous D4 connector- See Stilo Guides

Have you checked out the steering column connector?
I'd check all the other possibilities as a new steering column is pricy - about £350 last time i looked - but you may still have a bargain if you can get it working. Pretty bloody heavy without it though isn't it

You'll almost certainly need to have a proxi alignment afterwards

 

[sharvy]

Thanks DC5 - some good info there I have got the cowls off the column but haven't progressed any further as yet except I have checked the fuses and they are ok. Will have a look at what you suggest tomorrow. If i need a column I can get one for £100 from a car breakers chancy i know. Every replaced one before?

Cheers Sharvy

 

[Deckchair5]

Not a Stilo column, no. Changing the column looks very straight forward except you have to disconnect the airbag (uh oh) and so don't expect a step by step guide for working on airbags as there are only 3 steps to heaven

But i'd take a serious look at the D4 connector as that's the bus stop (quite literally) on the way from the steering column M86 to the engine ecu M10





M1 Body computer
M10 engine ecu
M86 steering column
K56 is the steering sensor

 

[T14086]

Stilo columns more akward to fit than mk2 puntos & alot heavier. New your looking at £600 but most people decide its time for the car to go after hearing this. Secondhand you've more chance of getting a good column as they dont go wrong that much. Needs calibrated/aligned.

 

[Deckchair5]

I heard that a 3 door steering column is different from a 5 door but I can't for the life of me imagine why they would need to be

 

[T14086]

I heard that a 3 door steering column is different from a 5 door but I can't for the life of me imagine why they would need to be

dunno? Only real difference in columns would be the addition of VDC...is there any 5 dr versions that dont have VDC etc??

 

[Deckchair5]

Wouldn't have thought so, they just have different part nos for 3 door or 5 door and someone said to me once that they're different. I only mention it as thinking that it might affect decisions when picking up a second hand unit

 

[Big Black Stilo]

3 and 5 door have different floorpans

 

[Deckchair5]

Ha! Yes and different seats, different bumpers, different wiring, different owners vision of beauty and style but why would it need a different steering column?

 

[sharvy]

DC5, many thanks for your advice. Disconnected the battery and lifted the fuse panel right out and cleaned all the fuses and relays with emery and spray contact cleaner. Took apart the D4 connecter sprayed it with contact cleaner, heated everything with hot air gun and reassembled - guess what - still no EPS!! Also did the same down at the steering column - same result. Any other ideas anyone - i was thinking of inflating the front tyres to about 90lb and driving away at it but you would end up like Popeye after a tin of spinach!!. I was thinking of putting it on Autotrader for £1495 - what do you think.

Sharvy

 

[sharvy]

Well after scraping around for a few weeks I got a second hand column. Fitted today and working no problem. But the power steering warning light is still on does anyone know if this can be reset without going to the fait dealer?

Cheers

Sharvy

 

[T14086]

Needs calibrated/aligned.

Did you read the whole thread......it needs callibrated/aligned.

 

[PhilM Star]

I heard of someone who had this fault so took out an extended warranty, drove for six months without the EPS and then claimed on the warranty for a new one. i think he's got arthritis in his shoulders now!

 

[sharvy]

Folks - all sorted, managed to track down Fiat techy who took the box of tricks out of work and reset the steering, service and faults codes - god bless homers!! Makes some difference to the steering - driving like a new car.
Cheers, Sharvy

 

[Viciouscycl3]

my power steering went when my altinator went so maybe that could be it?

 

[T14086]

Folks - all sorted, managed to track down Fiat techy who took the box of tricks out of work and reset the steering, service and faults codes - god bless homers!! Makes some difference to the steering - driving like a new car.
Cheers, Sharvy

Yes as I said twice already it needs callibrated:bang:

Viciouscycl3, thats quite right, this is mentioned in the power steering guide in punto guide section.

 

[lilacfiddler]

Hi sharvy
who did you find to reeset the steering codes?
I have exactly the same problem have replaced the whole column with a 2nd hand done and it works fine, but even(sic) the fiat dealership could not reset the code so the steering fail light is still on.
In derbyshire..

 

[navan_stilo]

Hi Sharvy, just had the same problem. I got thrown over a huge bump in the road going over the Sally Gap in the fog (nr Dublin).

car grounded out... beeb beeb beeb, Power Steering Failure.

I'm getting it checked out tonight, but i'm 100% sure that it needs a new power steering pump, which i can pick up for about €150 if I'm lucky.

How difficult is this to fit? Could you give me a quick step by step, eg. battery off, steering wheel off etc.

going mad because i didn't go the motorway and ended up of a stupid 'B' road full of humps. cheers

Neill

 

[Davren]

Changing the column looks very straight forward except you have to disconnect the airbag (uh oh) and so don't expect a step by step guide for working on airbags as there are only 3 steps to heaven

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