Power Steering Problem with my Fiat Punto
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whilst she was driving the power steering red light came on....this to me is alien .. Then when i parked the car the light went out.. please advise me.
This is usually a diesel Punto problem caused by the extra engine weight which stresses the electric steering. If you turn the ignition on and off a few times, that might clear the light. If it remains on, then your electric motor may have overheated. You can either replace it (simple job, takes 20 mins - but make sure you get the right replacement, needs to be for the Mk2 2000 -2003 Punto, the others are not the same) or try to repair it. The problem seems to be that the contacts coming out of the motor body are too close together (there are two small black boxes in the end of the motor, each having 3 wires coming from the main body). That results in arcing, black deposits, heat and possibly current leakage - which is what's causing the red light to show. I have successfully repaired my daughter's motor by cleaning up the contacts and bending them slightly to make the gap wider (make sure that they don't get in the way of the rubber drive linkage) then covering in plastic paint to increase the insulation. With luck, you should be able to replace and your warning light will not show. To get at the motor, you need to take off the plastic underside cover of the steering column. Then the silver control box to the left of the steering column (small nut on the side) - you need to take out all the connectors going into this to get enough slack to take out the motor, but they are all different fittings, so you can't mix them up. There are three bolts holding the motor in place than need to be undone - you can bend the bracket covering the motor slightly so you can get it out. Good luck.
At last somebody who has seemed to have cracked the Punto Power steering problems I have had experience of at least three Mk 2 Puntos with the problem including a new Punto Grandee, yes Fiat will change the complete rack for £550- 600 they are not interested in a re- call or help in solving the problem I have had a couple of very good mechanics who have checked and tightened all connections in my wifes Punto and it did the trick for a few months but has returned. It will be worth me now investigating your solution as it would seem very likly the cause of all the Puntos power Steering troubles. I am getting a bit to old to stand on my head under the Steering column but ask my mechanic to check it out. Did you disconnect the Air bag or the Battery before attempting to tnker with the underside of the column. Regards Dave
hopefully this will be the answer to car problems for now
Important. Disconnect the Battery before doing this, as turning the ignition to the on position is required (can't spell necessery), and this will cause the main CPU to set to fault. It won't go out and the only reset is at a main dealers or a very well equipped garage. You also need to be careful to reassemble the airbag wiring carefully, and make sure the steering wheel goes back on in the same position.
Could someone offer me advice on the post I put on at the bottom of page 16 please as the car is going into the garage tomorrow, Many thanks Neil
No, I didn't touch the airbag or battery. There are only two screws holding the plastic bottom cover onto the steering rack and they click together at the steering wheels end. The nut holding the metal ECU box is a bugger. It has a six-point star head and keeps the box in place against a rectangular hole that the *!#%!@ of the box fits into. When I put it all back together I just tighten it finger tight, for the next time. You need to dislodge the ECU in order to take out the connector/wire that runs to the motor, and unfortunately that connector/wire is the shortest and so the others have to come out first. I have never had an ECU go, and I have had about 7 Puntos (5 mk 2s). The only one with the steering problem was the diesel. Hope this helps.
You don't need to take off the steering column. It's a very simple job. Needs a six-point screwdriver head (quite a small size, so you need to have a set of these)for the plastic bottom cover. Needs a six-point socket (small size also, get a set) to undo the ECU nut. Need a larger six-point socket (probably the same set as the ECU) to undo the 3 nuts on the motor. A small amount of bending on the motor protecting frame. And also a large flat blade screwdriver to undo the fuse box cover - it unclips at the bottom to give you more room. A pair of scissors to cut the cable ties holding the electric cabling together within the steering column recess (and a new cable tie to hold them in place afterwards). It's a 20 - 30 min job, once you know what needs doing. Cheers
It's a coincidence that the steering light came on when the garage fixed the airbag light, I would think. The steering has a tendency to failure - I've suggested doing my quick 20 min change/upgrade of steering motor. If you have a socket and some screw drivers, it's quite easy. I have detailed this earlier in the thread. You could try the fix I suggested (widening the gap between contacts emerging from the motor body and painting plastic insulation in place) or just buy a replacement motor on ebay and do the upgrade before replacing your old motor. Cost 50 - 80 pounds. And it's simple enough that even if you are not mechanically minded now, it's an easy introduction that will save you money in the long run. And if you bodge it, you can still drive the car to your local friendly garage without the ECU and motor installed. You just need strong arm muscles.... Cheers
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Ok. Tell me how you get on. Also please remember not to turn on your ignition whilst you have the ECU or motor disconnected. Having a leaky current in the motor sets the steering red light on, but the initialisation on turning on the ignition after changing or upgrading the motor checks the motor and ECU. If there's a problem, the light just stays on. If the ECU or motor are missing, there will be a code saved in the memory that will need a Fiat garage to turn off.
Good to know that we can sort this out for far less cost than what Fiat cheers Neil
You seem to be the man to speak to when it comes to FIAT Power Steering Problems! Mine recently came on non-stop, before it was just gradual and very little then it started to get worse as it went on. When I asked my Dad, he said that I should put some Power Steering Fluid in it, but I cant find where to put it! =( As mine wasnt from out of no where and started small and gradually got worse do you think it could be the fluid that needs topping up? If so, where do I put it lol Ty in advance Kurt
It depends on which model of Punto you have. The ones with the 'normal' steering problems - red warning light coming on - are the Mk 2s. There were from 2000 to 2003 roughly, and are very similar in shape to the Mk3s that followed on. Both these models have electric power steering, so there is no fluid to fill up. If your Punto is earlier than 2000, and it has a more rounded shape that the latest Punto model, then it will have normal mechanical steering. It may or may not have power assistance. If it doesn't, then there is nothing to top up. If it does, then the fluid reservoir needs to be kept topped up. It will be in the engine compartment, in front of the driver and next to the brake fluid reservoir. It should say on the screw-on lid which is which and what fluid you need to add and to what level. If it has been getting more difficult gradually, then that sounds like it is running out of fluid and the power assistance is helping less. But just topping up is not the solution. The steering should not use fluid. What this means is that you are losing fluid somewhere in the system through a leak. You need to get this looked at by your friendly garage/mechanic to check for leaks. If you are lucky, it will just be a corroded pipe that needs replacing.
ive got the same problem with my car its a fiat punto x reg. The power steering has been playing up a couple of times, but today the light has come on and its stayin on. i was just wondering if you would let me know step by step how you fixed yours as it sounds like its the same problem. mines a petrol though not a diesel. thanks
I'm surprised you have the problem with a petrol, but this is usually a diesel Punto problem caused by the extra engine weight which stresses the electric steering. If your light remains on, then your electric motor may have overheated. You can either replace it (simple job, takes 20 mins - but make sure you get the right replacement, needs to be for the Mk2 2000 -2003 Punto, the others are not the same) or try to repair it. The problem seems to be that the contacts coming out of the motor body are too close together (there are two small black boxes in the end of the motor, each having 3 wires coming from the main body). That results in arcing, black deposits, heat and possibly current leakage - which is what's causing the red light to show. I have successfully repaired my daughter's motor by cleaning up the contacts and bending them slightly to make the gap wider (make sure that they don't get in the way of the rubber drive linkage) then covering in plastic paint to increase the insulation. With luck, you should be able to replace and your warning light will not show. To get at the motor, you need to take off the plastic underside cover of the steering column (2 screws, hexagonal heads). Then the silver control box to the left of the steering column (small nut on the side) - you need to take out all the connectors going into this to get enough slack to take out the motor, but they are all different fittings, so you can't mix them up. There are three bolts holding the motor in place than need to be undone - you can bend the bracket covering the motor slightly so you can get it out. Good luck.
Thanks for that il give it a go!! Smiley
How can you tell that it is a problem with the motor though? My wife has a 52 plate 1.2 punto. The PS light kept coming intermittently at first but the steering was fine. When we took it to a garage they could find no fault code because the light went out! Over the last few months the light has been permanently on but the steering was fine until two days ago when it failed. Switching off the engine appeared to clear the problem but you only had about ten mins driving before it failed again. I have taken the motor off and it looks fine, the three wires you mentioned are spaced quite far apart and even have like a rubber cover on the middle (black) wire to separate them. With the motor disconnected from the column but still connected to what I think was the ECU via the wiring I turned the wheel, you could see the small toothed spindle in the motor turn but then it stops and the light comes on the dash. I have been phoning around to see if I can get a motor on its own from somewhere but I have not had much luck and I may have to buy the whole column! However, when I spoke with a chap from Unipart today he was saying that it it could be the 'torque sensors' that have failed as well some i'm completely confused now. I have a feeling i'm gonna have to re-connect everything and take it to Fiat and plug it into their diagnostic machine to find out what the actual fault is!
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