Hi,
For safety's sake, the first place to start should be to have the car hooked up to diagnostics equipment and to have the codes read. This will point you in the right direction as to what the fault may be. You may get a code such a C1005- Torque Sensor. Low voltages codes may also be stored along with VSS faults etc.
The power Steering on all Mk2 and 2B Puntos is Electric (EPS) rather than hydraulic, and as such it is sensitive to voltage drops.
A good basic starting point with EPS failures is to check the condition of the battery. Although you can get a rough guide of a batteries health with a multimeter, its best to have the battery properly tested. Many motor factors/ garages will carry out this service for you for free. They should also test the output of the alternator at the same time.
The next step would be to check the condition of the battery connections and cables, as well as the alternator connections. Loose or dirty connections or corroded cables can cause high resistance and as such trigger the EPS warning light.
Apart from the above regarding weak battery/alternator and or loose or damaged cables, there are a couple of other main faults that are seen regularly.
For cars manufactured before 2003, the motors (rev049) are prone to failure. More specifically the joints on the relays inside the motor. There is a guide on how to check and re-solder the relays on this early style motor. Alternatively, the motor can simply be replaced with another motor of the same type.
For cars manufactured after 2003, the motor (rev03A) was improved and the relays were removed, so the motor itself is less prone to failure.
On all models (2a nd 2b) another common failure is the torque sensors. This is located within the column itself and should it fail, the whole column will require replacement.
If your EPS is erratic or feels vague or you experience sudden unexpected movements in the steering, then do NOT drive the vehicle. The EPS is a safety critical component, and if you do not feel confident in diagnosing or repairing the fault, then please seek the advice of a suitable qualified technician.
Also, please make sure you search the Punto mk2/2b section using the search function at the top right, as there are MANY threads on this fairly common problem, and its highly likely your problem has already been answered in one of these threads.
A few useful guides....
Punto Mk2 Power Steering
Replacing EPS column Part 1
Replacing EPS column Part 2
Basic Battery and Alternator tests
Re-soldering EPS motor relays (rev049 motors only)
Alan
If your red power steering warning light is illuminated on the dash, and/or your EPS is in-operative, then there are a number of issues that could be causing your problem.This information is provided as a rough GUIDE only. The Power Steering sytem on your car is a safety critical component, and if you are not confident on how to diagnose or repair it, please leave it to a professional.
For safety's sake, the first place to start should be to have the car hooked up to diagnostics equipment and to have the codes read. This will point you in the right direction as to what the fault may be. You may get a code such a C1005- Torque Sensor. Low voltages codes may also be stored along with VSS faults etc.
The power Steering on all Mk2 and 2B Puntos is Electric (EPS) rather than hydraulic, and as such it is sensitive to voltage drops.
A good basic starting point with EPS failures is to check the condition of the battery. Although you can get a rough guide of a batteries health with a multimeter, its best to have the battery properly tested. Many motor factors/ garages will carry out this service for you for free. They should also test the output of the alternator at the same time.
The next step would be to check the condition of the battery connections and cables, as well as the alternator connections. Loose or dirty connections or corroded cables can cause high resistance and as such trigger the EPS warning light.
Apart from the above regarding weak battery/alternator and or loose or damaged cables, there are a couple of other main faults that are seen regularly.
For cars manufactured before 2003, the motors (rev049) are prone to failure. More specifically the joints on the relays inside the motor. There is a guide on how to check and re-solder the relays on this early style motor. Alternatively, the motor can simply be replaced with another motor of the same type.
For cars manufactured after 2003, the motor (rev03A) was improved and the relays were removed, so the motor itself is less prone to failure.
On all models (2a nd 2b) another common failure is the torque sensors. This is located within the column itself and should it fail, the whole column will require replacement.
If your EPS is erratic or feels vague or you experience sudden unexpected movements in the steering, then do NOT drive the vehicle. The EPS is a safety critical component, and if you do not feel confident in diagnosing or repairing the fault, then please seek the advice of a suitable qualified technician.
Also, please make sure you search the Punto mk2/2b section using the search function at the top right, as there are MANY threads on this fairly common problem, and its highly likely your problem has already been answered in one of these threads.
A few useful guides....
Punto Mk2 Power Steering
Replacing EPS column Part 1
Replacing EPS column Part 2
Basic Battery and Alternator tests
Re-soldering EPS motor relays (rev049 motors only)
Alan
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