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Technical Electronic Power Steering Fault

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Technical Electronic Power Steering Fault

Rich

Rich

Former FIAT Obsessive
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Well with 3 Stilo's in the family we're all sure to have fun! :D

Right, had the fault in my mum's Stilo last summer; was in the car park at work, started the car and error came up, had no power steering. Drove the car for about 5 seconds down the car park and nothing came back, error still displayed. Turned engine and ignition off, then back on, fault cleared.

2 weeks ago it came back, ironically at the FIAT garage after dropping mine in (dad was taking me home in mum's stilo), garage charged us £35 "recalibrate power steering system"; they said one of the sensors wasn't talking to the body computer. Quoted around £275+VAT for a new column with fitting. Error was reset . . .

Apparently, it did it today. Mum got in it to go out (obviously), and error came up when engine was started. She turned the ignition off immediately and restarted, error went away.

Anyone got any ideas or tips? Thanks guys & gals :D
 
Well if its a similar system to the seicento system, then its usually when you start the car up and touch the steering wheel i.e. turn it during start up. The electronic signal gets ''blocked'' and interrupted and the wheel wont turn properly, the way in which you deal with the problem is the way the cento lot deal with it. Does this sound familiar??
 
The only time mine failed was on the M6 when that tit in a volvo 340 pulled in front of me into the fast lane from middle lane (nothing in the middle or slow lane so why he moved fcuk knows).

I braked so hard (and with my weight!), the adjustment lock came off and the column went into the dashboard giving me power steering fault message then no power steering.

Pulled up on hard shoulder and turned of engine, adjusted everything back, turned it on, got the message, still no steering, did another 3 attempts and on the 4th got EBD failure then no messages and everything worked.

Steering not gone since but I dont recommend knocks to the wheel or column as thats whats seems to make it go tits
 
I had this problem on my abarth.

After starting the car, the error would come up, but wouldnt clear without a visit to the dealer for a reset on the examiner.

Eventualy they changed the power steering unit (located under the steering wheel) and its been fine since. errr fine with power steering that is :rolleyes:
 
Thanks guys, some things to think about there.

Insane, what was the cost to you? Or was it a warranty job (damn that Stilo being the only one out of warranty!).

And thanks AppleSei, won't go touching anything til it's ready ;)
 
It was under warranty. :yum:

The price was quite high (cca 1.500 EUR if i recall correctly) because the complete electric power steering had to be changed since it is in one piece. :eek:
 
Oh dear, it came back again today :(

Came on, so mum turned it off and on again, didn't go. Turned it off for 5 mins, then back on, fault went away . . .

:cry:
 
rroope said:
Oh dear, it came back again today :(

Came on, so mum turned it off and on again, didn't go. Turned it off for 5 mins, then back on, fault went away . . .

:cry:
Click to expand...
Happy new year to you all .Now the bad news i went to start my car first thing battery flat:eek: as i was trying to start it the power steering fault came on so no power steering tried turning on & off but no good :bang: then my left hand paddle came off :cry: so looks like its going to fiat and its a good job its still under fiat warranty
 
The EPAS system has been very reliable on Stilo, and most of the time the cause of any fault is found elsewhere. EPAS works from charge voltage when the engine is started, if the voltage is low or does not recover in time when the engine starts this will and does shut the system down. By restarting, the voltage is already higher so the ecu responds by activating EPAS. If you have the problem of EPAS not responding when initially starting but activating on second start then check the battery condition and also the charge/discharge rate as a faulty alternator can cause problems. Another problem which can occur if jump started is the ecu does not see an increase in voltage sufficient to activate EPAS, either because of a faulty charge system or because the donor vehicles engine is running and causing too high a voltage on ignition on situation. The EPAS ecu may decide to shut itself down to avoid damage from overcharging.

NOTE, never jump start from another vehicle if possible to avoid it, but if you do then NEVER have donor vehicles engine running and place the earth cable away from the battery, preferably engine block.
 
Thanks for the excellent advice NumanR. I've read that jump starting can cause total ecu failure in some cases .
 
Thanks for the advice(y) it sounds like its becouse iv jump started it by using a nother vehicle with the engine running. Will i have to take it to a dealer to get it sorted ? what if i take the batt off and fully recharge will that do it ?
 
I would advise disconnecting battery and recharging it over night on trickle charge (4 amps), reconnect it and try.
 
Thanks NumanR, had a similar thought myself. All those ABS and ASR errors used to come up when the battery was low.

Came on again yesterday, so had a quick read of eLearn, and it seems to suggest that, if the fault comes up, turning the wheel fully to the left, then fully to the right might cure it? I did that, put it to centre when done, turned all off then on again (this hadn't worked before) and all cleared. Coinsidence I'm sure.
 
well i have fully charged the batt put it back on and still got no power steering:cry: i will try whay rroope has done see it that works
 
glen said:
well i have fully charged the batt put it back on and still got no power steering:cry: i will try whay rroope has done see it that works
Click to expand...

Let us know glen if it all comes back . . .
 
rroope said:
Let us know glen if it all comes back . . .
Click to expand...
Hi, tried what you did and no good even gone to work in it and still got no power steering.As its still under fiat warranty [3rd yr] its going in next wed £85(n) just to look at it [robbery]AUTOWORLD IN SHEFF.unless some one knows of another place that i could take it then plz let me know.Thank you all for your help (y)
 
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