General City switch "warning"

[Punto_Pete]

what a load of b*ll*x

i've had my hgt for 7 years, covered 77k and use the city button everyday for parking outside my house. never had a problem with it.

the city buttin also works at all speeds, even on the motorway, it only stops having an effect under hard(ish) acceleration

 

[Nickmitbm]

Yeah it stays on (I mean the CITY light in the dashboard) but after 50 kph the extra-lightening of the steering stops and it's as if you had it turned off.

 

[girlracerdraper]

Reading all this I feel like a RIGHT dick! My power steering has NOW screwed up and all because I was driving round with my city steering on constantly lol

You can tell im blonde!! lol

 

[Ffoxy]

Reading all this I feel like a RIGHT dick! My power steering has NOW screwed up and all because I was driving round with my city steering on constantly lol

You can tell im blonde!! lol

Chill... you cant be sure that is what caused it, electric Power steering gives issues on all makes, we just dont hear about it.

My eldest just had to have a new electric Power steering unit on her 2 year old Beemer...

 

[D4nny8oy]

Reading all this I feel like a RIGHT dick! My power steering has NOW screwed up and all because I was driving round with my city steering on constantly lol

You can tell im blonde!! lol

Read the thread properly, especially the posts by those who actually work on Punto's and have replaced steering shafts.

Driving with the CITY button on will not be the cause.

 

[girlracerdraper]

Well if theres any1 on this post that lives in kent and can fit one plz come and help me lol

 

[Shorty_Butler]

I've been driving around with mine on for the last 3 and a half years and had no problems. :s also mine works at all speeds. I usualy switch it of if she gets a bit twitchy on the motorway and whats with this macho, i like it stiff business. There's nothing girly about being lazy!

 

[MSH1]

Hello all.
I am not a mechanic but I love my fiat punto 188 MK2 (ZFA5000) 2002.
This car has a city button for lighter power steering. When you press the city button, a light comes on the dashboard that says CITY, and the steering becomes lighter.

PROBLEM (S):

Everyone once in a while when it rains the power steering light (red steering wheel) turns on, and then it goes away on its own. I know this is intermittent , not my biggest issue, just adding for context.

Another piece of information for context is that sometimes the gearbox light turns on and the brake clicks. Again only after heavy rain. I have learned this is due to corrosion located at the rear light cluster connection pin. The seal isn’t great so water might get through. Once the corrosion on the final connector pin of the light cluster is removed , the light goes away and brake stops clicking.


MAIN ISSUE:
Beginning yesterday, after turning the car on, the city light began flickering on the dashboard - affecting steering sensitivity.
When I long press and hold down the city button , the light goes away and the gearbox light (as above) flashes. This began after a hail storm.


I have a VAGCOM/KKL cable with switches , and a ELM 327 Bluetooth tool from eBay. I am waiting in a delivery of a yellow , red and green OBD cable as well.
I use the multiecu scan tool normally, but can’t make it work for the power steering light, I don’t know how to make it work .
I get a message which says ELM327/ODBKey Interface or can’t find COM3.

I just want the light to stop and the problem to go away.

My non-mechanic mind thinks an electrical glitch maybe an earth problem (not something I can verify but just a feeling I have based on the erratic nature of the light).

Please can you guide me and help me