Technical Power steering issue

[Baglady1990]

So after some minor maintenance this year and no real issues over the last few my guc is being a bad girl!
I have had this intermittent code 3 times now with the steering .. only knew to check as my S/S stopped working hadn’t really noticed the steering difference……
So I know how to take the whole thing out….. but then what!? There’s a company that overhaul your current unit without having to faf with re coding but that means no car for days……
There are others on eBay one even comes with barrel & key but would that need re coding anyway!?
As always input is greatly appreciated

 

[Baglady1990]

So after some minor maintenance this year and no real issues over the last few my guc is being a bad girl!
I have had this intermittent code 3 times now with the steering .. only knew to check as my S/S stopped working hadn’t really noticed the steering difference……
So I know how to take the whole thing out….. but then what!? There’s a company that overhaul your current unit without having to faf with re coding but that means no car for days……
There are others on eBay one even comes with barrel & key but would that need re coding anyway!?
As always input is greatly appreciated

 

[John202020]

You will REALLY notice if the pas stops working as it takes real effort to turn the steering wheel, I had the light come on twice in about January whilst driving however its not been back since.
Yours seems communications error rather than the usual battery?

 

[Baglady1990]

You will REALLY notice if the pas stops working as it takes real effort to turn the steering wheel, I had the light come on twice in about January whilst driving however its not been back since.
Yours seems communications error rather than the usual battery?

Yeah but I don’t know why!? Never had issues before in all the time I’ve owned her! I’ll check all the plugs Tom although not touched anything under there

 

[AnthonyH]

Yeah but I don’t know why!? Never had issues before in all the time I’ve owned her! I’ll check all the plugs Tom although not touched anything under there

If the power steering is working fine I don't see a problem to solve.

My understanding is that healthy Fiat power steerings chuck out intermittent error codes commonly, so this can be ignored.

 

[Baglady1990]

I can be a bit overprotective when it comes to my car

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

If the power steering is working fine I don't see a problem to solve.

My understanding is that healthy Fiat power steerings chuck out intermittent error codes commonly, so this can be ignored.

I can confirm this. My standard practice when doing a service - or anything other than a simple repair - is to do a whole vehicle scan with MES before I start. Becky has come up with random faults related to the power steering (and we had it also with my boy's Punto but that was almost certainly a failing battery which we replace about 6 months later and never had the codes show up again). As there were never any symptoms when driving the Panda I just ignored the codes and wiped them. A year or so later she started resetting the clock at every cold start and folk on here told me it's likely to be the battery. Although I didn't think it was bad and it was starting the engine just fine I put a new battery in her and, so far, there have been no more of these codes posted.

 

[steveras57]

Fiat electrical fault codes are somewhat similar to my Italian Brother -in law! Turns up at random with no warning, causes bother and stress(and usually financial trouble as well!) Sods you about for weeks on end and then disappears like Dracula in daylight only to reappear next full moon!.
Its fiats version of an infotainment system!

 

[A3jeroen]

And if you want to tackle the torque sensor (or the whole column) yourself, I've a thread in the Panda (169) section where I changed it on my 100HP (Bellezza Nera).

gr J

 

[Baglady1990]

And if you want to tackle the torque sensor (or the whole column) yourself, I've a thread in the Panda (169) section where I changed it on my 100HP (Bellezza Nera).

gr J

I’m still at odds whether this code is interfering with the S/S system….. yes I turn it off as it’s annoying but I also like to know it’s working! I still need to check all the plugs as it’s a communication problem… but I’m guessing this could also be a sign of a failing system and on a 2011 car I’m not surprised but yeah if it looks like that ….. then I will be swapping it out myself! … it seems at present I clear the code ….. SS starts working.. error reappears and the SS disappears…. Could be wrong tho so just testing that theory…. If I’m wrong …. I’ll leave the dam thing alone

 

[portland_bill]

If it is working, and does not affect any other functions, it can be ignored.
But. The steering systems have a habit of giving minor hiccups occasionally, leading eventually to full failure. Steering becomes very hard work without it, like the wheels are in setting concrete. Depends on your muscles of course.
Mostly, steering failures are the torque sensor. This can be replaced on its own, as others have done.
I went the easy route. Western Power Steering will send you a complete unit, you change it over, and return the old one. https://shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk/fiat/fiat-500-steering-column-non-vdc.html
Comes with a lifetime warranty.

 

[Baglady1990]

If it is working, and does not affect any other functions, it can be ignored.
But. The steering systems have a habit of giving minor hiccups occasionally, leading eventually to full failure. Steering becomes very hard work without it, like the wheels are in setting concrete. Depends on your muscles of course.
Mostly, steering failures are the torque sensor. This can be replaced on its own, as others have done.
I went the easy route. Western Power Steering will send you a complete unit, you change it over, and return the old one. https://shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk/fiat/fiat-500-steering-column-non-vdc.html
Comes with a lifetime warranty.

Is it just a case of swapping them over?…. have to work out how to swap over the barrel is there anything to do in MES after?

 

[portland_bill]

Is it just a case of swapping them over?…. have to work out how to swap over the barrel is there anything to do in MES after?

The supplied replacement is the top section, motor and sensor assembly. It connects to the bottom half with a large circlip, which can be difficult to release and refit, as even quite large circlip pliers struggle. Apart from that, the changeover is straightforward.
Do need to use MES afterwards to calibrate it, which takes a few minutes only. I think it just learns where the centre is. It is a few years now since I did mine, possibly 2014 or earlier. We were about to leave on holiday, steering went pop before leaving the drive. Moved luggage to the drivign school car and went in that. The joys of having more vehicles.

 

[Baglady1990]

Does anyone know if the part number has to be like for like?

 

[rmjbn1]

Yours seems communications error rather than the usual battery?

I'd agree with John, U0001-88 seems to be a generic communication error on CAN.

If the steering feels fine, I'd be inclined to suspect a wiring problem somewhere rather than a faulty steering column.