Punto (Mk2/2b) power steering

[torzee]

hi guys
Im new to all this and was wondering if i could get some advice with my punto 1.2 2004 as its doing me head in!
The power steering light comes on when i turn right too much an it locks so its hard to control the car. i have to restart the car to fix it.
I took it to a garage an they say its the alternator, do you think this could be the problem? or am i just wasting money?

 

[s and b]

certainly if it was a corsa an alternator fix is quite usual for a power steering fix
however you have a punto
so go somewhere else that is willing to do an actual code read of your power steering ecu to ascertain the reason power steering packs in
a drop test of your battery then followed by an output check from your alternator should be part of their diagnosis too

first garage sound like chancers

 

[torzee]

thanks for replying, my car is still at the garage they gonna fit it tomorrow as the ordered the part, I know nothing about cars!

 

[Wakemo53]

When you've had it fixed would you mind sharing details of the problem?

I've had something similar but not as bad. My power steering goes off occasionally whilst driving and restarting the car normally fixes it. However it's not as often as just turning too much, it's just at random times and they're few and far between but I'm worried that it could get worse.

Thanks

 

[skeogh]

I fixed mine not too long ago. Took ECU and power steering motor out, took all connections off, cleaned up and re-soldered everything back on. I "tagged" the wires with a bit of stick tape so that I knew which wire went where.

Put everything back together, and has been working perfect since.

A lot of times it's either bad connections, or motor isn't drawing enough voltage from the battery and alternator.

Get codes read and from there it brings down the process of elimination significantly

 

[varesecrazy]

When you've had it fixed would you mind sharing details of the problem?

I've had something similar but not as bad. My power steering goes off occasionally whilst driving and restarting the car normally fixes it. However it's not as often as just turning too much, it's just at random times and they're few and far between but I'm worried that it could get worse.

Thanks

Hi,

it relies on a decent supply of electrical power.. an old / tired battery can often be an issue, over 4 years old..,

alternator = generally - it'll work properly or poorly, nice + simple to test with a meter,
as others have said ...before spending serious money getting the PAS Fault codes read will help the correct diagnosis,

charlie - Oxford

 

[Wakemo53]

Thanks for the info!

I'll see if I can get the fault codes and perhaps a new battery to see if that sorts it.