power steering gone!

[oceanman]

hi guys looking for some help, mk5 Ibiza 1.2 has developed a power steering problem, went to start it in the morning and suddenly pas light on dash and no power steering, was working fine up to this, any ideas?

 

[dm222]

how old is the battery?

 

[oceanman]

hi, battery is four years old, I got a friend in a garage to test it and he said it seems to be ok. he put a meter between the poles ect

 

[dm222]

most times is just the battery as the steering pump is electric and demands high power, but to some unfortunates (like me, twice) the pump fails and needs replacement

do you have some diganostic tool?

is the steering as stiff as when the car is turned off?

 

[dm222]

also tell your friend to check this fuse for continuity

Edit: also there is another fuse under the steering wheel for Power Steering but I don't know wich one.


PS: I've never seen reports of any of those fuses failing in a MK5 but doesn't hurt to check.

 

[oceanman]

hi, no unfortunately I don't have any diagnostic equipment. the steering feels just the same as when the car is turned off.

 

[dm222]

looks like it's the pump or some electric problem (either battery or fuses).

 

[oceanman]

I checked out both fuses you mentioned and they seem ok, is there any way to test the pump without removing it?

 

[dm222]

yes, if it is working you should hear an alectric noise coming from it when turning the steering while stationary.

also removing will not help diagnose a bad pump because they are not reparaible (at least officially). first I would run a dianostic tool.

but it is not working for sure from what you described, the question is why... and as I said could be the battery or pump needing replacement.

 

[s.chow]

Had this problem on my bocanegra mate , I changed the pump , checked the fluid, fuses and god knows what else... was told plenty of things but got a mate to put his VAG com on to reset it; fault came back as a sensor but my power steering was working even though my light was on the dash


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[oceanman]

thanks for that, at this stage I'm thinking of changing the pump as a friend of mine in a breakers yard has one, one thing I'm worried about is the part number, the number on my pump ends with the letter C, the one he is giving me ends with F , other than that the numbers exactly the same, would it be risky to try it I wonder?
part number on mine is 6RO423156C

 

[s.chow]

Have you plugged it into a vag com yet ?


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[oceanman]

no, have not plugged it into vag com

 

[dm222]

Risky it is not but three things:

- Probably it will not work as it belongs to the previous generation. 6Q0 instead of 6R0 like yours.

- You will need vag-com to get the code of your old pump and put it in the new pump.

- You can get one on ebay with the same code for around 100€.

 

[oceanman]

Risky it is not but three things:

- Probably it will not work as it belongs to the previous generation. 6Q0 instead of 6R0 like yours.

- You will need vag-com to get the code of your old pump and put it in the new pump.

- You can get one on ebay with the same code for around 100€.

thanks, there is a bit there to think about alright, probably best to get the pump with the proper code as I don't have access to vag-com.

 

[s.chow]

I've got a spare power steering pump at home which I bought for my bocanegra; swapped it over & still no fix ! So got a mate to plug his vag com in & that's when a sensor came beck faulty; he reset the fault code & the power steering worked even though the light remained on & was told it's a sensor... so before you change it; best to check; & if you need a pump pm me & id try finding my spare one at home for you mate


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[oceanman]

I've got a spare power steering pump at home which I bought for my bocanegra; swapped it over & still no fix ! So got a mate to plug his vag com in & that's when a sensor came beck faulty; he reset the fault code & the power steering worked even though the light remained on & was told it's a sensor... so before you change it; best to check; & if you need a pump pm me & id try finding my spare one at home for you mate


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Thanks I appreciate your help. is it expensive to buy a vag com or would I bet cheaper to go to a garage that has one?

 

[s.chow]

Where about you based mate ? And more time cheaper to go to a garage; probably charge you around £30-£40 to check it out mate


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[dm222]

giving the fact that you put a pump with the same part number, the main difference is if the car has ESP or NOT:

if you put a pump from a car WITH ESP and your car DOESNT HAVE or the opposite then you will need coding.

Also if you put from a AUDI or VW POLO the steering will be lighter has their coding is different. POLO not so much but the A1 you should feel a very noticeable difference.

All those things can be solved by coding the new pump... if you get your hands in a VAG-COM cable.

 

[oceanman]

The car I have has ESP, the car I was getting the pump from I'm not sure.