steering prob

[blockman]

hi guys hoping you can give me a bit of advice here i bought a 02 tdi sport ibiza private and the steering was a bit tight some times i was told it was the steering rack and thought no prob ill get one from the breakers and throw it in. but now im told it could be the pump the electric motor or the rack and that it will need recalibrated by seat if i change them what is going on here is this true and how can you work out which part is faulty? the steering is heavy then light like the pump works then doesnt any help would be much appreciated. Paul

 

[LeekFR]

is your steering warning light lit up on the dash?

 

[blockman]

no there is no warning light coming on!

 

[Neo]

I think these cars have speed-sensitive power steering, meaning it is lighter for parking and heavier at speed.
Perhaps the speed sensor is faulty?
I`m not sure on this just throwing it out there.

 

[blockman]

sounds like a good idea any chance you know how to check it though!

 

[pete34a]

I had inconsistant steering assistance, and it turned out to be a faulty steering angle sensor. It came up as a fault on VAGcom.

Have you plugged it into VAGcom?

 

[attila_tdi]

I think these cars have speed-sensitive power steering, meaning it is lighter for parking and heavier at speed.

Do they really have this? Is it across the range or only a certain year etc? That's pretty impressive if they do I think

 

[blockman]

i was trying to stay away from seat lol was your steering fine but on occasions really heavy and was there a fault light on. i was going to pull the pump out and try another one but having took the covers off underneath it looks like a right bollocks of a job lol

 

[Fl@pper]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21610&highlight=steering+sensitivity

thats for adjusting the feel of it in normal circumstances

be worth plugging in and checking for any listed errors anyway though

 

[pete34a]

I could feel the varying assistance - going from heavy to light steering all the time. It was pulling too much power to the pump and causing the lights to flicker. After a while the steering went heavy and the warning light came on. Next time I started the car the same sequence repeated.

Are your interior lights and headlights flickering? If so it'll probably be the same problem. Definitely worth plugging it in before you start changing major parts. Go to a VAG specialist - avoid the dealers.

IMO these electric power steering systems are complete rubbish.

 

[blockman]

lights are dead on yea i will just get it plugged in and see first! where is the power steering fluid resovoir i cant see one or am i blind and stupid thought it best to make sure there is fluid in it lol
but cant see anything and i agree elec steering seems to be a load of crap

 

[pete34a]

It's under the battery, small reservoir with a green cap. A right bitch to get at!

 

[blockman]

thanks mate

 

[blockman]

got to the resovoir there and would you belive it is near empty lol i hope im in luck and that cures her so i will just change fluid now and see wot happens thanks for the help guys! and i wonder whos idea it was to put the resovoir there i suspect it was to keep people away from it and get seat more money lol

 

[blockman]

RESULT put the fluid in her and everything is fine! i still cant belive where the bottle was i wonder how many ordinary people have been caught out with low fluid and paid for a pump or rack instead it doesn even tell you in the manual where to top up! anyhow thanks for all the help!

 

[attila_tdi]

It's the only bit that VAG let the spanish do...

 

[DEAN0]

RESULT put the fluid in her and everything is fine! i still cant belive where the bottle was i wonder how many ordinary people have been caught out with low fluid and paid for a pump or rack instead it doesn even tell you in the manual where to top up! anyhow thanks for all the help!

Check it again in a week or so - you will have primed all of the air out of the system by then.

 

[attila_tdi]

It was pulling too much power to the pump and causing the lights to flicker.

Hey Pete, I just noticed my steering (when parked) dimms the headlights a little too. The steering feels fine however. Though it has a very faint whining noise when I move it.

Does mine sound like the pump's gone? Or is it a sensor?

Going to try and get vag-com this week

 

[DEAN0]

Hey Pete, I just noticed my steering (when parked) dimms the headlights a little too. The steering feels fine however. Though it has a very faint whining noise when I move it.

This sounds quite normal - the ibiza has an electro-hydraulic power steering system.

The hydraulic pump is electrically driven and makes the wirring noise in operation as well as drawing quite an amount of current.

I tried a brand new ibiza a few weeks ago ( test drive ) and it does the same thing.

 

[muddyboots]

I remember when I first got my old Mk4, looking round the engine bay and being a bit puzzled when I couldn't find a fluid reservoir for the power steering.

It was only when I got a courtesy Ibiza, a small petrol engined model I think, which had the battery in a different position - and I spotted the reservoir cap.
A truly bizarre place to put it, underneath the battery !

I think these cars have speed-sensitive power steering, meaning it is lighter for parking and heavier at speed.

I don't think the Mk4's have this.