the electric power steering on my w reg punto has an intermittent fault at least once a day the steering goes heavy with the red steering wheel light lit then later on that day the steering may go back to working or stay faulty please help

grover, May 2008

my power steering goes on my Fiat Punto when i first switch it on. so i switch it off and on again and it works why?

joe, February 2016

Battery Terminal was loose, check all nuts, so hope this will fix mine now

thank you

Steve Nixey, October 2015

I am having problems with my power steering working intermittantly on my Punto. I paid over £400 2years ago for the ECU to be replaced and have recently had a new battery. The steering worked for a week and then problems began again.
My MOT is due end of the month and I'm told if the steering warning light happens to be on that day I will need a new steering column costing £360 + VAT + labour.
Were these cars ever recalled as clearly it is a common problem that Manufacturers should sort out?

Heather, February 2013

Hi Dee, probably not a great deal of help to you as you're in Penzance, but I keep all components for the Fiat Punto power steering systems in stock in Birmingham, along with all the diagnostic & calibration kit that is needed to identify the nature of the problem and perform the necessary calibration of the system following repair. Take a look at

www.magik-spannerz.co.uk/punto

for further info, and call / email for help and advice if needed.

Best wishes, Magik Joe

Magik Joe, February 2013

Hello- I am a girl...booooh.
I have a Fiat Punto 1.3 Multijet 05 van and the steering column light goes on for a few days and the steering is very heavy and then it will go off for a few days and steering is OK.
Im worried that the steering is going to fail and the garage says it needs a whole new SC motor and inc labour £700 approx-ouch.

Live in Penzance- any tips guys as don't have a man at home to tinker about with the problem.

Cheers all!

Dee, February 2013

Hi...have also had this problem with the power steering switching off and on, and was diagnosed to be a faulty ECU. We replaced this with a second hand unit which cleared the problem.....momentarily. \Bear in mind that the soldered joints are suspect,and if you are ok with an iron, check them all at the same time.
Next, and I think really important, have a diagnostic check of the various sensor operate voltages,as I'm suggesting that if your battery is even slightly suspect, replace it, or give it a decent charge. this happened to me just last month( the two error codes in the ECU hinted that the steering sensors on the column had not operated). After a decent battery charge, and reconnecting into the car,no problems with steering. Until the error counter in the ECU is reset, any codes will remain held there.

Ross, September 2012

i got this problem 2yr ago, did i solve it?... Nope, i scrapped it, the piece of junk!

snoop, September 2012

Don't believe the hype...Yes the fiat Punto does have a recognised problem with their electric power steering but where you have these companies springing up saying that you need to replace the ECU and a new pump at £160 and the rest is nonsense..All you have to do at best is replace the two relays on the motor pump...This is quite an easy process ..All you need to do is buy two relays for about £10 for the pair on somewhere like Ebay...solder on the new relays with a decent soldering iron not has hard as it sounds, then resolder the six cables leads to their terminals and job done... you can also check out Youtube and watch how this is done on there....

michael(London), December 2011

i had one which failed , so i removed power steering motor inspected found brushes had worn out bouht replacement brushes from rs components reassembles and has been working fine for two years now! the job inclusive of rmoval etc takes around 4 hours ..

mamrk, March 2011

Lost power steering after fitting new "budget" battery. Fitted a better quality one and Hey Presto all lights back to normal and PAS working fine. Must having a cranking output in excess of 10

Clarkos, November 2010

my punto 02 reg has the problem of the red steering wheel light coming on, i have driven many miles with it on. the steering has always felt o.k and if I stop and turn off the engine for about a minute then restart the red light has gone off, sometimes it re=appears after a few miles and sometimes not!! i think the proiblem is the electrics and not the steering, only my opinion, but if the steering feels o.k. i personally leave well alone.

JOHN. B., July 2010

I've had the same problem on my punto 2001 with the power steering light coming on and off now my air bag light is staying on. Haven been told to get a new steering coloum as the motor or ecu has gone. The strange thing is if you take the fuse out for the power steering under the dash while the engine is running it goes out and resets its self! So how could the motoer or ecu have broken if it alll works again???? A quick fix if you get stuck!!!

Ty, February 2010

It's a general problem with the car - you're not alone. My X Reg Fiat Punto's power steering has completly gone now, after 6 months of the warning light appearing and disappearing & me praying that it won't fail!

The answer is rather expensive. There's a few things you should try before taking it to a garage and getting the full whack done.

Try cleaning the connections leading to the battery - this can sometimes cause the power steering to cut out if they are not cleaned properly.

Alternatively, it may be the TDC sensor - i don't know much about this part of the car but search "fiat power steering problem" on preloved.com and they explain all there.

Last but not least this is an ECU fault. You will need to get the whole ECU unit changed which can (if taken to a garage) amount to around £600. Alternatively if you know someone who is good with cars - on ecutesting.com you can buy the units and fit them yourself for £220. This will resolve the problem.

Superstar89, January 2009

may sound silly but try charging your battery,if your does not have abs it is to do with voltage

colin brown, May 2008