Electronic power steering

[HMS_Dave]

Common fault with a simple solution... http://www.acspowersteering.co.uk/ they offer repair/exchange basis racks whether electronic or hydraulic. A good indy can do all the legwork for you and although not cheap will be better value than a stealers....

 

[HMS_Dave]

Nah, we're scrapping it.

Just heard back from the independant I spoke to earlier today. It's not possible to repair (easily). Mechanically, yes, less of a problem, a refurb can be bought and fitted, but it's the electrics. Apparently only Renault can do it with a genuine Renault part. He actually said it's a similar problem with airbags!

Guess what make of car I'm not buying next!

On which subject, any suggestions as what to replace it with? My wife (an upholsterer) used it to cart chairs around so it was the boot space that's the main thing. With back seats out, the Scenic had a good load capacity.

Fair enough but you're being told a bunch of rubbish....

Better luck with your next one.

 

[biggs682]

I think the majority of newish cars have electronic steering , I remember the second generation MR2 's having it way back in time .

Cars have been throw away items for quite awhile once they get to 10 years old which is wrong . But the cost of parts and labour soon add up .

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I think the majority of newish cars have electronic steering , I remember the second generation MR2 's having it way back in time .

The difference back then was it was a normal wet rack with an electric motor on the pump. These days they all tend to be all electric built into the column

 

[monkers]

Sorry, I know next to nothing about cars, can someone help me understand something....

My wife's Renault Scenic electric power steering has packed up. Renault dealer says Renault no longer make the part (it's a 2005, so possible) and a 2nd hand one can't be fitted because it needs to programmed to the car. I don't understand that. There are plenty of 2nd hand/refurbed EPSs available, and a number of businesses specialising in exactly that. Dealer is basically saying the car has to be scrapped for the lack of a simple part. Are they telling me porkies?

Other question; can the steering go when you're actually driving? Because the thought of that frightens the jeepers out of me.

Thanks in advance for any comments View attachment 573095

Hi Yello. Electric PAS systems are sensitive to battery voltage. A fault in the vehicle charging system that results in a lower battery voltage may well be affecting the steering on your car.

Check that the battery warning light (usually red with a pic of a car battery) comes on with ignition on and goes off when the engine is run.

A light that remains on, flickers constantly, flickers on and off randomly, or has a faint glow indicates a fault with the battery charging system.

To check battery charging voltage, connect a voltmeter (red to red & black to black) to the battery terminals. Select 'dc' volts (may be represented by a symbol instead - something like an equals sign) in the range 0 - 20V. Read the voltmeter. A charged battery will give a reading 12.5 to 13 Volts or so.

Start the engine, allow it to tick over for a minute, then raise the engine rpm to about 2 000. Check battery light again. Take reading on voltmeter. The correct range is between 13.8 and 14.2 Volts. Faults may produce reading that are lower (undercharging) or higher (overcharging).

If you do not obtain these readings, get a mobile auto electrician to check and rectify the charging system before proceeding to any electrical investigation of the steering system. Even faulty batteries have the potential to cause the faults you are describing. Also the auto electrician should be able to connect a scan tool to your car and read any recorded fault codes. These codes can often be helpful in tracing faults, but sometimes not so much.

Good luck.

 

[keithmac]

Plenty of companies can "clone" modules, just depends if you can find one with the right kit.

I have FORscan and that would tackle it (Ford only unfortunately).

Use to be a common conversation to fit Corsa electric steering columns to convert other cars to Power Steering but a bit of a job!.

As said low battery voltage/ charge rate will cause Power Steering faults.

I've fitted a gearbox that was never designed to mate to our engine, everything can be done, just depends if you can justify the time doing it..

 

[yello]

Well, by chance, the tow truck guy (he is a mechanic with his own garage) has said he'll see if he can repair it. I'm not holding my breath, given all we've been told, but we lose nothing by letting him research it.

@HMS_Dave , I contacted ACS yesterday but I've yet to get a reply. It's not guaranteed that a refurbed unit will work, they don't always... don't ask me why.

 

[yello]

Result! Tow truck guy mentioned above fixed it! We're well chuffed. He said it's the first one he's ever done so it was a bit of a learning curve for him, plus I suppose it speaks to it not being that common a fault (despite the number of complaints you read on the 'web)

He had to be a little patient in finding the right/compatible part from a breakers, not just same engine but same wheel size and vehicle length (the 7 seater Scenic is longer than the 5 seater). Whether that's necessary or not I don't know but it certainly makes some kind of sense. The power steering needs all of that info I guess. But whatever, the car's back on the road.

I've got the old part too, in the event that I decide to ship it out for refurb. After speaking with a couple of UK companies (aforementioned ACS included) I decided that shipping post-Brexit might add unforeseen costs so dismissed that option. I found a company in the Netherlands that could do a refurb but it was a bit pricey. Oddly, couldn't find anywhere in France that'd do it.

 

[lazybloke]

Go to an independant. You'll only lose power steering, not the ability to steer, but it will be very heavy.

Very heavy is about right. My last car (Renault Megane) had an electrical issue that caused it to lose power steering whilst negotiating a roundabout. The car described a perfect tangent; I described a <censored>.