mccsp
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 10:43 PM |
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Ford Focus - Steering Assist Failure - Help Please
Hi,
Recently purchased a 2005 Ford Focus 1.8tdci Estate for my wife (and 8bweek old son) as I wanted them to have something a bit safer us - Steering
Assist Failure - Hs - Steering Assist Failure - Hhan her previous '97 fiesta.
Car has covered 79k and was a private sale. Nothing obviously wrong in the first few days.
Last weekend started the car and the steering was extremely heavy (felt almost as though the steering lock was on). Keyed off and on, problem still
there. Keyed off and on and steering seemed fine.
Driven the car a bit during the week with no issues. Today leaving a multistorey car park the following message has appeared on the dash
"Steering Assist Failure" accompanied by an orange light. Steering felt ok, drove a few miles and parked up, where when stopped the
steering felt heavier than normal. Drove home with what felt like varying levels of steering assist ( might have been pyschological).
Issue I have is I am now not prepared to let my wife drive the car in case the assist fails completely, but I am extremely aware of what it might cost
to fix. I was wonderingbif any of you guys had any suggestions as to potential causes that I might be able to diagnose myself
Thanks in advance.
As a thought. The previous owner told me there had been a management light on that was caused by water in the fuse box. Could they be linked and if
so, any thoughts on what to look for?
Again, thanks in advance. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Chris
Why do it the easy way, when I can do things my way!
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iank
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 11:05 PM |
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I'd be looking for the steering assist ECU fuse (will be in the owners manual) if the fuse box has been wet then there's a good chance it
will be corroded. If it is then replace with a new one (and check all the others) and there's a good chance all will be well.
The fact it seems intermittent is a good sign.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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mccsp
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 05:24 AM |
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Cheers. Looks like there are 2 fuse boxes. Going on the previous owners description I think the one containing the power steering fuse remained dry,
but I will have a goodlook in the morning regardless.
Since ths light came on in the multistorey carpark, it has remained on, which makes me nervous. Although the feell of the stsering has seemed to vary.
Why do it the easy way, when I can do things my way!
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britishtrident
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 08:58 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
I'd be looking for the steering assist ECU fuse (will be in the owners manual) if the fuse box has been wet then there's a good chance it
will be corroded. If it is then replace with a new one (and check all the others) and there's a good chance all will be well.
The fact it seems intermittent is a good sign.
Some things never change Ford fuse box corrosion has been around since at least the Mk1 Escort.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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snakebelly
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 11:16 AM |
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Surely the first point of call should be a quick visit to your local independent to see if they can retrieve any fault codes that may assist in
diagnosis, shouldn't cost too much.
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macc man
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 05:10 PM |
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I had an intermittent fault on my connect van. Turned out to be a faulty earth connection at the battery to chassis lead. Check the obvious first
before going to the stalers. I replaced the rusty bolt and all seems fine.
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adithorp
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 06:15 PM |
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Check the alternator charging, earth cables and battery. Not seen it on a Ford but alternator low/not charging is a common cause of p/steering failure
on Vauxhalls.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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Slimy38
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 06:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
Check the alternator charging, earth cables and battery. Not seen it on a Ford but alternator low/not charging is a common cause of p/steering failure
on Vauxhalls.
This caught me out as well, a friend complained about loss of power steering and she was asking me whether the garage were conning her when they said
it was an electrical problem. I've only had cars that have a power steering pump running off the accessory belt so it initially sounded wrong to
me.
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mccsp
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 11:12 PM |
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So, not fixed yet. Been working on my car as the mot is due on tuesday. Need at least one car.
Tge focus has an electric power steering setup. Manual says there is no need to check fluid levels on this model, but have removed the headlight to
have a look at the pump and connections. No obvious signs of a leak and the connectors seem ok. The fluid level is however on the min, so I will be
topping it up when I find out and get the correct fluid.
I have had the fuses out and nothing obviously wrong there, but cleaned them up anway. Made no difference to the light on the dash. Might be that it
needs resetting. Searches online suggest the light and message will go out if the issue is resolved.
If the fluid doesn't fix it (be surprised if it does) I will check out the alternator and battery wiring. If that fails to show up anything then
I will get a diagnostics check done. Just want to rule out the cheap options before getting into the more expensive alternatives.
Cheers for your suggestions.
Why do it the easy way, when I can do things my way!
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 18/3/13 at 12:36 AM |
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If you do some checking on the forums the alternator have issues on the focus and cmax which turns out to be a slip mechanism on the pulley not
gripping, these cause all sorts of problems including power steering failure. I've had the power steering go off once on the wife's cmax
but just switched the car off and restarted and it was fine, I suspect it was a faulty relay and it will probably happen again, the fuse rating I
think is around 60 amps so there will be a relay somewhere, think the fuse was in the engine bay. There are a few common things that go wrong with the
electrics in these cars, the reverse switch is another, goosed on mine which I keep meaning to change out. I also notice that the headlights dim a tad
when at idle (900 rpm) and brighten when slightly revved which might indicate the alternator is not a happy bunny and should put a voltmeter over the
battery to check its charging correctly. As with a lot of modern stuff things that worked well in the past get changed just for the sake of change and
turn out to be less reliable.
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mccsp
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| posted on 18/3/13 at 09:03 PM |
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Topped the fluid up but light is still on! Checked the alternator charging voltage when idling after start up was only 12v, rev the engine to 2000rpm
and it is 14.4v! Drop back to idle and the voltage is 13.5v! Does this suggest that the alternator clutched pulley is on its way out? Anyone else have
a focus and can check what theres does? My corolla is 14v at all revs.
Why do it the easy way, when I can do things my way!
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