Power Steering Faulty

[superpima]

Purchased my car back in Feb, 3.0 Auto, 2010 plate, 87K odd miles.
Good MOT history, but almost no service history details. One thing I do know for sure—the battery is one year old, so it's virtually brand new.

It has recently developed an intermittent power steering glitch. The error messages are “Power Steering Faulty” and “Power Steering Failure,” sometimes one, sometimes the other, sometimes both.

The symptoms are that steering becomes harder, ranging from a minor inconvenience to almost impossible to turn.
Restarting the car often cures the issue, but it returns—sometimes immediately, sometimes after days or weeks.

I took it to AJ Robertson in Hove, who are supposed to be a decent indi specialist garage. They did not find any fault codes. I also asked to check the ground wire connection to power steering (found a Youtube somewhere that related the issue to poor ground). They found nothing.

Enjoyed almost a month of problem-free driving afterwards and now the issue has returned again
Do I just bite the bullet and get the thing reconditioned at ECU Testing? Or should I try anything else?

 

[ARCS]

Sounds like the steering rack ecu is faulty. Really need fault codes to determine. They can be refurbed, but you'll need to remove it and send it off.

 

[superpima]

Took off the steering rack ECU, sent it off to ECUTesting for diagnostics/repair. Now all back in and working as it should. Approx £750 altogether for the ECU repair and the garage work costs.

 

[Sarz4]

That EPS issue does seem to crop up more often with age. Sounds like sending the rack ECU to ECUTesting was the right call, even if not cheap.

 

[Silverstar]

Took off the steering rack ECU, sent it off to ECUTesting for diagnostics/repair. Now all back in and working as it should. Approx £750 altogether for the ECU repair and the garage work costs.

I am having the same issue. Can the ECU be taken of the rack without removing the rack from the car?

 

[B21]

I am having the same issue. Can the ECU be taken of the rack without removing the rack from the car?

No

Needs the whole rack sending off..some real bad horror stories of folks who tried to do it that way..

 

[Silverstar]

No

Needs the whole rack sending off..some real bad horror stories of folks who tried to do it that way..

I spoke to ECU Testing and they told me to send in just the ECU (I told them I was in Spain, sending the whole rack from here would not be feasible).

 

[B21]

I spoke to ECU Testing and they told me to send in just the ECU (I told them I was in Spain, sending the whole rack from here would not be feasible).

Ah..ok ..the last 2 people here in the Uk were told to send the whole rack in..local chap had tried to do it that way and ended up having to get a fresh second hand rack…

Let us know how you get on..a couple of people haven’t had the best of experiences with them..

 

[Silverstar]

Ah..ok ..the last 2 people here in the Uk were told to send the whole rack in..local chap had tried to do it that way and ended up having to get a fresh second hand rack…

Let us know how you get on..a couple of people haven’t had the best of experiences with them..

I was just reading another thread that pointed to a video on Youtube showing a bad earth to the power steering ECU, in their case when connected to diagnostics it showed no communication with the PAS ECU. This is the same in my case, when my mechanic hooked it up to his diagnostics it couldn't read the ECU and showed no communication message. I am going to ask him to take a look at the earth cable first before doing anything else.

 

[colb]

Sent only my 2.5 power steering motor to ECU Testing when mine failed, its an awful job getting it out. Its cheaper to buy their repair service using their ebay advert than going through their website. Mine was repaired by them for £300. Its just as awkward reinstalling it. No coding is required just ensure you mark the position of it on the adjustment sliding plate so it goes back in the original position.

 

[Rockhopper]

I imagine the E85 system must be different to the later cars which is why you were able to do that?

 

[B21]

I imagine the E85 system must be different to the later cars which is why you were able to do that?

The e89 electric steering is completely different to the e85 in all aspects…whether it’d feasible to remove it in situ I’m not so sure…

If I recollect I think part of the issue was just how tight the bolts were holding the ECU section..

 

[colb]

Yes mine was an E85, the E89 motor is on the rack itself which makes it more involved if ECU testing want the rack sent to them as well. Just had a look at BMW TIS for removal details, have attached a pdf.