**Resolved** Power steering light on after service /oil change

[alane29]

Hello

I jacked up the car as i would normally for 6 monthly oil service ,drained the oil changed filter filled with oil etc and lowered the car onto the deck .
I then ran the engine to get the oil circulating shut it off checked level started engine again and noticed the power steering light is on and the steering is very heavy .
I have read about steering issues on these electric streering but i have never had any issues in the past .

I have checked underneath and i cant see that i disturbed anything ,i also reset the ecu by disconnecting the battery ,still the same i read the codes with my basic reader buit nothing .

Anyone got any other suggestions

 

[dario]

could you have bent the steering rack when lifting the car, and this is being sensed as excess torque?

 

[fixit man]

One op. a few months ago had a similar problem after hitting a kerb, turned out a connector had come off at the steering column , worth a look !

 

[alane29]

could you have bent the steering rack when lifting the car, and this is being sensed as excess torque?

I think I may have I only jacked one side I also checked the bushes on the suspension and steering while underneath ,
whats the fix getting someone to read the code and reset it ?? or more serious ?

 

[alane29]

Any recommendations for someone in south London who could read / reset this for me ??

 

[dario]

when mine failed on my e85 after a year or so of ownership, it didn't need resetting. I turned on and off the ignition a few times (mine failed when i was driving it by the way, and it was super heavy to steer!.

try driving it a little (be careful and all that) it might clear itself.

You never know

 

[SamUK]

My light came on recently...but it was battery / alternator related..

Alternator powers the powersteering ...my steering also went heavy...but if I reved the car it would go light and lights would go away...this eventually stopped working...alternator died...

 

[alane29]

thanks for the advise ,the battery is new within last 6 months .Havent had time to have a proper look due to the crap weather

 

[alane29]

update 19/1/2015-
ok I tried reading the code myself using the bmcables software and received the message "unable to connect to module " I could connect to other modules as I have in the past .
For a second opinion and fearing I was doing something wrong I called a diagnostic specialist he came and got the same message .
So the only option I have (apart from paying dealer prices for a new column) is to remove the column and have it refurbished I was quoted £395 from BAA Reman in Mainstone kent who seem like a reputable outfit .
I have considered checking the torque sensor as someone has written a guide on here but its a long shot as I suspect the module itself is faulty considering its not giving a code .

anyone got any thoughts ??

 

[TonyP]

Nothing to lose by disconnecting the battery now, give the electrics chance to discharge properly by leaving it disconnected for a while, disconnecting the battery may give the effect of a reboot & the module may be visible again.

 

[alane29]

hi yes I tried that I disconnected the battery and left it for half hour -no difference

 

[Fastatv]

One op. a few months ago had a similar problem after hitting a kerb, turned out a connector had come off at the steering column , worth a look !

Did you have a look at this?

 

[MACK]

One op. a few months ago had a similar problem after hitting a kerb, turned out a connector had come off at the steering column , worth a look !

Did you have a look at this?

could well be this, or something similar, particularly as scanners cannot connect to the module at all

 

[alane29]

One op. a few months ago had a similar problem after hitting a kerb, turned out a connector had come off at the steering column , worth a look !

Did you have a look at this?

could well be this, or something similar, particularly as scanners cannot connect to the module at all

Thanks again , i will strip the plastic off the column at the weekend before i do anything drastic like removing it and check for any connection issues

 

[alane29]

Small update I checked all connections and nothing had come loose,I have now removed the complete steering column and will be sending it away for testing / refurbishment.
I was also wondering if I fitted a 2nd hand unit which I have seen on ebay is it plug and play or would it need coding to the car ..?

 

[MACK]

it needs coding i believe and needs to have been locked in place when removed

 

[alane29]

Yea the one I looked at has been locked prior to removal

 

[alane29]

Ok so its finally sorted .

I removed the steering column and motor which was a big job took me almost 4 hours ,now ive done it once probably could do it in 2 hours .

Then i took it to a power steering specialist in Tamworth who had it for a week and refurbished it costing £400 + vat and yesterday i reinstalled it which took about 2 hours .
And everything is runnning smooth, steering feels very smooth indeed all the internals of the column have been greased ,the issue was in the ecu/electronic box attached to the column .
Considering BMW want 1800+vat for that job i am considering myself lucky i was able to resolve it .

 

[MACK]

Ok so its finally sorted .

I removed the steering column and motor which was a big job took me almost 4 hours ,now ive done it once probably could do it in 2 hours .

Then i took it to a power steering specialist in Tamworth who had it for a week and refurbished it costing £400 + vat and yesterday i reinstalled it which took about 2 hours .
And everything is runnning smooth, steering feels very smooth indeed all the internals of the column have been greased ,the issue was in the ecu/electronic box attached to the column .
Considering BMW want 1800+vat for that job i am considering myself lucky i was able to resolve it .

Good stuff, glad you got it sorted. might me worth naming the specialist in case others would like to use them in the future.

 

[alane29]

i used , www.acspowersteering.co.uk ,there website says 48 hour turnaround but they took a week to do mine ,but the service was good and it came with a 24month warranty