C4 Power Steering Fault

[flibblewibble]

Hi all,

 

Newbie here.  I've got a 55 plate C4 hatchback (1.6 sx) and amongst the many problems the car serves up is one with the power steering.

 

I took it into a main dealer in January as I was experiencing intermittent failure of the power steering on starting the car.  They diagnosed fault codes C1204 and C1206 and said electrical fault and replaced the car fuse box for a princely £400.

 

Roll on 2 months and the problem is still there.  I've now at least understood the symptoms better.  Basically the power steering only fails after the car has been driven for a decent journey - 30 minutes plus.  It doesn't have an issue whilst driving but as soon as you stop and turn off the engine and restart, the power steering is clearly off as the steering is very heavy.  If the car is left for a while and then restarted, the power steering is back on again.  I suspect that heat within the engine area might be causing the issue.

 

Anyway I have next to no faith in the dealers ability to fix this problem without charging me £100s more.  Has anyone come across this before or have any idea of what it might be?

 

Thanks,

Flib

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

The car has an electric pump for the power steering which takes signals from the ecu. Possibly the pump wiring or its electrical connector are faulty and need a check or maybe the pump needs replacing. Check the steering oil level but also check the car battery voltage since if low this has been known to give faults like this with an electric pump on the C5.

[flibblewibble]

Thanks,

It's definitely not the fluid level as that i have checked. i suspect not a battery issue as the battery is relatively new though i havent checked the battery voltage.

If it is the pump electrical connector is that relatively simple to remove, clean and reconnect?

[paul.h]

I have not done this but the Haynes manual for pump removal gives:

1. Remove the windscreen washer fluid reservoir from inside the right-hand front wheel arch as described in Chapter 12, Section 16.

2. Release the locking clips and disconnect the power steering pump wiring plug connectors (see illustration). Unclip the wiring loom from the pump bracket and move it to one side.

It then continues to remove the pump.

 

Have a look at the pump and see if the 2 connectors can be seen without doing 1. It may just need the connectors removing, checking to see the pins are not corroded and then putting them back.