Intermittent Power Steering problem

Hello All

Very odd problem now.

Suddenly, in mid-turn, my power steering failed. With VERY heavy steering I was able to make the short journey home. Started and re-started the engine, left it for a few hours and the problem remained. Checked the fuses and all are OK.

Following day, called out the breakdown home assistance via the insurance company - and the steering problem was gone, making me look a right lemon

Now what do I do? If I take it to my trusted local garage they won't be able to diagnose the problem unless it occurs again. The next time it happens, say on country roads at fairly high speed it could be downright dangerous.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Many thanks

Sorry don't know how to help, but c3 is well known for this problems.

If i were you - i would reset the BSI first. Of course this doesnt look like bsi controlled thing, it would be stupid to programm that ecu could turn off it, but well.who knows maybe it would help.

open your bonnet
open drivers door window.
ignition on
off
shut the doors (go outside the car)
wait 3minutes.
disconnect battery +
wait 3mins
connect battery
wait 15secs
via driver's window switch lamps on (you will hear GONG sound..)
switch ignition on.

that's it. this is the reset procedure.

As tomasa says, resetting the BSI will probably get the power steering back.

BSI reset

But it won't fix the problem.

I have had the power steering fail occasionally over the years, always at low speed and a restart of the engine clears it, but some times it needed several attempts. I guess I have been lucky.

The EPS electronic power steering relies on several other system of the car to function, like the ABS for speed sensing (or gearbox speed sensor). If I was concerned that there is an underlying fault, I would have a look at the wiring to the EPS ECU.

Citroen C3 EPS ECU behind the battery


Then I would do some diagnostics (get codes) with LEXIA. This can show all the logged faults which may help identify a problem.

Thanks for your replies chaps. Now I know faults are actually recorded I'll take it in to my local garage (assuming they have Lexia). I'll let you know what they find.

Diagnostics reports an intermittent problem with the Steering rack motor. I'm now hunting round for prices. Citroen quote £1158+VAT

Any advice on where to go for Citroen spares, I'd rather buy new than from a breakers.

Or you can try another Euro Car Parts store much cheaper than Citroen and you even get some money back if you send them the old one

Intermitent faults have a good chance to be an earth problem, check all and sundry before spending money. Many people change parts and they work just because the earth has been moved.

My next door neighbour has an 02 C3 1.4 HDI.
A while ago his car was very slow at cranking over on cold mornings and he had intermitant power steering.
A new battery cured both problems.

With they type of electrical system we have on the C3 low battery output can cause all sorts of mayhem.
I think when the battery gets weak the voltage drops right off when cranking the engine and the electronics shut down briefly as the voltage drops, before the engine fires up.

Hi, This battery theory seems odd to me. I had a bad battery and eventually changed it, perhaps unnecessarily, and never had steering problems. When the engine is running, there is more than enough output from the alternator, the voltage corresponding to more than a fully charged battery. Therefore, the battery plays little part in the steering supply.
This assumes, of course, that the alternator is ok. and can hold up to the current demand.

This assumes, of course, that the alternator is ok. and can hold up to the current demand

Maybe it is just the disconnecting and cleaning (or fitting a battery with clean) terminals clears the high resistance that could be causing problems with the current passing, which is enough to get the power steering happy with the range of volts/amps is being fed?

Quite a few of the C3 electrical problems are fixed by cleaning or making good the electrical connections to things.