Alto power steering woes. EDIT : Solved

ridinthru' · 29th January 2010, 20:51

Folks,

I'm having a problem with my ALto LXI Jan'07 model (with electronic power steering) which has covered 59000 kms. Just got the alignment/balancing done 2 days ago, apperently the vehicle was fine the 1st day but yesterday I noticed that suddenly the steering's become to heavy to handle, the turn response has reduced (after taking a turn, the steering wheel is not spinning back as it should and I've got to pull it back to straight position). On the road, whenever I swerve the steering to either side the steering isn't coming back to it's normal position and I have to bring it back..!!!
Went to the alignment guy to get it checked and after a TD he suggested I take it to MASS as per him the power steering not responding and faulty.
The alignment guy also stated that the problem with the PS is on the left front wheel only

.. Would appreciate if the gurus could shed some light on what the problem could be with the PS.

aaggoswami · 29th January 2010, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridinthru'

Folks,

I'm having a problem with my ALto LXI Jan'07 model (with electronic power steering) which has covered 59000 kms. Just got the alignment/balancing done 2 days ago, apperently the vehicle was fine the 1st day but yesterday I noticed that suddenly the steering's become to heavy to handle, the turn response has reduced (after taking a turn, the steering wheel is not spinning back as it should and I've got to pull it back to straight position). On the road, whenever I swerve the steering to either side the steering isn't coming back to it's normal position and I have to bring it back..!!!
Went to the alignment guy to get it checked and after a TD he suggested I take it to MASS as per him the power steering not responding and faulty.
The alignment guy also stated that the problem with the PS is on the left front wheel only .. Would appreciate if the gurus could shed some light on what the problem could be with the PS.

Was there any problem before you got the alignment/balancing done ? I think the steering comes back due to castor, so PS may not be the issue. To the best of my knowledge, its nothing but castor that leads to steering coming back to its normal position.

I remember one example given by some other member. The example was wheels of hospital stretcher wheels.

PS : I am not a guru, just giving a possibility. I think everything was well till you got the alignment job done, so its good enough to start tracing the problem from there itself.

Vid6639 · 29th January 2010, 21:49

Check the fuse for the electric power steering. The fuse on rare occasions can blow.

But wait then you should get the EPS faulty light. Hmmmm.

Better take it to a MASS and have then connect the scanner.

ridinthru' · 29th January 2010, 22:21

aaggoswami - Thanks for your reply, the steering was perfect before I got the alignment/balancing done.. I too believe that the problem has cropped up from the way the alignment was done, hence I took the car to the alignment guy today...

vid6639 - Guess you're right...maybe I should run over to MASS to get the car scanned....thanks for the help !!

ridinthru' · 30th January 2010, 01:29

Folks,

I went to Apra Auto sec-14 gurgaon, they have a 24*7 MASS. Stated the problem, Got a TD, the guys there said it's due to the way the alignment has been done, the camber and had been adjusted too hard aka the torque applied was way to much and hence the stiffness and heaviness in the steering. They adjusted the camber and then took another TD... the steering was back to its original light feather feel

.. I'm happily back from the MASS with a better and normal PS that too without any cost..

Thanks to fellow BHPians for their inputs...can have a sound sleep now without any worries..!!

humyum · 30th January 2010, 01:39

He has tightened the 'Damper' nuts in the steering system. Hence the heavy steering and non returning. Go to your 'MASS' and ask them to adjust the damper nuts.

ridinthru' · 30th January 2010, 01:53

Went to Apra Auto Sec14, they've got 24*7 MASS. Told them my problem, the guys took a TD, checked the alignment and yes it was the damper nuts... the alignment guys had tightened it with too much torque, the MASS guy adjusted it correctly, took a TD and yes the steering is back to normal...light and comfortable...

Thanks to fellow BHPians for their inputs..now I can go to sleep without any worries, plus the MASS guys didn't charge me a penny for their service..

29th January 2010, 20:51	#1
ridinthru' BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: roaming Posts: 134 Thanked: 20 Times	Alto power steering woes. EDIT : Solved Folks, I'm having a problem with my ALto LXI Jan'07 model (with electronic power steering) which has covered 59000 kms. Just got the alignment/balancing done 2 days ago, apperently the vehicle was fine the 1st day but yesterday I noticed that suddenly the steering's become to heavy to handle, the turn response has reduced (after taking a turn, the steering wheel is not spinning back as it should and I've got to pull it back to straight position). On the road, whenever I swerve the steering to either side the steering isn't coming back to it's normal position and I have to bring it back..!!! Went to the alignment guy to get it checked and after a TD he suggested I take it to MASS as per him the power steering not responding and faulty. The alignment guy also stated that the problem with the PS is on the left front wheel only .. Would appreciate if the gurus could shed some light on what the problem could be with the PS.
	(1) Thanks

29th January 2010, 21:49	#3
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,709 Thanked: 44,136 Times View My Garage	Check the fuse for the electric power steering. The fuse on rare occasions can blow. But wait then you should get the EPS faulty light. Hmmmm. Better take it to a MASS and have then connect the scanner.
	(1) Thanks

29th January 2010, 22:21	#4
ridinthru' BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: roaming Posts: 134 Thanked: 20 Times	aaggoswami - Thanks for your reply, the steering was perfect before I got the alignment/balancing done.. I too believe that the problem has cropped up from the way the alignment was done, hence I took the car to the alignment guy today... vid6639 - Guess you're right...maybe I should run over to MASS to get the car scanned....thanks for the help !!
	(1) Thanks

30th January 2010, 01:29	#5
ridinthru' BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: roaming Posts: 134 Thanked: 20 Times	Update - problem solved Folks, I went to Apra Auto sec-14 gurgaon, they have a 24*7 MASS. Stated the problem, Got a TD, the guys there said it's due to the way the alignment has been done, the camber and had been adjusted too hard aka the torque applied was way to much and hence the stiffness and heaviness in the steering. They adjusted the camber and then took another TD... the steering was back to its original light feather feel .. I'm happily back from the MASS with a better and normal PS that too without any cost.. Thanks to fellow BHPians for their inputs...can have a sound sleep now without any worries..!!
	(1) Thanks

30th January 2010, 01:39	#6
humyum Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,825 Thanked: 5,849 Times	He has tightened the 'Damper' nuts in the steering system. Hence the heavy steering and non returning. Go to your 'MASS' and ask them to adjust the damper nuts.
	(2) Thanks

30th January 2010, 01:53	#7
ridinthru' BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: roaming Posts: 134 Thanked: 20 Times	Update - problem solved Went to Apra Auto Sec14, they've got 24*7 MASS. Told them my problem, the guys took a TD, checked the alignment and yes it was the damper nuts... the alignment guys had tightened it with too much torque, the MASS guy adjusted it correctly, took a TD and yes the steering is back to normal...light and comfortable... Thanks to fellow BHPians for their inputs..now I can go to sleep without any worries, plus the MASS guys didn't charge me a penny for their service..
	(1) Thanks