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Author Topic: Red steering wheel  (Read 7681 times)

Offline 80walk

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Red steering wheel
« on: January 20, 2018, 05:19:13 pm »
Just changed front spring today and when finished started car and got 3 beeps and red light on the dash .... any ideas ? Tried disconnecting battery for few mins but hasn't made any difference ... even drove for a short distance but no difference
Thanks

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2018, 05:42:10 pm »
That’s the dreaded power steering sign mate
Did you whack the track rod end off when you removed to install springs?

Offline 80walk

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2018, 07:39:53 pm »
Thanks for reply .... dunno about whacking it but it was off obviously, what would that have done ? Anything do get it back to normal ?

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2018, 08:07:46 pm »
Check fluid level

Offline 80walk

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2018, 08:18:42 pm »
Ok thanks, Why would fluid level have went down ? Car drove perfectly before working on it to change spring

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2018, 08:59:52 pm »
 I have no idea as it was just a suggestion  :signLOL:

I replaced full front and rear shocks springs trailing arms last week and never had an issue and all lights went off even before I drove off which was weird as ABS sensor was plugged off when doing this.

Did you disturb anything else? Is PS hard now?

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2018, 09:15:59 pm »
Thanks for reply .... dunno about whacking it but it was off obviously, what would that have done ? Anything do get it back to normal ?
Do you still have power steering?
There is no fluid for the power steering, it’s electronic.
Whacking the end off instead of prying it off can cause damage to the rack.
I had a knocking on my motor which I couldn’t figure out, it’s only when my rack failed and changed it I realised my steering rack was on its way out.

Get it scanned with vcds, mine had a steering torque sensor fault when it happened

Offline 80walk

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2018, 07:12:27 am »
Torque sensor fault code came up yeah ... handy enough job to install ? Any specific programming / coding required ? Nightmare ....

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Offline 80walk

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2018, 08:14:24 pm »
Thanks for all replies, appreciate the help....
is it safe to drive a car whilst the powering steering isn't working ? I know it's heavy but gonna will need to drive it to a garage.

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2018, 09:58:25 pm »
You'll be fine if you have strong arms

Offline pudding

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2018, 03:35:17 pm »
You will certainly get strong(er) arms afterwards!

It's a good point about thumping the hub to detach the tie rod.   Probably even less of a good idea with ally hubs!


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2018, 04:50:25 pm »
I drove without power steering for a couple of days, just hope you don’t have to parallel park

Offline Octoparrot

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2018, 07:32:46 pm »
The extra heaviness wasn't a problem for me but the lack of self centring was a bit disconcerting

Offline 80walk

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Re: Red steering wheel
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2018, 10:42:26 am »
bit of an update ... picked car up this morning all fixed. New rack required.

Question .... is the steering weight in a GTI any different to standard golf ? maybe just cause ive been driving diff car recently that it seems lighter to me than what it was .... maybe the older steering rack was on its way out ... thanks