My yellow steering warning light has come on The steering is still working fine.

My local garage (not Skoda but very capable) has used a Snap-On Modus Scantool to find an Error code of “00573 - Sensor Steering Torque - not plausible signal”.

The helpline the garage uses, says the fault is on sensor no G269 which is the Steering Moment Sensor. This part comes only as part of a full steering rack at £628 +VAT+labour. So it will be over £1000 just to sort a little yellow light on a car that is going perfectly and has only done 35K miles!

Anyone else some across this fault? Can I be certain it is this sensor and is it really not available by itself? Should I go to a Skoda dealer?

Any advice would be very welcome.

This happened to me when I disconnected the battery to fit a new stereo. Driving up the road in a straight line for a few hundred yards sorted it.

I guess though that since you've made it all the way to the garage with the light on it's a more than just a disconnected battery :(

Do you have breakdown cover? They may be able to offer a second opinion for nothing.

The light came on whilst I was driving and has stayed on ever since.

When the fault was scanned the warning light was reset but the it came on the moment the steering was turned.

I do not think my breakdown cover will include this fault diagnosis.

Thats a heavy price might be worth trying Skoda to see about this.

The steering angle sensor is changeable on the Fabia, I expect the same to be true of the Octy.

The problem is that my faulty sensor appears to be part of the steering rack itself, whereas the Steering Angle Sensor is behind the steering wheel.

I need to find if this is correct. It had occurred to me to replace the SA Sensor, which is relatively cheap, in the hope that it might cure the problem but I would like to get the view of an "expert" first.

I would suggest getting a specialist to look at it before you part with cash. Someone with VAS or VCDS can most likely make a better diagnosis.

00573 - Ross-Tech Wiki also has some ideas.

Not sure where in Hampshire you are but JKM in Portsmouth are very good.

Thanks Stu

I have decided to get a second opinion, this time from a Skoda dealer. I will be interested in what they have to say and I will post the result on the forum.

I am not that far from Portsmouth so I will make a note of JKM for possible future use.

park on flat ground with steering straight, turn full lock right, full lock left and then put back to middle (for straight). shoudl remove the light etc.

I got a second opinion form a Skoda dealer and the answer was exactly the same i.e. it IS the sensor ON the steering rack and £1000+ to rectify.

However, the yellow light has now been on for 5 months and the car and steering both appear to be working perfectly.

My only concern in leaving things as they are, is this:

I added ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) when I bought the car and I presume this sensor sends signals to the ESP system. So in the event of something like a violent swerve to avoid an accident, will the (faulty?) sensor omit sending a vital signal that will screw up the ESP and thus make it react incorrectly? Highly technical matter I know but anyone like to comment?

Thanks Stu

I have decided to get a second opinion, this time from a Skoda dealer. I will be interested in what they have to say and I will post the result on the forum.

I am not that far from Portsmouth so I will make a note of JKM for possible future use.

May be worth trying here for a repair?

Service Procedure Power Steering Services

Have any of the garages in question checked the wiring?

Personally if the steering sensor failed that early on I'd be having words with your dealer about getting goodwill from skoda or taking it to an indy dealer.

There is always the option of taking out a 3rd party warantee and waiting a couple of months to claim for a faulty sensor - especialy as you can still use the car. Could be £300 well spent to save £700

There is always the option of taking out a 3rd party warantee and waiting a couple of months to claim for a faulty sensor - especialy as you can still use the car. Could be £300 well spent to save £700

Not happening as they all want to see previous service history from the garage, MOT and you can't claim for certain things in the first three months. THey also want to know when the fault was first reported.

I don't think a garage will lie for you on that front.

Have any of the garages in question checked the wiring?

Personally if the steering sensor failed that early on I'd be having words with your dealer about getting goodwill from skoda or taking it to an indy dealer.

No one has suggested checking the wiring - I do not know how accessible the sensor is.

Skoda UK declined to make a goodwill contribution to the repair.

No one has suggested checking the wiring - I do not know how accessible the sensor is.

Skoda UK declined to make a goodwill contribution to the repair.

Get the wiring checked by an indy specialist as a loose pin, damaged wire, or crud in the connector could throw the voltage off and give the appearance of a faulty sensor.

I assume the fact that skoda offers no goodwill means you have not always had it serviced at a main dealer?

How old is the car, because if it is less than 6 years old (typically accepted as reasonable time) then I would describe the car as not fit for purpose with such an expensive "safety critical" fault.

If you do go down that route then you would have to speak to trading standards regarding your rights as they depend on a number of things. To be fair you're almost certainly better off going to a dealer or finding an Octy II at a scrap dealer to get a replacement rack off.

I do know that skospares has one, but it was quite well front ended, so you would have to check if the rack was ok or damaged.

Get the wiring checked by an indy specialist as a loose pin, damaged wire, or crud in the connector could throw the voltage off and give the appearance of a faulty sensor.

I assume the fact that skoda offers no goodwill means you have not always had it serviced at a main dealer?.

Thanks for the comments. It had occurred to me that it could be a wiring fault so I will probably get this checked out - if the sensor is accessible. If not I will eventually go for a new rack.

Since the warranty expired I have had the car serviced at an indy garage so that is probably why Skoda UK were not interested.

did you get anywhere with this?

I have the same problem, the light came on some four years ago at which point I took the vehicle to DMKeith in Leeds for a check. They rang me to say 'no problem with the steering, just a faulty sensor' I told them to replace the sensor, 'I don't think you're going to want to do that sir, it's a £1200 job' Needless to say I left it.

Every year since then, they point out the fault and I tell them the story. Now, though, the light being on is a fail. I have driven around 60k with it on, I know there is no fault with the steering.

I rang VoSA, on discussion it turns out that if the light is flashing or on then the MOT should be a fail but if the sensor is defective or inoperable then there should be no fail. I contend that the sensor is at fault even though the light is on, four years of trouble free driving seem to back this up, VoSA have suggested a further up to date diagnostic from the dealer and a report saying the sensor is in fault state and then I should ring them back and they'll see what my options are.

That's unusual for VOSA to be reasonable.

I have exactly the same problem at the moment, and I followed the tips on here but to no to no avail. Took it to the local Indy who diagnosed the torque sensor and quoted me a similar price of £1200. Luckily I had taken out a policy with Motorway Direct (luckily they couldn't use the wear and tear get out!!) and they are footing the bill and I just have to pay the excess.

Also if you don't get it resolved and then you come to sell it, I don't think many people are going to buy a car with "faulty power steering."

To solve this, with the engine running, simply rotate the steering to extreme left, then rotate it to extreme right and voilá, warning lights off. Might need to try it twice.  

 

This very simple remedy worked for me. Our problem occurred after we replaced the alternator. Needing to disconnect the battery proved to cause the problem. Doing a search online came up with the very simple explanation. Too simple I thought, but it worked! The reason the warning light went on is to do with disconnecting the battery for more than a particular time lapse (apparently 30 minutes). In doing so, it loses the steering angle sensor calibration (or setting or whatever).

 

I hope this can help heaps of people to avoid costly and unnecessary repairs. 

To solve this, with the engine running, simply rotate the steering to extreme left, then rotate it to extreme right and voilá, warning lights off. Might need to try it twice.

This very simple remedy worked for me. Our problem occurred after we replaced the alternator. Needing to disconnect the battery proved to cause the problem. Doing a search online came up with the very simple explanation. Too simple I thought, but it worked! The reason the warning light went on is to do with disconnecting the battery for more than a particular time lapse (apparently 30 minutes). In doing so, it loses the steering angle sensor calibration (or setting or whatever).

I hope this can help heaps of people to avoid costly and unnecessary repairs.

The proper process for the steering limit stop adaption is a little more nuanced but essentially you are correct.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Golf_(1K)_Steering_Assist#Steering_Limit_Stop_Adaptation

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I had to put a new battery in and when I restarted this light came on. I immediately panicked, I read the comments and drive the car for about 100 yards and the light went out. 

Thanks for all the brilliant comments (as usual).