Warning, this might be quite long .....

I have an Octavia Estate (1.9TDi, 05 plate, so an early MkII (I think that's right...) ).

Just before Christmas, the power steering warning light on the dash lit up orange. According to the handbook, this means a partial failure of the power assistance (with red meaning complete failure).

I took it to the local garage (who I've used for while, and generally seem pretty good) who plugged in the computer, said it was because the torque sensor had registered excessive torque, and reset it. The light went out, but came back a couple of days later. I took it back, and they suggested replacing the torque sensor. After some deliberation, they ordered what the thought was the right part. Took it back today, to have it fitted, and they now seem to think that the car doesn't have a torque sensor!

So, has anyone had a similar experience? What is the orange light likely to mean? Does my car have a torque sensor?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a good garage / mechanic around Bristol? Taking it to the local dealer is still an option, but I'm not convinced they'll do any better......

Oh yes, throughout all of this, the steering has felt and behaved perfectly normally.

Cheers,

Ian.

I once had an issue with this light coming on! I stupidly stalled it in 3rd (going too slow for that gear) and it conked out and the light came on. When i restarted her it stayed on for a while and eventually turned off, did not notice any difference in steering ability. Since then it's never really came on and nothing has appeared! Have had it health checked twice since and no fault has been found either. If your light is continually coming up then take it to garage for further investigation, if your light doesn't come up anymore i wouldnt worry!!

Hmmmm.... well exactly that happened to me as well (light came on when I stalled it, then promptly went out) but that was a couple of years ago, so I don't think it was connected.

The light seems persistent this time. It's still on as far as I know (it's actually my wife's car, and I don't drive it very often).

No-one elase have any bright ideas? I'm reluctant to give the dealer lots of money to not fix it either, but I can't help thinking that something must have changed to make the light come on....

Cheers,

Ian.

Warning, this might be quite long .....

I have an Octavia Estate (1.9TDi, 05 plate, so an early MkII (I think that's right...) ).

Just before Christmas, the power steering warning light on the dash lit up orange. According to the handbook, this means a partial failure of the power assistance (with red meaning complete failure).

I took it to the local garage (who I've used for while, and generally seem pretty good) who plugged in the computer, said it was because the torque sensor had registered excessive torque, and reset it. The light went out, but came back a couple of days later. I took it back, and they suggested replacing the torque sensor. After some deliberation, they ordered what the thought was the right part. Took it back today, to have it fitted, and they now seem to think that the car doesn't have a torque sensor!

So, has anyone had a similar experience? What is the orange light likely to mean? Does my car have a torque sensor?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a good garage / mechanic around Bristol? Taking it to the local dealer is still an option, but I'm not convinced they'll do any better......

Oh yes, throughout all of this, the steering has felt and behaved perfectly normally.

Cheers,

Ian.

The torque sensor is internal to the rack.

If you order a new rack now they all come through as the latest FL spec and has to have a loom also. Programming it up is a bit of a long winded procedure as the FL cars now have an internal angle sensor so it has to be coded for an external one.

I have a Skoda Octavia Elegance estate May 2005 reg and have paid just under £400 for 2 new torque sensors, one from ordinary garage then found they could not reset computer on car and then had to take with stiff steering to Skoda dealer (first one faulty) who replaced sensor and, now I am told its the steering box needs replacing. Light on orange, car drives fine now. Do I put up with it or try and get it sorted?

Brilliant car to drive and comfortable but so much has gone wrong with it in the last year since buying all out of warranty. Will try swopping tyres round see if that makes a difference?

Has any one else had these problems? My son has an 04 skoda same spec, over 130000 miles on clock when bought from auction and all he has done is replace tyres, now has over 200000 miles on clock. Where am I going wrong?

Marmet

The torque sensor is internal to the rack.

If you order a new rack now they all come through as the latest FL spec and has to have a loom also. Programming it up is a bit of a long winded procedure as the FL cars now have an internal angle sensor so it has to be coded for an external one.

Many many thanks for that, I had feeling new steering rack required am just very scared of price now having spent (£1400) so much on it in last year through wear and tear and parts just breaking for no reason like alternator, then fuel was leaking from black pipes coming engine into some thing I do know what is that goes fuel tank, that had to be sorted. Glow plugs replaced and other things like two tyres punctured beyond repair. Service was good only oil service required only £90 at my normal garage after being quoted £241 from big boys.

Would any one give me guide to what price roughly what I have to save up for please? Although warning light on car drives just fine which puzzles me.

Car was bought to transport disabled Mum complete with wheel chair, zimmer frame and all the paraphalia for disabled, Mum and my kids bought it for me now I cannot afford to get rid and barely keep it going Mum now in a care home.

Marmet

Many many thanks for that, I had feeling new steering rack required am just very scared of price now having spent (£1400) so much on it in last year through wear and tear and parts just breaking for no reason like alternator, then fuel was leaking from black pipes coming engine into some thing I do know what is that goes fuel tank, that had to be sorted. Glow plugs replaced and other things like two tyres punctured beyond repair. Service was good only oil service required only £90 at my normal garage after being quoted £241 from big boys.

Would any one give me guide to what price roughly what I have to save up for please? Although warning light on car drives just fine which puzzles me.

Car was bought to transport disabled Mum complete with wheel chair, zimmer frame and all the paraphalia for disabled, Mum and my kids bought it for me now I cannot afford to get rid and barely keep it going Mum now in a care home.

Marmet

Can no one give me a rough idea of price please for a new steering rack for Skoda Octavia? Marmet

same issue here..yellow light stays on fault code is torque sensor...steering however works perfectly!! any fix?

I have had this also recently, still happening.

Have had a vRS for 2 years, been fine no problems.

About 3 weeks ago went right around a corner, power steering (orange light), tyre pressure light and ESP switched off light all came on together.

The lights stay on until ignition switched off, and stay on when ignition on, until you drive in a straight line for 50 yards, then power steering light goes off and the tyre pressure and ESP light go off a minute or so after.

This keeps happening, and always following a sharp(ish) right turn.

The car drives fine, no difference at all from normal.

Any ideas? Don't want to get ripped off by dealer for expensive new parts if it is only the sensor playing up.

Next service is November, inclined to leave it until then, it might sort itself out?

EDIT: forgot to mention, it's a petrol, and I have tried the full lock fix as in other threads - didn't work.

Edited 30 August, 201114 yr by rangrat

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.

Looks like you will have to replace your Steering Rack with an updated one. As far as I understand the torque sensor comes as a part of the steering rack and is not available separate to buy.