As experienced at Combe. When driving "at pace" and needing to corner, the car's PAS goes all kinds of wrong. Firstly there is a massive voltage drop, then the PAS appears to die, and the steering becomes ultra stiff to turn - very dangerous, especially on Castle Combe as I found out yesterday. I also experienced a "CLUNK" which almost felt like it took some power as well

Once I slow down and do some slow turns, say when parking, the PAS comes back online and the light goes out on the dash. Could the pump just not be coping with the demands at higher speeds? Anyone else think a new PAS pump is the place to start? The one in my car is the original.

Oh, and if it matters, recently had a new PAS rack fitted.

It could be the pump as they draw quite a bit of current, when you are giving it the beans around corners there will be a lot more energy and effort going through the system. perhaps if the pump is taking too much current for too long a time the ECU is detecting an over pressure or out of spec reading and shutting the system down until things return to normality.

Alternatively it could be the voltage drop that is causing the system to drop out as a fail safe to protect the other cars systems. Have you checked the alternator and battery to see if they are healthy?

Ian

Have you checked the resistance of the small (main) earth lead that goes from the batttery negative terminal to the inner wing strut tower ???

The wifes 2006 fabia vrs had PAS voltage related issues (that Skoda could not trace), problem went away approx 4 weeks ago after changing the earth lead.

To the naked eye the lead looked to be in perfect condition but registered a small resistance and a voltage drop, which would increase as the lead heated up when a load was placed on the battery.

The new lead looks like its been modified/improved compared to the original designe.

Bill.

Jasons battery is in the boot, this is where I reckon the problem lies.

I am also getting an error in the PAS section about not being to correlate something.

I should also perhaps point out that during my "leaky" rack issue, before the rack was changed, I used (on the poor advice of someone...) ATF instead of PAS fluid to top up the reservoir. The leak then got pretty bad so I got the replacement rack fitted with fresh (proper...) PAS fluid, and a new angle sensor, and only then did these symptoms start. The battery has been in the boot for nearly 3 or 4 years, so I can't see a sudden problem arising on that side. It could though. I just am starting now to suspect the few weeks the PAS system ran on ATF could have killed it? Even when working I would argue there is definitely not a smooth action when turning the wheel - whatever makes the PAS work just isn't doing it in a smooth, precise manner.

Yes the pump won't have liked the ATF at all.

Yes the pump won't have liked the ATF at all.

A new pump might solve the PAS issue

Yes the pump won't have liked the ATF at all.

Cool - Always good to get the tech1e confirmation. Yet another lesson learned the hard way. Fingers crossed I can get a replacement pump in before my next track outing which is PPC in the Park end of May.

Whats the difference between ATF and PAS fluid? Just wondering as another forum I am on say they are the same.... I doubt they are really.

The VAG fluid is a mineral fluid.

In a lot of cars they do use ATF as PAS fluid, just not ours.

ATF fluid is Automatic Transmission Fluid..... (for automatic gear boxes)... PAS Power Steering Fluid.... I know that they are basicly oils or hydrallic fluids... but no way should they be mis-used!! They all have different properties, viscous, thickness, load, etc...