Hey folks, newbie here... got myself a Rapid Black Edition last summer, it's been an absolute dream of a car.  Today I'm sitting minding my own business and an email drops in from the dealer's after sales team... apparently there's a service campaign for power steering control unit?  Anyone else heard of this?

 

It'll be covered under warranty apparently, I was just curious if anyone else had heard anything about it...

 

Thanks folks!

Not heard anything, but assuming this would apply just to the notchback and its hydraulic power steering, as the Spaceback has electronic power steering?

I thought they all had electric steering ?

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Yes, when I took mine in yesterday they said they were updating the computer, something to do with power steering under warranty.

I thought they all had electric steering ?

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I think they do but the system was changed when the Spaceback was launched (for all Rapids) to the motor situated on the steering column a la the Citigo.

 

Might only be newer cars which are affected therefore.

My question is how do we find out if it needs doing on our cars as well?

I thought they all had electric steering ?

Could be - blame Autocar, it's review of the Spaceback is written to suggest that the normal Rapid had mechanical hydraulic power steering, and the Spaceback has electro-hydraulic power steering.

I'm popping into my local dealer on Thursday (need to get auto locking reactivated on mum's Fabia) so will ask about the steering update.

Thanks Chris. I didn't see a top up reservoir under the bonnet of mine.

This recall also effects some Citygo model's. It's just a software update to the steering control unit due to failure of power steering.

Interesting. I'll look into it for my Citigo [emoji106]

Thanks for the tip [emoji4]

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My Rapid, 2013 model year 2014, has electro-hydraulic power steering.  I noticed the electric pump and its reservoir filling cap are below the battery tray, it is more visible if you happen to remove the nearside fog lamp and look up. They obviously don't expect you to check or fill it up, however I had a similar system on my Astra and the level never moved in 14 years of ownership!

Interesting. I'll look into it for my Citigo [emoji106]

Thanks for the tip [emoji4]

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When they did the last service on my Citigo (now sold) in Oct 2014 they replaced an engine control unit (W-Engine control unit) is stated on the invoice, FOC of course. The part number is 1S0919506 . They never mentioned this beforehand only when I picked the car up. If I remember they said it came up as an update when they ran their diagnostic gizmo.

 

So this could be related or something else.

Spoke to my local dealer - there is indeed a power steering software update that needs to be done to my Spaceback - have booked it in to have it done.

I asked and they said that it would be OK to leave till service time in about 6months

I asked and they said that it would be OK to leave till service time in about 6months

Indeed, my guys said is was not an urgent thing, but as my service was only a couple of weeks ago, it'll be a year before I'm back. Going in Thursday morning and waiting for the car - should be in and out in an hour apparently.

Edited 30 January, 201511 yr by chrisgreen

Had nothing myself, will have to ask come service time, which will not be to far away; 2.5k to go.

 

 

TP

Any SEAT owners on here had this notification?

I asked the service department at the stealers and they said no service recall or notice for my Rapid?

While the dealer confirmed mine is covered in the recall, I've still had nothing in writing from either my local dealer, the gits I bought the car from or Skoda UK about it. Will try and get some more detailed info for the group about what the update fixes etc. tomorrow when mine goes in.

I daren't ask mine yet [emoji6]

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i had mine done yesterday. Went to the shop for an oil change and asked about the recall. They checked my VIN and it was on the list.

I have to mention that I never had any problems with the steering or warnings concerning it.

Anyway, the power steering software update was done in 15 minutes. TBH I haven't noticed afterwards any change in the steering of the car.

I believe the update concerns only Rapids with electric steering and not the first ones that had electric-hydraulic assistance.

I asked the service department at the stealers and they said no service recall or notice for my Rapid?

Judging from the reg, I believe your car has electric-hydraulic steering, so it shouldn't be included in the recall.

Well, I'm here at the garage at the moment while they do mine. All very vague on what the update solves, so not much help there I'm afraid.

At the garage, they told me that there were a few incidents of assistance failure that this recall concerns.

Ok - my update has been done and I had a chat with the very helpful service manager afterwards, who showed me the service campaign memo which explains what the issue is.

Basically, some cars with electric power steering have suffered an issue on start-up where, in the event of low battery power, the power steering is significantly diminished resulting in heavy steering for the opening part of the journey. This is sometimes also paired with a Maxidot warning message, but not always. The software update prevents the power steering assembly being starved of power when the battery is low, ensuring full functionality is preserved on start-up.

I have had this issue on my car (without the Maxidot warning), but didn't realise there was anything wrong, just thought it was me.