Hi folks i am looking for a bit of advise.

 

A few months a back i had an issue with the alternator ,which cut out the power steering.

Rightly or wrongly i had to move the car from where it was without the power steering and that it involved a lot of tight turns etc.  

 

Well it prove to be a bad idea ever since the alternator issue was sorted , the steering in the car feels very looses as in i have to rotate the steering wheel a good bit more to turn than normal.

 

I have notice the situation getting worse after having to do 3-5-7 point turns in tight spaces.

 

No warning lights come on by the way.

 

I have brought it in to an unoffical skoda garage and they said it needs a new steering rack, which for the value of the car is not worth doing

 

I brought it to another garage (nothing to do with skoda) and he reckoned the joint between the steering column and the power steering motor was worn on the inside and i hence it take more of a turn on the steering wheel to engage the power steering. He did somework to supposedly fix, but after getting out of a tight spot recently the issue is as bad as ever.

 

I need to bring it in to a main dealer obviously, but i am conscious that they are gonna saw a new rack being required partly because it the easy most money earning answer.

 

Can anyone advise what else it could by if any, so that i know before bringing it in.

I must admit I too thought steering rack as soon as I started reading.

 

Don't take it to a Skoda franchised main dealer. Find a trusted local mechanic.

 

A brand new, or even good condition second hand steering rack shouldn't cost the earth.

 

See here for the part itself, I'd imagine it will be a good half a day to fit it so assume £200 labour on top?

 

http://www.eurocarparts.com/steering-rack-and-steering-mount 

 

Loads on eBay, new and used...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xskoda+octavia+steering+rack.TRS0&_nkw=skoda+octavia+steering+rack&_sacat=0

Ya i am in Ireland so everything is bit more of a rip off  , seen genuine part online going for €800 plus whatever labour is.

Its off to the main dealer soon , but  i won't be getting them to do anything on it unless its a more minor issue.