Just wondering whether anyone had noticed play in their steering. The last couple of times I've been on fast dual carriageways I've noticed that there is definite lost movement in the wheel. It's not much but it's quite disconcerting. When I got home today I compared it against my wife's Fabia. There's no lost movement on her's but there is a couple of degrees of lost movement on mine. Mine is in on Thursday for the wiper linkage so there is going to be a discussion with the dealer.

Edited 26 August, 20178 yr by peter3197

Hi Peter3197

 

Have you both got the same Fabia with the same tyre size?

Have you checked your tyre pressures?

Are your front tyres feathering indicating your tracking might be out?

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks AG Falco.

Same tyre tyre size, no feathering whatsoever, tyre pressures correct. Can't see how any of those would affect lost motion on the steering wheel, before the wheels turn.

A low tyre pressure in the front tyres will slow turn in/response time.

what size tyres and what pressure do you run?

 

Thanks AG Falco.

 

3 minutes ago, AGFalco said:

A low tyre pressure in the front tyres will slow turn in/response time.

 

 

 

 

I agree with you but if you look at the road wheel itself and not the tyre and it does not move immediately when you turn the steering wheel there is a problem.

You may have hit a curbstone or the like. May have affected camber, toe-in/out or whatever. Have it checked.

 

None of those things would affect the the fact that turning the steering wheel does not immediately turn the front road wheels. You can move it 5mm each way from centre without the front wheels moving. 

Does it feel loose? Could be something in the steering column -- faulty universal joint, something up with the PAS gearbox, ...

 

Doesn't happen on mine so don't let them fob you off by claiming they found another that did.

Edited 26 August, 20178 yr by ettlz

7 minutes ago, ettlz said:

Does it feel loose? Could be something in the steering column -- faulty universal joint, something up with the PAS gearbox, ...

 

Doesn't happen on mine so don't let them fob you off by claiming they found another that did.

They won't fob me off, my other Fabia doesn't do it and nor did this one up to a month ago. Nothing actually feels loose but there is a silent knock as you turn the wheel back and forth  without the road wheels turning. In town it's not a problem as there is a lot of assistance from the PAS but at over 50 mph the steering feels very strange. It is very obvious with engine off, stationary.

Hi Peter3197

 

Sounds like free play in either the inner tie rod or outer track rod end.

Can you jack up both front wheels and try to move the wheels from side to side.

Hold the road wheel at nine and three o clock and move the road wheel .

Don't forget to have the engine off but the steering lock also free. 

I would not expect excess play with a car this young unless it has done many miles.

If one of the ball joint rubber covers has split/cut the wear will set in quicker.

 

Thanks AG Falco.

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, AGFalco said:

Hi Peter3197

 

Sounds like free play in either the inner tie rod or outer track rod end.

Can you jack up both front wheels and try to move the wheels from side to side.

Hold the road wheel at nine and three o clock and move the road wheel .

Don't forget to have the engine off but the steering lock also free. 

I would not expect excess play with a car this young unless it has done many miles.

If one of the ball joint rubber covers has split/cut the wear will set in quicker.

 

Thanks AG Falco.

 

 

 

 

I'd be careful doing that at home. Rather, let the dealer do their thing. They will put the car on the ramp and engage a free wheel device to allow the front wheels to be turned lock to lock safely clear of the ground. They'll identify the problem easily doing that. It could be a number of things that should be easy to fix.  

I'm not going into this myself. I have a feeling this is either the rack itself or the the UJ at the bottom of the steering column as there is the same amount of play either side of dead central.

Peter

forget the endless guessology list - people are not understanding what you mean by lost movement.

I appreciate fully what you are describing - yes you do have a problem, ensure earliest visit to the dealer, and dont accept a "their all like that"' answer. If not resolved, get in touch with Skoda UK without delay.

Hope all goes well.

Forgot to mention that most steering UJ's have a pinch bolt at both ends of the component- tightness of these should be checked without delay. Having said that, I have to admit that I am not familiar with the present Mk111 system - but feel sure the same applies. I googled MK111 UJ's only to be met with a page full of differing types (most of which have pinch bolts)

Keep us all up to date with progress.

Thanks 2ndskoda, the nearest analogy I have got for this is the steering on a boat, you turn the wheel and 10 seconds later the boat starts to turn. Obviously not as severe as that but that gives the gist of it. If the car had a steering box instead of rack and pinion, you expect a bit of play but rack and pinion systems don't have play.

Peter 3197

from your latest post, it would appear that we might be discussing two differing scenarios.

 

If the pinch bolt(s) are loose, then there is an easy check. With the car ignition off and vehicle stationary - then is the time to slightly turn the wheel marginally both ways. There is a distinct feeling if loose. As I say, from your last post it may be another problem yet to be identified.

 

Also keep in mind that if the dealer uses his plug in diagnoser - he can vary the assistance settings / or check that it is set to default (IE recommended setting)

Edited 28 August, 20178 yr by 2ndskoda

2ndskoda.

There is a distinct notchniness both ways prior to the road wheels moving. I suppose that you could say the steering wheel is slightly slack around the ahead position which is what you are saying I think.

Is the steering not electric? On my Mk III the steering wheel is rock solid with the engine off. If you have mechanical play over arc of 10mm there is a problem. As 2ndSkoda says.....a visit to the dealer pdq.

 

Apologies 'rock solid' is too definitive. There is very slight play...against resistance both ways, feels as though you are forcing movement against rubber stops. Absolutely not 'slop' or free movement.

Edited 28 August, 20178 yr by alltorque
Correction

Hello Peter3197

 

We are all wondering how the trip to the dealers went?

Can you give us an update at this stage?

34 minutes ago, 2ndskoda said:

Hello Peter3197

 

We are all wondering how the trip to the dealers went?

Can you give us an update at this stage?

Unsatisfactorily really. They couldn't find anything wrong until I demonstrated it to them at 4pm when I went to get the car. They are still dubious as to there being anything wrong but they are having it back next Friday to sort the windscreen wipers finally, see my other recent thread for that ongoing saga, and take it for a run up the A14 at a steady high speed to find the movement then. In the srvice manager's words, "I wouldn't be bothered with a bit of play as described at standstill but I would at 70mph". He's actually a fair bloke, from previous experience with him, so I think it will get sorted. They will have the car for 2 weeks as I'm leaving it with them while I go on holiday.

Peter3197 - has your problem been resolved as I am having a very similar problem and would be very interested in the answer. 

On 3/23/2018 at 08:56, stonyb1 said:

Peter3197 - has your problem been resolved as I am having a very similar problem and would be very interested in the answer. 

Not really, but I didn't notice the problem on my journey to Cornwall and back last year and it's not noticeable in normal town and country driving when there is input into the steering almost constantly.