Hello everyone,

 

I own a Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI 2010, and i have a somewhat heavy steering problem, the steering is not heavy as the no power steering cars but it still not as light as the electromechanical steering systems in most cars that i have driven, tried scanning through VCDS and no fault regarding the steering came up. I also noticed that the steering weight changes from lighter to heavier with changing the tyres pressure, which i'd understand if the steering was not powered but not with the powered steering systems. i have a slight off-center steering wheel will that be causing the heaviness?

please help with reasons or ideas for this is really annoying me.

Thanks in advance everyone :)

I can spin my steering wheel with the palm of my hand when the engine is running, car moving very slowly and power steering operating correctly. With engine off the wheel is nearly to stiff to move.

 

You must have a fault.

If the steering wheel is off centre, and was not just removed and refitted wrong,  the steering geometry may be seriously out and the wheels pointing slightly in the wrong direction fighting the steering rack? I can only envisage this happening with something seriously wrong in the suspension, or following damage, perhaps from a pothole.

Has it always been like this? How long have you had it?

 

As Ken above - suspect some external impact to be the cause.

 

Bill 

@Muaz_mohamed - Firstly, the mechanical factors that make worn and/or soft tyres give you heavier steering will exist whether you have unassisted, hydraulic PAS, or electro-hydraulic PAS.

 

Secondly, AIUI electro-hydrauic PAS assistance levels can be varied with VCDS and possibly maxi-dot.

 

Thirdly, I'd agree that there could be damage: try holding a known straight edge against the suspension and steering arms to check for this.

16 hours ago, kenfowler3966 said:

I can spin my steering wheel with the palm of my hand when the engine is running, car moving very slowly and power steering operating correctly. With engine off the wheel is nearly to stiff to move.

 

You must have a fault.

If the steering wheel is off centre, and was not just removed and refitted wrong,  the steering geometry may be seriously out and the wheels pointing slightly in the wrong direction fighting the steering rack? I can only envisage this happening with something seriously wrong in the suspension, or following damage, perhaps from a pothole.

Hi ken, i went to allign the steering wheel and they said they couldn’t quite get it right because the rear tires are not 100% straight forward, and upon investigation, the rear tires has some rubbers broken that could be causing the mis-allignment (according to the mechanic), should i replace them? My question is would the misalignment make the steering heavy? 

16 hours ago, lawnmowerman said:

Has it always been like this? How long have you had it?

 

As Ken above - suspect some external impact to be the cause.

 

Bill 

Hi Bill, i bought it a year ago with 100k km on it, and yes it has always been this way. 

Thanks 

Yes damaged rubbers must be replaced to keep rear wheels in alignment. If you don’t the car will quickly wear out the rear tyres and handle badly.

I can’t see this improving heavy steering though. As always like this it may be hard use or unseen damage with previous owner. None of the three Yetis I have had had heavy steering.

16 hours ago, KenONeill said:

@Muaz_mohamed - Firstly, the mechanical factors that make worn and/or soft tyres give you heavier steering will exist whether you have unassisted, hydraulic PAS, or electro-hydraulic PAS.

 

Secondly, AIUI electro-hydrauic PAS assistance levels can be varied with VCDS and possibly maxi-dot.

 

Thirdly, I'd agree that there could be damage: try holding a known straight edge against the suspension and steering arms to check for this.

Hi Ken, 

1- Yes i know they exist and have effects in both cases, what i meant is they do not vary as much with small changes e.g. 35-40 psi as they do when you have no steering assistance. 

2- Do you mean choose the level of my comfort assistance ? How to modify that through VCDS? I dont have that in the maxi-dot

3- i’ve recently replaced both front shocks and steering arms, along with anything infront that could cause the wheels to be off, i only have an issue as i said above to Ken with the rear tyres.

Thank you

5 minutes ago, kenfowler3966 said:

Yes damaged rubbers must be replaced to keep rear wheels in alignment. If you don’t the car will quickly wear out the rear tyres and handle badly.

I can’t see this improving heavy steering though. As always like this it may be hard use or unseen damage with previous owner. None of the three Yetis I have had had heavy steering.

Okay then i’ll go right on replacing them.

What im confused about is why is there no fault code with the scanner? 

Didyou ever had to adjust the steering assistance value in your Yetis through VCDS? 

 

I have never used vcds.

If it is damage to the suspension this will not generate a fault code, as there are no sensors on this.

 

@Muaz_mohamed - I'd normally expect heavy steering to be a function of front tyres, assistance level or suspension damage, so I started with free or at least cheap and easy front end checks. I don't know where it is on the Yeti (and it's damned awkward on the Fabia) but you could also check the hydraulic fluid level for the PAS.

 

As for "no fault code", that probably means there is no electronics fault for the computers to detect.

4 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

 you could also check the hydraulic fluid level for the PAS.

 

Pretty sure the yeti has electro-mechanical power steering so there is no fluid to check.

 

10 minutes ago, Muaz_mohamed said:

Did you ever had to adjust the steering assistance value in your Yetis through VCDS? 

 

Its possible to change the steering assistance although probably not through VCDS. If it's ever had a replacement rack it could have the wrong steering assistance curve...

 

Can you post a full VCDS autoscan and also an adaption map for address 44?