Multiecuscan

I have posted a copy of this in the Usage forum as well, but include it here in case there is a wider issue.

Hi,

Someone recently broke into my car and stole the complete steering column of my Punto Mk2 1.2/8v

After finding out that the dealer wanted to charge me more than the car was worth, I decided to buy a second hand column and fit it myself.

After I fitted it, it worked fine, including the power steering in both normal & city modes. However, after a few miles driving, the steering became heavy and the power steering warning light came on. I tried everything to reset it, including disconnecting the battery overnight, as recommended by some posters on various forums, but nothing worked.

I then decided that the steering probably needed recalibrating and so I took it to my dealer and asked them to do it. They connected it to their diagnostics system and told me that 'the system had disabled itself and they could not recalibrate it - sorry, that will be EURO 50 please' Needless to say I was pretty annoyed by their disinterest.

As an electronics engineer myself, I then decided to buy the multiecuscan software and an ELM327 so that I could inspect the system for myself.

I can connect to the steering ecu ok and I can see that their is a logged fault regarding the motor, which I can clear. I can also read out all the parameters (which is great ) but when I try the system adjustments, I have only partial success:

Torque Sensor Calibration - Test runs OK
Torque Sensor Position Calibration - Test runs OK
Position Sensor calibration - FAILED TO EXECUTE - Incorrect Conditions for this test
System Calibration - FAILED TO EXECUTE

All tests performed with steering wheel & front wheels in the straight ahead position. All fuses connected with the power steering circuits have been checked. After doing these, I start the engine and the steering light comes on again immediately and the same fault is stored again

My questions:

1. Why should the Position & System Calibrations FAIL TO EXECUTE? What does 'Incorrect conditions for this test' mean?
2. What should the Position Potentiometer voltages 1 and 2 be, when the vehicle is in the straight ahead position? Mine are 2.4888v and 0.0000v respectively
3. Parameter Feedback Offset voltage on my system is 0.2352v whereas the parameter Max Feedback Offset Voltage is 0.1232. Why is my feedback offset voltage higher that the max value and what does this parameter tell me?
4. Does anyone have a set of figure for the same or a similar vehicle so that I can compare them?

I think the multiecuscan software should be able to help me fix my problem, but I would be very grateful for any advice or help from other users.

If anyone requires further information, please ask.

Many Thanks

Keith
keithn

Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 1:26 pm
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Hi,

If you have an error about the motor, then you have to fix it first.
The problem is probably in the two relays inside the motor assembly. I'm sure that it will be no problem for you to dismount the motor and test these relays.

The calibration of this system cannot be executed if there are errors present. That is the reason why Multiecuscan reports "Incorrect conditions".

My wife has the same punto... and I know about these problems. In my case it was a faulty high-power transistor inside the ECU, and just I replaced the ECU.

Yani

Hi Yani,

You were exactly right

I took the motor off and found a cracked solder joint on one of the relays. I re-soldered everything and the system now works perfectly.

Thank you very much.

I have one question though - After I fixed the motor problem, I could then calibrate the position sensor OK (with the engine running), but I still get FAILED TO EXECUTE (with no extra information) when I try to do the system calibration. Am I doing something wrong?

Many Thanks for this GREAT piece of software engineering.

Regards,

Keith

Hi,

I think that this System Calibration is probably working on some specific software/hardware versions of the ECU only.
Because it is not working on my Punto, too.
But it exists in documentation.

Yani

Hi Yani,
Sorry to wake up an old post, but I have a problem on my daughter's Punto 1.3 Mjtd 2004.
I changed the torque sensor 2 1/2 years ago, The calibration at the time did not work, bu the steering seemed OK so did noit pay anymore attention.

The steerinf light came on again ,giving the usual position sensor error.
So I decided to reset the calibration (wennt OK) then tied to calibrate the system (last option in the menu) got FAILED TO EXECUTE.
I looked at thevalue given after the reset position of the wheel -180 deg. eventhough the wheels were straight.

I then proceeded with the position calib. and torque calib. all went OK, but then I looked at the steering posoition and got -360 deg.
I am lost here, do you hae any explanation for this, the system does not seem to re-calibrate, it is nor the first time I change a sensor (3 x)
And if not done properly, the wheel turns on its own when ignition on.

Is there a specific recalibration I am doing wrong?
Or do I have to change the sensor again?

Thank a lot
Fred

Hi,

Is it possible that the sensor was rotated by hand before installation?
I've also replaced this sensor on Punto Mk2 in the past and I know it is in a bad place, but I don't remeber if it was possible to rotate it by hand to a degree where it will not be possible to re-calibrate.
After installation you have to do position calibration and torque calibration. The other one is not needed.
I would suggest to disassemble the steering, rotate this sensor 360 degrees by hand and then install it again... but I know that it is a lot of work. So, let's wait for someone with more experience to write if it could be rotated to 360 degrees by hand.

The wheels turn to one side by their own if the torque is not calibrated properly.

Hi Yani,
Thanks for your answer, I've had a long thought about it, and came to the same conclusion as you, I most probably turned the whole steering column one turn before installing.
My idea is to disconnect the steering shaft from the column and then turn it back one turn then re-connect and re-calibrate a lot less painful than dismantling the whole thing.
I haven't got the car here it is my daughter's one as soon as I have done it, I'll let you know if it worked.
I rekon the sensor is properly in place, because if you don't fit it properly once you start the engine the wheel turns on its own.

Cheers, and thanks again for your answer.
Fred

fredvr wrote:My idea is to disconnect the steering shaft from the column and then turn it back one turn then re-connect and re-calibrate a lot less painful than dismantling the whole thing.

Well, I don't think it is a good idea.... If you rotate the steering wheel 360 degress it could damage the clock spring (this is a wire which connects the airbag and steering wheel controls).

fredvr wrote:Hi Yani,
Sorry to wake up an old post, but I have a problem on my daughter's Punto 1.3 Mjtd 2004.
I changed the torque sensor 2 1/2 years ago, The calibration at the time did not work, bu the steering seemed OK so did noit pay anymore attention.
...

Did you put used torque sensor 2 and 1/2 years ago or did you installed used one?

yani wrote:

fredvr wrote:My idea is to disconnect the steering shaft from the column and then turn it back one turn then re-connect and re-calibrate a lot less painful than dismantling the whole thing.

Well, I don't think it is a good idea.... If you rotate the steering wheel 360 degress it could damage the clock spring (this is a wire which connects the airbag and steering wheel controls).

I agree with you Yani...
I am afraid that later he will maybe have 2 problems (torque sensor and clock spring) instead of 1 (torque sensor)...