Power Steering Problem

[The Tiggster]

I have a 2 year old Seat Ibiza TDi (13,500 miles) & recently the power steering light has been coming on when driving. If I switch off & back on it goes out again.

The actual steering has only been affected once which was when I tried to park & it was like a tank. Again switched off & on & problem resolved.

I can't take it to the local dealer as it has closed, nearest is 30 miles away & I am due my baby any day now so don't want to travel too far. I am also trading the car in mid December so don't want to spend a fortune.

Any ideas what it could be???

Thanks

[stanleyman]

Could be an oil leak, try checking the power steering oil level and top up if needed, usually they use automatic gearbox oil. Good luck with the baby.

[The Tiggster]

Thank you stanleyman, I will get the levels checked out & hopefully that will be the problem resolved. I always panic when something goes wrong with cars & assume that it is the worst case problem & not something as simple as a top up of fluid!!

[homer75]

it sounds like a steering pump problem - I think your car may have an electrically operated hydraulic pump on the steering system - I would go for a bad connection on a car of this year and mileage.

[The Tiggster]

Thank you homer75, I think I'll phone my nearest dealer & ask their advice.

I drove the car in town today & had no problems what-so-ever which leads me to think it could well be an intermittent connection problem as you suggest which will hopefully be covered under the warranty.

[bernie1958]

Having the same problem - and from looking at other sites , so have others. It seemed to happen in the very cold weather and disappear once warmed up., so it suggests electrical problem.

Difficult to check the levels as the pump is well hidden.

Is it not still under warranty?