A160 Throttle Response & powersteering

[Ronald]

My wife owns a A160 1999 model petrol.For a couple of weeks she has had a problem that the throttle has less response.It feels as if the throttle only starts taking at about half way down it's travel.There are no fault codes or warning lights that appears.The car has been regularly serviced etc.During last week I changed the engine oil and filter and pressure washed the engine compartment since then I've had a intermittent power steering problem.At times the steering is normal and suddenly it goes rock hard even while in a corner.Don't really want to take the car to the agents as they charge a arm and a leg for the repairs.Any Information on the diagnostics of this car will be appreciated.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

My wife owns a A160 1999 model petrol.For a couple of weeks she has had a problem that the throttle has less response.It feels as if the throttle only starts taking at about half way down it's travel.There are no fault codes or warning lights that appears.The car has been regularly serviced etc.During last week I changed the engine oil and filter and pressure washed the engine compartment since then I've had a intermittent power steering problem.At times the steering is normal and suddenly it goes rock hard even while in a corner.Don't really want to take the car to the agents as they charge a arm and a leg for the repairs.Any Information on the diagnostics of this car will be appreciated.

a class power steering is electric, sounds like you have water in the electrics on pump, lack of power could possibly be airmass, but you will need to go to a dealer or gd indie in your area to get this checked,

 

[mattkh]

pressure washed the engine compartment since then I've had a intermittent power steering problem..

Hi
Never pressure wash modern engines, their is too much electronics in there. Try drying the engine out.

 

[aliddle]

Next to the Gear Stick there is a switch with "S" and "W" marked. "S" is for summer and "W" is for winter driving. On "W" the response is more slow to prevent skidding in ice conditions. It is easy for this to switch over if you have a pet dog or a kid climbing over the seats.

 

[aliddle]

Ronald..... Give us some feedback mate! What has happened?

 

[NBSD]

Follow-up, I'm having the same issue

Hi Guys,
I'm having the same issue with my 2000 A160. Intermitent power sterring comes and go... but it usually comes on only for a few minutes after a car rest (engine off) and goes back off for the duration of my travel. I actually ignored this as it was still drivable but for a couple of weeks now, power steering just stayed off.

I'm beginning to think that water might have gotten to the pump's electronic box as it rains where here all the time what is really the bottom line or the end result of the initially thread? Also, what alternatives do I have if it's just the electronic that has been destroyed?

Any feedback will help. Thanks.

 

[Alex Crow]

do check the contacts for the power steering assembly - you need a good earth connection at the subframe, and good live and alternator connections in the plastic connector block at the N/S innner wing. these latter connectors are very prone to corrosion, so make sure you have >12v on both the large dia (red?) cable and small dia blue cable with engine running at the pump side of the connector.