Steering Issues

[Wollemi]

I'm having problems with the steering of my GTS 4.0. It will go stiff and difficult for no reason, and then release again.

The geometry has now been done four times, most recently by Center Gravity. For a thousand miles after they did it it was brilliant. Better than it has ever been in fact, a total joy to drive.

But a week ago, I set off one morning and it was back to being stiff and reluctant to turn, and remained so for a couple of days, and then released and back to being great again. But then after being parked up for a coupe of hours the stiffness returned.

When it's good I can guide it into bends with a finesse and precision and little effort; when it's bad I have to haul on the steering which makes it hard to be smooth and isn't that nice to drive.

Has this happened to any one else? What was the cure?

 

[Twinfan]

That sounds really odd, not had it on either my 981 or 718 and not heard of others having it either.

Given the geo has been done a few times I think I'd rule out anything mechanical. I would guess at a faulty power steering pump? Or steering wheel position sensor?

Time for a trip to an OPC on Indy for a diagnostics check I think...

 

[Scrounger]

I'd suggest taking it to your OPC Graham, if it's still in warranty that is. The power steering in the 718 is electromechanical so there may be a glitch in the matrix.

Dan

 

[Twinfan]

Nice one Dan, I'd forgotten the steering was electric - whoops!

Power steering motor or sensor issue then?

 

[Wollemi]

Yes, It will be going back to OPC - although they did have it in for the third geo and couldn't find any mechanical issues. a software glitch I'm hoping.

 

[Motorhead]

I’d agree with Dan and Dave’s comments that it sounds more likely to be a glitch with the EPAS system Graham, though your guess is as good as mine as to what is the exact cause.

As always, probably it’s best to run some Porsche-specific diagnostics to see if that gets a handle on the problem, although the intermittent nature of it is puzzling. More likely to be electrical, since I’d have thought that Centre Gravity would have identified any mechanical issues?

Jeff