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New Power Steering Rack & still not right

cherryblossom
cherryblossom
in Ford Focus Club

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My power steering rack suddenly stopped working whilst driving and I had to be recovered by breakdown as I lost all steering.

I had a new steering rack fitted but it was faulty so I got a replacement, again same issue. I decided to take it a ford specialist and again fitted a 3rd steering rack.

The issue I have now is that the warning light is on the dash and on start up, if my first turn isn't a right turn, when I next turn left it goes really stiff. Once I've steered into, it will go loose again and I don't experience the issue again until I start the engine again. It doesn't do this on auto stop start. 

The error code I have is U0428

I'm desperate to get this fixed as my MOT is due in a few weeks.

Anyone experienced something similar? 

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    No but something is wrong with your steering angle sensor module or it might need recalibrated.

  • Quote
    • Author
    12 minutes ago, F0CUE said:

    No but something is wrong with your steering angle sensor module or it might need recalibrated.

    Is the steering angle sensor separate to the steering rack? I've looked online and couldn't find a replacement for my vehicle. 

  • Quote

    As far as I know it's in the steering wheel behind the air bag.

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    • Like 2

    It's usually called a clock spring or squib if you're searching eBay.

    Yours probably isn't broken though.  Just needs aligning to the new rack.

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    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

    Yours probably isn't broken though.  Just needs aligning to the new rack.

    Yes agreed, it will most definitely need re-calibrating  after the steering rack has been replaced. It should be a simple procedure with FORScan.

    FORScan: https://forscan.org/download.html

    vLinker FS cable: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-vLinker-Adapter-FORScan-MS-CAN/dp/B0952P4MLP

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • 1 month later...
    • Author

    We did recalibrate it but didn't fix the issue.

    Replaced the steering angle sensor, recalibrated and its working all fine now. 

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    • 2 years later...

    Hi, I have the same problem. I replaced 2 racks, as soon as I turn steering to the right steering gets very stiff until I force and then it works fine until I power off and on, once it works Traction control light comes on, and a message appears on the dash Hill start not available ,

    Please let me know if you only change the steering angle sensor or clock spring squib as well.

    Thanks for your help

  • Quote

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