Hi All,

My wife's mk3 2011 focus has just had the dreaded electrical 'steering assist malfunction' failure.

From what I read the only way to fix this is to get a new steering rack in the car.

My question is... I have sourced a steering rack from a breakers which has one of its mounts slightly damaged, and was wondering if the motor (and module) can be simply removed from it and installed in my rack solving the problem?

Is there additional calibration required from ford if i do this?

 

Thanks 

Hi,

 

I believe I have the exact same issue as yourself although I've been having this problem from I bought my car roughly 1 year and 10 months ago, its a 2011 1.6TDCi 115 standard, When I turn the car on 3/4 seconds of pure nothing, super heavy steering followed by the steering becoming nice and light (you imagine thats the electrics kicking in) - In my experience of computing, this seems like a heavier issue than something mechanical, perhaps the very coding used to program the rack into the ECU. 

 

I could be wrong, I just cant imagine how my steering just arrives 3/4 seconds after the cars been started. - I also heard a lot of cars were recalled by Ford for this issue - Some people in America were losing power steering whilst driving - you can imagine how that went, Ford Rangers trampling over 3 cars at a time needing the left hand of Hercules to straighten out the wheel. I have a video I'd like to share, I say 3/4 seconds the steering arrives, although sometimes, its almost like a software glitch I receive the "Steering Assist..." Message which makes me believe this is an issue with software as opposed to hardware.. 

https://youtu.be/Zrgr0z7ucWY

 

Theres the video of what's happening my car, generally, off and on fixes the issue.. Is it on its way out and am I tredding on thin ice? 

 

Yea my car did that for a month or two, but has given up all together...

my car is a 1.6 petrol

Hi guys ... I just had the steering assist malfunction. It nearly killed me but luckily both me and the car are fine. Im about to buy the rack and fix it. Can you tell me if this power steering problem is something that will happen every few years ? Cause its not only expensive but also extremely dangerous. 

I'm banging my head up a brick wall with my mk3 2011 petrol Focus. 

Firstly was cutting out and power steering failing with no warning lights! Always worst in damp or cold weather. 

New battery & alternator. Drove it away ignition light came on. 

Took it back, they checked it over again, wiring. 

Had it back battery keeps dying, power steering still playing up! Only with the weather may I add. 

Friend at ford is saying pcm needs replacing, or get rid. 

Charged the battery for me and it died again after 3 days. Keep getting shocked by the car also! 😂 

Any help or advice would be great! 

got mine sorted there... got a new (used) steering rack

fitted myself, warning light reset itself.

total cost me £120

Hello Calvin

The exact same thing has happened to my 2011 focus, petrol there was a delay with power steering for a couple of months then no power steering and steering assist failure on the dash kept flashing up. i have been told that i need to get a new Power steering pump but i think that this model has not got one.

Did you fit the whole rack or just the motor (and module)?

kind regards

Daniel