Mk4 Mondeo 2.5T - Steering Malfunction on Dash

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 16:37

Finished work and noticed that my dash was displaying "Steering Malfunction". Some quick goggling indicates this could be related to a corroded sensor but I've been unable to find anything conclusive.

Any suggestions please on where to look or what this could be? It was fine driving to work and appeared between locking the car this morning and getting in this afternoon.

Managed to drive it home just fine as it happens but don't really want to cause further issues. I know I'll have to get the codes checked out but looking for pointers.

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 16:54

Looking online it could be a sensor to do with the keyless entry (if your car has it) (http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/58168-steering-malfunction-error-message/)

or

a poorly battery that results in low voltage errors/codes that need clearing (http://www.talkford.com/community/topic/185334-steering-malfunction-wont-start/)

On a seperate note, how old's your mk4 2.5t? Only reason I ask is that I thought mine must be one of a few mk4 2.5t's that had low mileage for its age (2008 with 33k miles on the clock), but I see yours only has 35k on the clock.

Get yourself a cheap OBDII device off of eBay and Download Torque on your phone to read and reset codes yourself. Also, get yourself registered on the talkford forums (if you aren't already) http://www.talkford.com/community/ as there are lots of helpful sorts on there.

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 17:20

dhill said:
Looking online it could be a sensor to do with the keyless entry (if your car has it) (http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/58168-steering-malfunction-error-message/)

or

a poorly battery that results in low voltage errors/codes that need clearing (http://www.talkford.com/community/topic/185334-steering-malfunction-wont-start/)

On a seperate note, how old's your mk4 2.5t? Only reason I ask is that I thought mine must be one of a few mk4 2.5t's that had low mileage for its age (2008 with 33k miles on the clock), but I see yours only has 35k on the clock.

Get yourself a cheap OBDII device off of eBay and Download Torque on your phone to read and reset codes yourself. Also, get yourself registered on the talkford forums (if you aren't already) http://www.talkford.com/community/ as there are lots of helpful sorts on there.

Thanks D!

Mine had 17.5k on the clock when I bought it in Jan '15, it's a 2007 plate. That post you've linked was my reference to the corroded sensor but there's nothing 100% in that thread to convince me that's the exact issue - admittedly I'll need to get the codes checked.

I've had the black screen on mine a few times but there's no trend when it occurs. I bought a new batter about 8 months ago and while the black screen on the dash and the centre console don't plague me as frequently, it occurs most when short journeys occur...

I'm already part of the forum but I feel assistance is slow there which is why I go elsewhere as well...they're not quick to reply.

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 17:26

17.5k on a 2007 plate....very nice indeed! Hatchback or estate, and if you don't mind me asking...how much did you pay for it?

Yeah, they can be abit slow on there at times but the answers are normally very informative/helpful.

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 17:27

snips86x said:
I've had the black screen on mine a few times but there's no trend when it occurs. I bought a new batter about 8 months ago and while the black screen on the dash and the centre console don't plague me as frequently, it occurs most when short journeys occur...

Might just need the codes checking and clearing to resolve that problem then.

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 17:31

dhill said:
17.5k on a 2007 plate....very nice indeed! Hatchback or estate, and if you don't mind me asking...how much did you pay for it?

Yeah, they can be abit slow on there at times but the answers are normally very informative/helpful.

Yeah, I found 3 in the UK in total. 2 in London and 1 in Ipswitch! That was a hell of a days drive!

It's a saloon mate and I think I paid £5150 with a p/x on my Fiesta.

edit - what would you suggest if I was to buy my own diag tool? Bluetooth or something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U480-Car-...206874?hash=item33ad9ef11a:g:d6wAAOSwf-VWXXWe

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 17:55

snips86x said:
Yeah, I found 3 in the UK in total. 2 in London and 1 in Ipswitch! That was a hell of a days drive!

It's a saloon mate and I think I paid £5150 with a p/x on my Fiesta.

edit - what would you suggest if I was to buy my own diag tool? Bluetooth or something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U480-Car-...206874?hash=item33ad9ef11a:g:d6wAAOSwf-VWXXWe

I got mine from Camberley I think it was, and was the only low mileage estate that I could find.. Paid a premium for it though... £7950

I've got a Bluetooth one, but you'll need a WiFi one if you have an iPhone I believe. I'll try and find the details of the one I brought when I get home later.

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 17:58

dhill said:
I got mine from Camberley I think it was, and was the only low mileage estate that I could find.. Paid a premium for it though... £7950

I've got a Bluetooth one, but you'll need a WiFi one if you have an iPhone I believe. I'll try and find the details of the one I brought when I get home later.

Is your a Tit X?

That would be mint, thanks

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:07

snips86x said:
Is your a Tit X?

Yes mate, titanium x.

Tell you what I could do for you, if you trust me your address I'll post you my adapter as a loan to see if it throws any errors up on your car if you like? Save you buying one mate,thats if you have android and not a iPhone of course.

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:08

dhill said:
Yes mate, titanium x.

Tell you what I could do for you, if you trust me your address I'll post you my adapter as a loan to see if it throws any errors up on your car if you like? Save you buying one mate,thats if you have android and not a iPhone of course.

Dude that would be amazing, thanks for that. You want me to cover postage?

I can use my work mobile

Although I have my MOT next Wed and I think I'd need to get it sorted sooner. I was going to call a few indi garages tomorrow and one my brother recommended (he's in the motor trade). I get the feeling Christmas post may delay the delivery!

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:10

Don't worry about postge mate, season of good will and all that.

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:12

dhill said:
Don't worry about postge mate, season of good will and all that.

Thanks bud

I'll send my address over but seeing as I've only got tomorrow to sort this really before my MOT, I'll call a few garages anyway. I'll send over my address if you still don't mind posting it - not trying to seem ungrateful, just get a sense this could drag out for longer than I want it too!

dhill · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:13

I don't mind lending it out at all buddy. Hope you manage to get things sorted before the MOT is due though.

blueboy2001 · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:16

If you're buying and have a laptop, get a modified ELM327 cable and a copy of ForScan.

As well as reading detailed codes, you can reset and perform diagnostic tests on a lot of the modules on the Mondeo.

You can also run ELMConfig with it which allows you to change the configuration of some of the modules on the car.

snips86x · 23 Dec 2015 at 18:58

dhill said:
I don't mind lending it out at all buddy. Hope you manage to get things sorted before the MOT is due though.

Thanks

Is yours a reader only?

blueboy2001 said:
If you're buying and have a laptop, get a modified ELM327 cable and a copy of ForScan.

As well as reading detailed codes, you can reset and perform diagnostic tests on a lot of the modules on the Mondeo.

You can also run ELMConfig with it which allows you to change the configuration of some of the modules on the car.

Thanks for the heads up, will see what I can find. That's pretty neat too but I'm not sure I'd want to change anything.

dhill · 24 Dec 2015 at 09:01

snips86x said:
Thanks Is yours a reader only?

I've got both adapters buddy: bluetooth OBD2 adapter and a modded ELMConfig lead. Just let me know which one you want to borrow

bledd · 24 Dec 2015 at 09:07

dhill said:
Don't worry about postge mate, season of good will and all that.

snips86x · 24 Dec 2015 at 09:19

dhill said:
I've got both adapters buddy: bluetooth OBD2 adapter and a modded ELMConfig lead. Just let me know which one you want to borrow

Not sure which one I would need to be honest but I'd happily attempt clearing the codes if it's possible.

I've actually just spoken to a garage and he advised that it could be a software glitch if the error occurred while the car was static...it was parked in the car park for several hours before I returned. I've been unable to find someone to clear the codes so I'll give your device a shot and see how it goes from there - hoping I can get it done before my MOT on Wed :/

dhill · 24 Dec 2015 at 09:22

snips86x said:
Not sure which one I would need to be honest but I'd happily attempt clearing the codes if it's possible.

The bluetooth one is the easiest to use, especially with Torque Pro, and you can read and clear codes with it as well. ELMConfig is a little more complicated to setup and use.

snips86x · 24 Dec 2015 at 09:26

dhill said:
The bluetooth one is the easiest to use, especially with Torque Pro, and you can read and clear codes with it as well. ELMConfig is a little more complicated to setup and use.

Sounds good to me mate - looks like the garage won't be open when I finish work so I'll give it a shot.