Baffling. PAS on, then off. Pull 70 AMP fuse out and in. PAS back

[MarkB]

Baffling. PAS on, then off. Pull 70 AMP fuse out and in. PAS back

Weirdest issue I have had on an MGF, wondered if anyone else can throw some much-needed light on the issue.

First 2.4 miles (checked it each time) the PAS is fine and then without warning (apart from the red PAS light) power steering goes. Pop the bonnet, pull out the 70 AMP fuse (which has never blown). Put it in again and PAS returns for 2.4 miles. Happens every time continuous diving. Can do as many miles as you like under 2,4 miles. Baffling …

[Deepfat]

Only had my TF for a year so don't know a lot but your post intrigued me and I did a go ogle search and came across this,
"The power steering receives its signal from the speedo, so broken speedo cable means no power steering.
By removing and replacing the fuse you will reset the power steering. It will work for a short while until it recognises that there is no signal from the speedo"
I think your late F doesn't have a speedo cable but maybe it's still not receiving the signal, how it receives the signal I have no idea (anyone?) via the ECU?
I suggest you need someone with pscan or T4 to have a look for the speedo signal to discount/confirm it as the cause.

[MarkB]

Thank you so much for taking the time to actually discover the problem. This issue is on a MK1

After reading your reply I looked online inc 'speedometer' in the search string and sure enough therein lies the problem.

To confirm this the speedometer started fluctuating all over the place about a month ago & finally stopped working.

I would never have connected the two so thank you again. I also found this link in the search from Rob on 'how to' replace the lower cable.
http://mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/Sp ... /index.htm

I will have a look asap to find where in the cable the issue is. I am assuming there is an upper and lower connecting in the middle.

[Deepfat]

Thanks for coming back, I'm glad to help as I ask often enough for help myself.
I had a look at the link the cable is in 3 parts, hope you hit the right one first time, good luck and let us know, we all like a happy ending.

[mowog73]

A friend had a similar problem to what you described and discovered that the issue was with the EPAS control unit, which is located on the passenger side behind the airbag (or where it would be, depending if your F has a passenger air bag or not).

[talkingcars]

Mk 1 F have a cable, mk2 onwards have a digital speedo using an electrical pulse from a sender on the gearbox. If your car has a LCD display for the milometer then it has a digital speedo.

The PAS ECU gets a pulse signal from the speedo regardless of the drive to the speedo.

Early MGF had a 2 piece cable, later cars have a 3 piece cable. The most common section to fail is the short one by the gearbox. It is possible to make a short inner cable from a longer inner cable by cutting it to length and filling the end to a square profile.