V60 1.6D Drive - "Power Steering Service Required"

[Bootloader]

Hey all,

I've had my 2011 V60 1.6D Drive R-Design for ~1.5 years, it's done 49k and has full main dealer history.

I've registered on here so other members can follow an issue I'm having at present (as title).

When leaving work on Friday, the car started fine, but I did receive a "Power Steering Service Required" message on my dash .
I drove the car home as normal and there was no distinguishable difference in steering weighting, noise etc. (like the issue wasn't there!)

Started up fine this morning (not used all weekend), went to pull off from outside the house and almost went straight into the back of the wifes car ... no power steering whatsoever!! Quick fuse and fluid check - all ok.

Struggling to understand how it could go from working perfectly to not working at the push of a button. If something was about to fail, I suspect that I would see/feel/hear some sort of tell tale sign, apart from the dash message (these can appear with battery issues from reading forum).

On a side note, I've also had the start/stop go on me recently, so new battery/alternator may be required. Not sure whether or not this can have any effect on the electric-hydraulic power steering.

I have Volvo Assist coming out to take a look later, so will update the thread as/when I get more info.

Bemused V60 owner

[Mnkiboy]

Not had this issue myself, but a low battery can cause all kind of odd electrical issues. Get your battery and alternator checked out and go from there.

[Bootloader]

Originally Posted by Mnkiboy

Not had this issue myself, but a low battery can cause all kind of odd electrical issues. Get your battery and alternator checked out and go from there.

Yeh, will be the first thing I mention to the Assist techie because of the start/stop.

From what I've read on the forum, even when you have a badly depleted battery, the car doesn't always give a 'Low Battery' warning!
Must be doing fairly basic battery monitoring by the sounds of it.

[Bootloader]

Okay, update as promised.

A guy from Volvo Assist came out and plugged his diagnostic tool in. Came back with DTC U0131.
After a quick Google search, I found that this DTC equates to "Lost Communication With Power Steering Control Module".

Nothing that could be done roadside, so Assist towed the car off to my local Volvo dealership.

After waiting half a day or so, the dealers called with the news that the power steering pump had failed, along with the control module as a result of water ingress into the terminal block and cable that connects to it.

I was informed that Volvo have made a cover/shroud that goes over the terminal block to prevent it happening again which is fitted only when the pump fails and needs replacing.
A letter from Volvo informing of this potential issue would have been nice, and I would have been more than willing to pay for the fix to prevent a costly pump failure!

The fact that they have gone through the effort to produce this part suggests that it is not an isolated incident and if memory serves me correct, I'm pretty sure I've read about this exact issue elsewhere on the forum.

Anyway, I'll cut to the figures ... total cost was £742 all in, but thankfully my local dealership offered a goodwill gesture and Volvo subsequently agreed to pay half.

Still not an overly happy bunny, but the goodwill makes it slightly easier to stomach.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Bootloader

Okay, update as promised.

Anyway, I'll cut to the figures ... total cost was £742 all in, but thankfully my local dealership offered a goodwill gesture and Volvo subsequently agreed to pay half.

Still not an overly happy bunny, but the goodwill makes it slightly easier to stomach.

Sorry to hear about the problem but not too bad deal for a five year old car in my view.