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MG MGF Technical - Power steering problem at MOT

Just had the MGF MOT for its 10th birthday and got in the car after it passed and started it up only to find the power steering was not working.

Went back into the garage and they said it was a common problem with MGF's and that it would cure its self by driving.

They where correct it did sort itself just up the road but has any else seen this problem.

Car is all sorted for another year with just one noticeable problem which is the headlights which they think could cause a problem next year.

Mileage when tested was on 102020 not a bad figure.

Tom
Tom Randell

If the engine is revved hard whilst the car is stationary the epas is turned off and the warning light on the dash comes on.Could this have happened when they did the emissions test for the MOT? I don't think it's anything to worry about
Pete C

It is not 'a problem' it is designed that way!

The APS is speed related and the APS ECU checks revs against road speed to decide how much 'assistance' to give you SO when it reads high RPM without any road speed and this persists for more than a few seconds it (the ECU) decides there is a fault so goes into fail safe mode, that is switches off so as not to give undesirable and potentially dangerous amounts of assistance at high speeds. Switching the engine off and waiting for a couple of minutes will reset the APS back to normal.

So NO not a fault but a good safety feature.
Ted Newman

The car had been parked up for a while, which is why it confused me as the warning light was on and the power steering was definately not working. My intial thought was the engined revved when stationary but have never had it before let alone after turning the car off and on.

The main thing it did work again after driving up the road.

Tom
Tom Randell

Tom it is just reminding you of its age:-) It is the first signs of senility when it starts to suffer from memory lag!
Ted Newman

Sorry Ted, but you are wrong, at least in relation to my car. Switching off and leaving it will not make it come back. The only way to get the power steering on mine to re-activate after the emissions test is to drive the car. Mine comes on about 200 yards after leaving the MOT garage.
Mike Howlett

A special Scottish variation Mike?
Ted Newman

Its actually the torque that has been input by the driver in combination with the speed that determines the amount of assitance. At least that is what I have read.

check this
http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&mode=thread&access=2&subject=69&source=T&thread=2007030922433513901
David Peters

This thread was discussed between 08/03/2007 and 10/03/2007

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