Selhurst terraces, 20mph streets and an older Fiat's known faults
Between St Alban's Church and Selhurst, the streets are Victorian terraces with cars parked on both sides and 20mph limits across almost every residential road. That means lots of slow, tight manoeuvring, and on an older Punto, Grande Punto or Panda it is exactly when a failing electric power steering column makes itself known. The steering goes heavy, the warning lamp comes on, and sometimes it recovers after a restart, which tempts owners to leave it. Intermittent steering faults rarely cure themselves, and the next failure tends to come at a less convenient moment.
We start with the simple things: battery condition, charging voltage and connections, because the steering system draws a lot of current and low voltage alone can reduce assistance. If the electrics are sound, we test the column motor and torque sensor and quote in writing for the right repair. You can still steer with the assistance gone, but in a narrow street with a bus coming the other way it is hard work.
Plenty of Thornton Heath Fiats are 1.3 MultiJet diesels with high mileage. A rattle on a cold start, or camshaft and crankshaft correlation fault codes, can point to a stretched timing chain. Left alone, a chain can eventually jump a tooth, so we listen for it and check the codes at every service. The same engine can dilute its oil with diesel on short trips up the A235 London Road, so we check the oil change warning history too. If the chain does need replacing, we quote for a full kit rather than just the chain, and explain why in writing.
On Crystal Palace home match days, roads around Selhurst Park close and parking is tight, so plan any drop-off around kick-off. Collection and delivery can be arranged if that is easier. Repairs carry our 3-month workmanship warranty, and the route to us runs from Thornton Heath Pond to the Lombard roundabout and across Mitcham Common.