Ford focus 'power assist failure'

[bekah]

Hey,

Driving home Friday I got this message up, managed to get home no probs and the steering doesn't feel like it has gone heavy. Managed to get the car booked in for today and didn't try to drive it until this morning. Could not move car this morning so called the RAC who said my handbrake has seized and have managed to fix it. However, the warning message for steering is still on and the RAC told me to re-book it with the garage asap and don't use the handbrake. Is the car ok to drive the 15 miles to the garage, and can the handbrake and the steering problem be linked??

Cheers,

[bekah]

Sorry, that should be 'steering assist failure'!!

[TWR]

Hi, you can drive the car but the steering will be very very heavy, before you take it to the Garage check your power steering belt / oil level, has there been a red oil patch beneath your car?( Power steering oil) But the handbrake would only cause the car to slow down unnecessary, you would also smell the pads burning off, look at the obvious first before spending your money, garage prices at time �50 P / H, can you really afford to pay these prices?

[chas2008]

not certain what year your vehicle is but many late Fords are now electric power steering so no fluid involved. Also electric handbrake systems, cant see as they would be related but if both your systems are electric its bit of a coincidence.

[bekah]

Thanks guys,

Car is late 2006, and a company car - so I am not too bothered about the costs as I won't be paying. I just wanted to know if it is safe to drive really,

[gary2411]

i would not think so two different faults i would say
it depends on if the hand brake affects the footbrake when you are stopping have you checked the powerstreering fluid level , any oil underneath the car when parked
if the rac fixed the handbrake why cant you use it>?
get the garage to pick it up