Kalos Power Steering Problem

Whoa, that sounds nasty! Spongy handling AND a shaking wheel? Yikes. Have you checked the cable and plug connections to the power steering pump itself? I've read that a bad connection there can cause all sorts of weirdness with the electric steering system. I'm just a newbie, but it's worth a look, right? Have you noticed if it's worse when the engine is cold or hot? Or at certain speeds?

Thanks for the quick reply! Good point about the connections – I hadn't really focused on those specifically. Where exactly is the power steering pump cable located on the Kalos? Is it easy to get to, or do I need to remove a bunch of stuff to see it? And to answer your question, I think it's actually worse when the car is warmed up, especially after driving for like half an hour.

Okay, warmed up making it worse is a good clue! I'm not 100% sure on the exact location on the Kalos (google is your friend!), but it's usually near the front of the engine, often low down. You might need to remove some plastic covers underneath to get a good look. But honestly, if it's doing that AND throwing error codes, you might be better off taking it to a workshop. They can plug it into a proper diagnostic tool and pinpoint the exact problem. Steering issues are NOT something to mess with if you're unsure!

You were spot on! I finally took it to the workshop, and it turned out to be a corroded connector on the steering pump, just like you suspected. They cleaned it up and replaced a short section of the cable, and now it's working perfectly again. Cost me 95€, but it's worth it to have my power steering back. Thanks a million for your help!