ABS/ESP Lights On - 2005 1.9 TDi Avant

[britbusdriver]

Further to my PAS fluid leak woes - reported elsewhere - my local garage (non-specialist) diagnosed that the steering rack needed replacing as the leak was coming from a seal within the rack. Sadly I was over a bit of a barrel as the car failed its MoT due to the PAS fluid leak, so I left it with them. To be fair, they've done a bit of tinkering on both of our cars and have no reason to distrust them. Oh, and the cost was £335 for the rack plus 5 hrs labour @ £45/hr, all plus VAT, so not a cheap job.

However....when we got the car back, the brake warning light (large exclamation mark on central display) plus the ABS light, airbag light and ESP lights all on, and the horn doesn't work. No problem says local mechanic, just needs a reset; pop it in on Monday and I'll nip it down to my tame auto electrician and get it sorted.

Fast forward to lunchtime as he returns the car telling me that a 'connector' on the steering column is broken/faulty and it's this that is causing the problem. I'll get back to you with a price, says he, as it's nothing we've done....

Now, I've not got any codes - just about to head down to my local specialist (where I should have gone when the bloody thing started leaking ) to get the codes read, but thought I'd tap the collective wisdom first. My initial thoughts are that changing the steering rack and then having these lights on immediately afterwards cannot be simple coincidence, can it? Also, if the horn doesn't work, how can it have passed the MoT (let alone any issues with ABS etc). I think it is an indication rather than a problem - though I have no desire to test the airbag just to see if it's working!!

Grateful for any thoughts and I'll post the codes when I can.

[britbusdriver]

Update....

Steering sensor fault together with driver's airbag igniter fault (won't clear) plus ABS module codes cleared and won't hol the new codes.

My issue is do I give it back to the garage that changed the steering rack and insist they rectify it or go with a trusted indie to sort it (at a cost of nearly £500)? If the original garage refuse to accept responsibility, which avenue do I go down insofar as I have a brand new MoT issued to a car with no horn, a failed airbag and a faulty ABS system?

Anyone have a Honda for sale?

[zollaf]

not being cynical, but i would say they have turned the steering wheel whilst the rack was out, thus turning it too far and breaking stuff within the boss.
personally, i would get it independently inspected but not fixed, and if it can be proved the first garage caused it, then i would pursue them to fix it and if they wont you will have to pay for it and possibly pursue them (first garage) to reimburse you.

[britbusdriver]

Thanks. That's the suspicion of the indie that has just spent 2 hours looking up the codes etc as well, but proving it seems to be the issue as I guess there is an outside chance that it could have been coincidence - though the balance of probability makes this unlikely. I think a bit of a frank conversation might be the first port of call.....given that they were supposed to get back to me with a quote and I've heard nothing yet.

[britbusdriver]

New steering angle sensor fitted by original garage, foc & no labour charge. Roll on the next 170k....