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Hi all,

I’m looking for some help with a 2011 VW Polo 6R 1.2 petrol with electro-hydraulic power steering. I’ve been chasing a complete loss of power steering and I’m running out of ideas.

Original symptoms/faults

* Yellow power steering warning light
* No power steering assistance
* Initially had issues communicating with 44 – Steering Assist
* Original faults included 01309 – Power Steering Control Module (J500) and 00816 – Power Steering Sensor (G250)
* At one stage the Gateway also reported 01309 – No Signal/Communication with J500

Work/tests completed

* Checked steering-related fuses
* Checked battery/charging voltage – approximately 13.8 V with engine running
* Checked main power supply to the steering pump
* Carried out voltage-drop testing on the high-current supply
* Removed and cleaned the battery positive fuse/distribution connections
* Checked/cleaned electrical connections
* Original steering pump removed
* Fitted a used/reconditioned steering pump from a 2011 Polo 6R 1.4 petrol
* VCDS can now communicate with 44 – Steering Assist
* Currently no fault codes stored in Address 44
* CAN Gateway occasionally recorded 01309 J500 – No Signal/Communication – Intermittent, although after clearing it hasn’t consistently returned

Current VCDS live data

Engine running:

* Terminal 30: 13.77 V
* Terminal 15: 13.77 V
* Pump Motor Speed (specified): approximately 1254 RPM
* Pump Motor Speed (actual): 0 RPM
* Pump Motor Current: 0.0 A

The interesting part is that when I turn the steering wheel, the specified pump RPM increases, so J500 appears to recognise steering demand and requests additional pump speed.

However:

Specified RPM increases → Actual RPM remains 0 → Motor current remains 0.0 A

There is still absolutely no steering assistance.

The replacement pump came from a 2011 1.4 petrol Polo 6R, whereas mine is the 2011 1.2 petrol, so I’m now wondering whether the replacement J500/pump requires different coding/parameterisation or whether the pump motor/power stage itself isn’t operating.

I’ve found examples of Polo 6R TRW steering coding such as 11250, 11230 and 11220, but I don’t want to start changing coding without confirming what’s correct for the vehicle/pump combination.

Has anyone seen a Polo 6R where J500 shows a valid specified pump RPM which increases with steering demand, but actual pump RPM and motor current remain at zero?

Would incorrect coding/parameterisation cause this behaviour, or does this point towards the pump/J500 motor output stage or another electrical issue?

Any advice on the correct coding for a 2011 Polo 6R 1.2 petrol and compatibility with the 1.4 pump would be greatly appreciated.

Just a complete guess here, maybe the car does not have a steering position sensor under the steering wheel and the replacement pump came from a car that did have have and use that sensor - instead of the sensor on the steering rack.

I'm lucky, while running and looking after a 2002 VW Polo 1.4 and a 2009 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 SC from new for 13 years and 10 years respectively, I managed to avoid ending up with electro-hydraulic steering system issues. The 2009 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 SC did have the steering sensor under the steering wheel - but at that point in time, only seemed to use it to switch the front fog light on during steering inputs.

The donor car's pump is compatible, but the electronics (MOSFET) may be good or bad.
A fresh Autoscan is necessary for correct coding (ABS? ESP?, etc...) and to be able to provide output tests if/in case of VCDS/diagnostic tool has included them.

The fact that Specified Pump Speed increases when you turn the steering wheel is a huge clue, your G250 sensor is actually working perfectly and communicating, the J500 steering module knows there is steering demand and is actively requesting the motor to spin.
The issue is that Actual RPM remains 0 and Current is 0.0 A.

The Output Test (if possible), before you touch any coding, we need to bypass the software maps and force the hardware to respond.
Go to Address 44 - Steering Assist.
Go to Output Tests - 03 (with the engine running, or ignition on depending on VCDS prompt).
Trigger the Power Steering Pump Motor Test.

-If the pump spins and consumes Amps during the test, your used pump is 100% fine, and your issue is strictly down to incorrect coding.
-If the pump stays at 0 RPM and 0.0 A during the explicit Output Test, the power transistors in that used replacement pump are dead.

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