Hey all hope someone can help me.

I left my 1.9 Multijet 150 HP Bravo to the mechanic last week for a routine timing belt and water pump change.

When I picked the car up after the work was complete, I noticed it was struggling a little bit to turn over. I kept this in the back of my head though as it started up OK. I took it home and thought nothing more of it.

Next day I get up for work and BAM! Flat battery. Never happened before in 5 years + of owning the car. I jump started it with the wife's car and got myself to work. I rang the mechanic who said this seems like the battery could be faulty. Well, it was still the original factory battery which was over 9 years old now so figured it was due anyway.

Stuck a new battery in on Sunday and all seemed well. Got to work on Monday morning and no problems.

BUT, when I left work about 5 PM this evening, the car started OK but the power steering failed and the battery light came on. I can stop and start the car OK and the power steering will work for about a minute before it goes off but the battery light stays on.

I have checked the terminals and they are securely fitted. What could cause my battery to drain so quickly? Is this why the power steering is failing? How come this would happen straight after a timing belt/water pump change?

The mechanic is a good guy and has done great work for me in the past but I'm not sure where to go with this one? If I was being cynical I would say that the car had absolutely no battery/starting/power steering problems before I left it with him. Seems that something has gone wrong as a result of this work.

Could the alternator be knackered? Strange that this would fail at the same time this work was done though?

I'm at a loss here hope someone can shed some light on it!

Cheers

Two possible causes:
1. Bad earth cable(s) between battery and chassis and chassis to engine / gearbox. This is most likely if the battery warnng light is not coming on.

2. Faulty alternator or connections. Normally this would cause warning linht to come on but a broken wire may not bing the light on. Easy check is measure voltage with engine at fast idle. Should be at leasr 14V.

As you can see from above it is most likely that a cable has been disturbed during the work. Ground cables are favorite, search forum for battery ground cable. Could have been corroding for years but making contact and moving them, even slightly, for belt access made them fail, but still look OK.

Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

Two possible causes:
1. Bad earth cable(s) between battery and chassis and chassis to engine / gearbox. This is most likely if the battery warnng light is not coming on.

2. Faulty alternator or connections. Normally this would cause warning linht to come on but a broken wire may not bing the light on. Easy check is measure voltage with engine at fast idle. Should be at leasr 14V.

As you can see from above it is most likely that a cable has been disturbed during the work. Ground cables are favorite, search forum for battery ground cable. Could have been corroding for years but making contact and moving them, even slightly, for belt access made them fail, but still look OK.

Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Just an update on my journey to work this morning. Car started no problem. Drove off and power steering failed and battery light on after about one min.

After about 25 mins I started getting warning for Airbag, EBD fail etc. Then wipers were slowing down, dash went dim, the temperature was displayed as --C but then the wipers stopped working and it was raining so that was pretty dangerous. I turned the A/C off and the dash lit up again and everything was back to normal including power steering and no battery light.

Clearly something has messed with the electrics but not sure if this additional info will help to pinpoint the problem further.


Thanks!

Loose auxiliary belt

Robert G8RPI