Technical Power steering warning light

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Technical Power steering warning light

LauraRadfford

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Please can anyone offer advice? My power steering warning light came on and my brakes are sqeeking. Both things began at the same time. Can there be a connection? Does anyone know what this might be? I only had my MOT ten days ago so feeling surprised to have car problems. Not sure if it makes a difference but the car has sat still for 2 days and it has been very rainy. It is a '55 plate, but low mileage at 40,000. Thanks so much for any help anyone can give me. Feeling worried. Zero mechanical knowledge so go easy on jargon please.
 
Power steering very reliant on a battery in top condition. A new battery will almost certainly cure this, especially if your current battery is getting on a bit. There should be a date on it.

Brake noise will not be connected, but probably due to standing in wet conditions. Good luck.
 
Hi,
The power steering light may be because you are starting the car/using headlights/using windscreen washers/turning hard lock on the steering etc at the same time,this will cause a big drain on the battery..due to the fact that the power steering is fully electric this will give a power steering light warning if there is a large strain on the battery/or the battery is on it's way out.
If this is happening when you first start up,turn lights/heater/radio off and then turn the ignition off and restart,if steering warning light is off then just remember to let the car warm up for a minute before switching all lights/turn the wheel full lock etc (I had this happen a couple of times,I never go full lock on the steering wheel until 30 secs after starting up in the mornings..it hasn't happened since).
The noise may be from your alternator belt (slipping)..which would cause battery charging problems..which would cause your power steering warning light to go on.
Get your battery checked (Free at Halfords..but they may try to sell you a new one!),get someone to listen where the noise is coming from (brakes or under the bonnet..alternator).

Tomsk
 
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Mine has been doing this recently along with the battery warning light. However the battery is new and the charge voltage checks out as charging ok.

Connect a voltmeter. Not cold voltage, the drop when motor is turning and the voltage when engine starts. Excessive volts drop while motor is turning suggest weak battery. Poor voltage recovery after it starts suggests weak alternator.

Alternator bearings can seize up and the winding cores can corrode/delaminate.
 
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