Hi every few days we have 'see handbook have power steering checked' and the steering goes heavy.
We do the classic IT speciality of turning the car off and on again and its fine after that.
I have tested the battery after sitting for 10 hours(the car not me ) and its reading 12.7v.
Recently bought the car so not sure how long it was sitting for.
Any ideas please?

Look on the battery to see when it was made if it's more than 3 years old replace it, what she is the car?

It's a 2008.ok I will have a look cheers

Mboyden said:

It's a 2008.ok I will have a look cheers

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Probably on it's second maybe third battery it's usually either hot stamped or printed month and year you could try measuring it with the engine running all lights on heated rear screen on and fan full also if it's not had a new engine earth strap it will need one.

I've been to Halfords and they have tested the battery and they said its fine. He mentioned he had one before with the same issue and it needed a software update. I've booked it into fiat to have a health check done and software check so fingers crossed

John202020 said:

Probably on it's second maybe third battery it's usually either hot stamped or printed month and year you could try measuring it with the engine running all lights on heated rear screen on and fan full also if it's not had a new engine earth strap it will need one.

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My 2009 was on its original battery until last year anyway

chris3234 said:

My 2009 was on its original battery until last year anyway

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You did well then but depends on type of driving lots of short trips would shorten it's life?
Software update, wonder why given nothing has changed for ages to suddenly pop up? Let us know what the dealer turns up?

John202020 said:

You did well then but depends on type of driving lots of short trips would shorten it's life?
Software update, wonder why given nothing has changed for ages to suddenly pop up? Let us know what the dealer turns up?

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No start stop on 2009 models helps a lot

But argreed I'd be surprised if it needs any kind of software updates

Halfords have no idea what they are talking about. The battery might be enough to start it but as your steering is electric it needs a good supply as does start stop which you won’t have with a 2008 car. I would bet it’s the battery. Don’t get one at Halfords!

Www.carparts4less.co.uk

There's more to electricity than volts and I doubt Halfords tested anything more than that as the test to check it's ability to store amps is a bit more involved.

It's more than common for them to feed back healthy voltage but with less than satisfactory amps to run things like big electric motors.

The power steering is electric and it is very power hungry, before rushing off to the dealer it's worth swapping the old battery for a new one.

Repeated posts on this and the Panda sections (with identical steering motors) do seem to suggest this is the best course of action 99.9% of the time.

You could end up paying for dealer tests, updates etc and still need a new battery at the end of it all and as you've no really idea of the condition of the battery's ability to store amps, it makes sense to start there.

I've used https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/ in the past, seem about the cheapest for decent Bosch batteries with 5 and 6 year warranties.

Just to repeat the previous two posters, my Panda 4x4 had this problem. All solved with a new battery.


Spike

This would be my choice £46 with free next day delivery and 4 year guarantee
https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/636/s/varta-b36/

Oh and check that battery earth strap it may look "ok" but if it's original it'll be knackered trust us.
It's the one from the body to the gearbox

ok thank you all for the advice, it gives me something to think about. the test at Fiat is only £30 and that will check the vehicle out too as we've only just bought it so ill keep that appointment just to see what it turns up and ill get a new battery too and check the earth strap

Be prepared for lots of things to crop up in the check?

Is that standard fiat practice?

Had the dreaded "Have Power Steering Checked" light come up soon after buying daughters 500 and was worried about the implications of electric steering column etc, but after getting a brand new battery ( not from Half-Frauds!) the 'problem' went away, so Deffo recommend getting a new ( quality) battery as your first action in sorting this.

Paul m.

Just an update I've fitted a new battery and the same issue is happening so I fear it is something expensive

Mboyden said:

Just an update I've fitted a new battery and the same issue is happening so I fear it is something expensive

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Looks like getting the codes read from it may be your next step that and checking the main eart cables

I think eath cable is the next step.
Oh what engine oil would a 1.4 sport take please?