Hi there,

Last night I had a few problems, first of all when I started the car the power steering would be really heavy, then after turning off and on would sort the problem, then after a few miles after turning the car on and off when driving I had a battery light on. Then after travelling home with the battery light still on the esp,abs airbags started beeping at me saying they had all failed.

This morning I tried jumpstarting the car with booster cables and the battery is so dead that I cannot even start it at all, all it does it clicks. I have a gunson machine which tests the power of the battery etc, as I wanted the car to start to see if the alternator is working correctly. Does anyone have any ideas? Like leaving the jump leads on for say 10mins? As my machine when connected says my battery had 0-25% charge when the jump leads are connected but as soon as I try and start it the battery goes completely flat?

Many Thanks

My power steering is also very heavy when I've first start the car but soon as I start to move the car it's fine. It been like this since I've owned the car (9 months) and I've never had any lights or failures yet.

Has all this engine on and off flatten the battery?

The car doesn't even start at all just clicks. I couldn't imagine turning off the car maybe 5-6 times would completely flatten the battery?

If your jumping it from a good source (eg a fully charged battery of the correct or greater capacity or a running car) the car should start fine also are the jump leads upto the task if your jumping a big engine some cheapo leads might not be up to the job.....

clip the earth (negative) jump lead onto a metal part of the engine and make sure all the connections are solid and terminals and lead clamps are clean so the clamps can transfer the full power available from the donor

to check the alternator just use a multimeter initally normally a battery in its charged state holds about 12-13VDC when the car is running this should increase to 14-15VDC

I had the same problem as yours a few weeks ago, turns out that my alternator had failed and wasn't charging the battery.

The power steering is electric so after the car has been running from the battery which is not being topped up by the alternator it is the first to go, then the abs, hill holder etc.
Followed later by the car misfiring as it can't inject fuel into the engine. (limited knowledge here so may be wrong)

Just yesterday after having a new alternator for a few weeks i had to call the AA out as mine was doing the same as yours. It was just clicking when trying to start, not even attempting to turn over.
To my embarrassment it was that the battery terminals weren't tight enough and it started fine after this.

has your belt snapped?

Engine size/details?...has car got aircon as these seize/fail.

Im having this problem too, Ive had a new alternator and belt fitted, when I turn the car on I have the battery light on and no EPS yet with a multimeter between both terminals Im getting 14 - 14.8V with the engine running

turning the engine quickly off and on takes the battery light off and gives me full power steering

Every morning I go out to the car the battery is flat, If I disconect the battery at night the car starts first time on the next start up, thus ruling out a duff battery

I deffo have voltage drain somewhere, could this be linked to the problems above?

If the battery is low on charge then it could easily die overnight. If i leave mine for a couple of days at the minute without using it my battery is dead and needs to be jumped and their is nothing draining it. Im not having any problems with my PS or any other electrics on the car.