(T) Daily Power Steering Failure - Temperature related?

Hi guys, I know what causes the electic power steering to fail but would the low temperatures at at start-up be the cause of daily failures? (Its only within the first few minutes of moving)

Probably, low temps kills battery's often

if your still on the original battery you have done very well....... mine died on my 1.2 within 4 years......

Okie dokie

Oh that could be a potential problem then! Yeah it is still original! Only covered about 35k though?

lots of short journeys can be worse for a battery than a car that piles on the miles it takes between 5-10 miles to just put the charge back in from what is used starting the car,,,,,, not to mention what the car uses especially at this time of year fan... lights. heated rear screen for example....


get the battery properly capacity and load tested but chances are that is your issue

That's my problem then, work is 3 miles from me :/
I do go for long drives afterward though.
Thanks for this info!

if that's the case sticking it on a intelligent charger every now and then would help top it up and preserve the battery

It has been given a new battery and I drive it enough every day for it to put charge back into it, yet I still get the power steering failure with out warning???

Have your alternator checked for output. Had similar intermittent problem for a while then after some weeks the battery light illuminated, followed by the whole lot of warning lights, again followed by total blackout and engine cut-out. The battery had allowed immediate start-up but then, without the amps from the alternator, finally packed in. New alternator and battery back to A1 performance.

Had the alternator checked
Unladen - 14.1
Laden - 13.2

Had a new alternator fitted next day and still have the same problem :/
Could it be a fuse relay?

voltage never tells the whole story did they test it at the alternator or on the battery posts? how many amps was the alternator pushing? (its the ampage that charges the battery more than volts,)

could also be the earth strap which goes from battery to chassis leg to gear box

this is why thorough diagnosis at a decent Fiat dealership or Independent is a must as i guess so far you have thrown the best part if not more than £200 at it and still not fixed it..... people moan at diagnostic costs BUT a £60-£80 plug in (Which is often refunded if you have the work done at the garage who diagnosed it) might have pointed to a £25 cable for example

This might point you towards the right (and costly) direction!

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-pun...-steering.html

I'm probably going to sell for an Abarth at the end of the year so i will leave it unless it gets worse. I have cleaned and protected the earthing points last night so i will see if that helps

After cleaning the earthing poitns, all is back to normal