Hi, I broke down on Tuesday evening, my battery light came on and the steering was really heavy especially after I stopped at junction or lights. The RAC came out and put a temp battery in the car and told me I needed a new alternator. I had the new one fitted today and the battery charged, and the car seemed to drive fine - no warning lights. I drove 10 miles, left the car for 2 hours, when I got back in the battery light came on. I turned the engine on and off and it was fine. I stopped again on the way home, when I got back in the car the light was back on and the steering was really heavy. I turned it on and off again and managed to get home. Do you think this could be just a faulty battery or something more costly? Thanks

Next time instead of switching off and on again, give it a rev @ 2-3000rpm and report back.

Very similar issues I am facing...the battery on my Bravo (1.9 multijet 150 bhp) died out, I jump started the car, and found no power in the steering after a while. Took the car to Halfords, got the new battery, and replaced it hoping all will be OK. The issue is still there! When I start the car, the steering works fine but losses power after a while, a re-start would correct it but it comes back. The battery light in the cluster also comes on when this happens. All was OK working fine before the battery failure. So, if anyone got their similar problem fixed, please share and what was changed, is it alternator? or the power steering motor? of some sensor? I am still surprised how a simple jump start on a flat battery caused all these issues and there is no easy fix in sight! Please share your experiences so that I can figure-out what to do next.

cheers

Why did you replace the battery? Was the old one tested? What is the alternator putting out? No point in buying new parts if you don't know the problem

Switched the car on this morning and there was no battery light, i was on my way down to Halfords to have the battery tested and i noticed my indicators weren't working properly. i got to Halfords and they said i needed a new battery, had that replaced so fingers crossed everything will be working now.

Good point, no I didnt check the old battery.....I suspect the radio kept on which drained the batter. After the jump start, I used the car for a while that battery would retain charge, and it didnt so I decided to change the battery first! So now I can at least start the car without any issues but this whole saga has triggered other issues! Not sure how to fix this power failure in the steering, and the battery light comes on every time this occurs!

ushafiq said:

Good point, no I didnt check the old battery.....I suspect the radio kept on which drained the batter. After the jump start, I used the car for a while that battery would retain charge, and it didnt so I decided to change the battery first! So now I can at least start the car without any issues but this whole saga has triggered other issues! Not sure how to fix this power failure in the steering, and the battery light comes on every time this occurs!

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It's wrong to charge a flat battery with the alternator. Internal resistance is very high and alternator cannot handle the load.

Methinks Halfords staff must be on % commission for batteries! Just because battery is flat does not mean its dead! Other issues like alternator, parasitic drain of alarm or similar!

Everything seemed fine until this morning. Turn the car on and took my son to school. Came back to the car turn the car and and the battery light was on and steering was very heavy again. Tried review it and didn't make any difference. Turn car on and off again and managed to get home again! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Does the car start OK every time? if it does, this means the battery has strength and is OK. Check the terminals just in case.
Get the alternator checked with a Multimeter - at 20V setting, the multimeter should read between 13 to 14v on the terminals with engine running, if OK this would rule out any issues with the alternator.
If everything else is Ok and the issue is the heavy steering only without power,and the battery light is on in the cluster, I would suspect the faulty motor on the steering column.