Just posting general info to help with steering or battery issues:


Car wasn't being used a great deal and I had an issue with a dead battery. Swapped it out for a new one and thought that fixed it.

Turned the car on the other day (1 month old battery) and it started fine etc but had the battery warning light on the dash. Car hadn't been used for about 3 weeks again.
Further from this the power steering was also dead. However, no dash light for that....


Tried another battery, charged the new one etc etc. Put a multimeter on the battery and loaded the car and it showed no charge so appeared the alternator was dead.

Had my local garage swap the alternator for a new one and car is back to normal. Power steering is back and working perfectly.


So yeah, just general info. If your steering dies, it requires a working alternator. One other thing to check before chasing down expensive steering fixes!




Thanks, Loved every minute with my 100hp. Great car . Unfortunately now sold

Thanks,

I was fully aware you needed a GOOD battery to satisfy the power hungry PAS,

a short example;

went to buy a punto with a non-charging alternator,

took my panda along and put it's fully charged battery on there ( daily driver - this was an hour away)

started Punto no problem, ( parked for 8 months.):worship:
BUT NO PAS..,:bang:

drove it like this for a couple of miles..but was getting DARK..,

:idea:so I thought now it was warm I would get the rev's high..,

suddenly the charge light was OFF, and the PAS was restored, :woot:

excellent lesson on how greedy the system is..!!

I was also pleasantly suprised how the PAS light just went off while still driving..was expecting it to stay on until a re-start,



have you still got another FIAT?,
Charlie

Unfortunately not. Gone with an EV (Leaf) due to my large commute.