Technical Red steering wheel light

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Technical Red steering wheel light

Mine been like this too.... also got a heating issue.... would they be connected?

Chris
 
Not that long Ha Ha

Glad it’s all sorted

My girlfriend's 100hp had the light come on once about 2 years ago.

It has been fine since until last week when it is coming on every time I drive it, but not when she drives it!?!?

It's got a newish alternator and a 6month old battery. Happens when going round a roundabout.

It's just makes you think it is ok and then throws that at You when you least expect it. Steering is fine though
 
I’ll be taking it for some longer runs throughout the winter period - COVID restrictions permitting of course, so that the battery is kept tiptop.
 
Looks like I spoke too soon. Light came on today and stayed on, but steering feels fine. Any ideas?
 
100HP has the steering in high power mode by default. Sports mode peps up the engine (slightly) and turns down the steering power.

Connect a voltmeter, you can see while driving, to an ignition controlled circuit. It's possible the system volts are dropping causing the steering to trip out.
 
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100HP has the steering in high power mode by default. Sports mode peps up the engine (slightly) and turns down the steering power.

Connect a voltmeter, you can see while driving, to an ignition controlled circuit. It's possible the system volts are dropping causing the steering to trip out.

The steering isn’t tripping out, and if it wasn’t for the light being on you wouldn’t think that there was anything wrong with the car. I did a slightly longer commute to work today to try and help get some charge going. Car feels absolutely fine to drive. Guess One fix might be doing a longer commute on some days?
 
But it seems odd as you have new battery and alternator

It isn't always the battery or alternator that's responsible; there are other reasons why the light may be on. If the light is on but the steering still works normally, it's less likely to be a battery issue. It's still the first thing to check, but in this case I think something deeper is going on.

I'd like to put this car onto proper diagnostics and see what faults are stored. It needs to be MES or Examiner; a generic code reader isn't sufficient.

I'd also like to run a steering recalibration from MES.

I've a theory about this, but I need more information. I've had similar, equally hard to explain issues with the Power Steering on the 1.2 Panda that are definitely not battery or earth related.

Sometimes putting a higher load on the steering motor clears the fault, hence the suggestion to put the steering into city mode. If it works normally in city mode (with or without the light being on), then it's unlikely to be a battery voltage issue. If the battery is weak, selecting city mode usually trips out the steering relay. The relay makes a distinctive 'click' when it trips out (and if you are stationary or going slowly, the steering gets a whole lot heavier).

The latter test is also worth doing if contemplating buying a secondhand car with electric power steering.
 
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It isn't always the battery or alternator that's responsible; there are other reasons why the light may be on. If the light is on but the steering still works normally, it's less likely to be a battery issue.

I'd like to put this car onto proper diagnostics and see what faults are stored. It needs to be MES or Examiner; a generic code reader isn't sufficient.

I'd also like to run a steering recalibration from MES.

I've a theory about this, but I need more information. I've had similar, equally hard to explain issues with the Power Steering on the 1.2 Panda that are definitely not battery or earth related.

Battery is 2 years old, but car does do a lot of short journeys. What other information would you need to confirm/refute your theory.
 
Just drove home with minimal electric items on (even set interior light to permanently off as well). No light on way home - know it’s still early days but will sound longer drive to work again tomorrow.
 
No light on way home

I was hoping you might return and post that.

Sometimes switching in & out of city mode can put the light off - it's one reason I suggested you try it.

I don't think you have a battery or charging issue.

Now we need someone who really understands how the system works to explain exactly what has to be there for the light to come on. As you've already discovered, it doesn't in itself necessarily mean you've lost power to the steering (although that can happen when the light comes on, too - so be ready for it).
 
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