Hello FF'ers. This is my first post on your very useful site. I've been a regular reader for a while and found the info and knowledgable indispensable. I've now joined in the hope someone can answer my current problem before I spend a fortune out with money I simply don't have.
My power steering warning light came on a few months ago with the audible warning and with an engine stop/start it seemed to cure itself. About a week later it came back on and remained on. The steering then also reverted to very heavy manual. I also noticed that when I turned right there was a grinding noise, until the car was back to straight again. This only happens above 10mph, as I later drove it in a circle turning constantly to the right to see if I could hear it better.
I checked for a reservoir thinking the fluids had dropped, but of course, this is an electronic car and doesn't have one. Your forums have suggested it to be an voltage issue and potentially down to a dying battery, which has now been replaced and the fault still remains. I have checked internal fuses, all of which are in tact. I HAVEN'T checked the larger fuses in the engine bay (i.e. the grey & black sealed 50Amp+ ones) or any relays (wouldn't know where to begin).
However, I'm curious about the grinding noise to when turned to the right. Has anyone encountered this? Is it a new rack? Is it a cable?? I couldn't see anything obvious when I took the O/S wheel off, but I'm not a mechanic.
Also, as an added bonus, when the new battery was connected and I first turned it over, not only was the good old PS warning light there but also an engine management one too!! :bang:
As my car's in need of an MOT and I know power steering will fail it, will EM also fail it?? The more worrying thing is that the diagnosis port inside the glove box looks like it's been pushed in too far, so fault finding electronically (as well as clearing faults) may not be that simple...
Your thoughts/experience/advice all greatly apppreciated!
My power steering warning light came on a few months ago with the audible warning and with an engine stop/start it seemed to cure itself. About a week later it came back on and remained on. The steering then also reverted to very heavy manual. I also noticed that when I turned right there was a grinding noise, until the car was back to straight again. This only happens above 10mph, as I later drove it in a circle turning constantly to the right to see if I could hear it better.
I checked for a reservoir thinking the fluids had dropped, but of course, this is an electronic car and doesn't have one. Your forums have suggested it to be an voltage issue and potentially down to a dying battery, which has now been replaced and the fault still remains. I have checked internal fuses, all of which are in tact. I HAVEN'T checked the larger fuses in the engine bay (i.e. the grey & black sealed 50Amp+ ones) or any relays (wouldn't know where to begin).
However, I'm curious about the grinding noise to when turned to the right. Has anyone encountered this? Is it a new rack? Is it a cable?? I couldn't see anything obvious when I took the O/S wheel off, but I'm not a mechanic.
Also, as an added bonus, when the new battery was connected and I first turned it over, not only was the good old PS warning light there but also an engine management one too!! :bang:
As my car's in need of an MOT and I know power steering will fail it, will EM also fail it?? The more worrying thing is that the diagnosis port inside the glove box looks like it's been pushed in too far, so fault finding electronically (as well as clearing faults) may not be that simple...
Your thoughts/experience/advice all greatly apppreciated!