General Light on my dashboard.....

[manpunt]

Hello guys, i am wondering if anyone knows what this light means. It comes on and off every now and then on my dashboard instrument panel. I don't think its anything too serious but would appreciate some help. I know its something to do with the power steering possibly.
(The light in question is an illuminated red steering wheel)

 

[s and b]

wifes just pointed hers out to me
i explained turn engine off and ALL ancillaries
turn engine back on but dont touch anything
her light went out and off she toddled
its due to too big a load on the electrics usually causing the computer brain to cut the power to the steering ecu/motor to conserve voltage thingies
try my potion and call back if you get frogs from the dash

 

[manpunt]

Its been happening for a few months now. Doesnt affect my driving at all, went thru a recent mot and full service.. it just bugs me when it comes on. What do you mean by 'ALL ancilleries'

 

[fingers99]

Its been happening for a few months now. Doesnt affect my driving at all, went thru a recent mot and full service.. it just bugs me when it comes on. What do you mean by 'ALL ancilleries'

Anything that uses electrical power.

It's the power steering failure light. Theory -- and it's a good one -- it's that it's triggered by too high an electrical demand on a (probably) not quite up to scratch alternator/battery.

 

[manpunt]

I see, so a new battery might be whats needed?

 

[homeward]

I see, so a new battery might be whats needed?

Yup. But test the old one -- or have it tested -- first...!

 

[fingers99]

Most factors will do a drop test on a battery for free.

If the battery is OK, test the alternaqtor output with a multimeter between the battery terminals:
Engine off
Engine running, lights off
Engine running, full beam

Post the results.

 

[Ziggy122]

The punto's 60 and 70amp alternator isn't able to cope with heavy electrical demand, espically in the cold

If you have a 40ah and a 70amp alternator - you've got 110amps
I totted it up
10x2 for front lights
10x1 (assumes) for all the side lights)
Wipers, heaters, rear demisters, stereo and before you know it
That 110amps is been pulled once over, untill you start driving and the alternator is spinning faster and is then able to cope

So in the cold weather and bumper to bumper traffic, the EPS kinda looses out, and trips into failsafe mode (turns off but allows manual steering)

So as S+B said, turns everything off - restart the car, and it'll usually clear

Ziggy