Technical Panda - power steering / alternator issues...?

[hippycinq]

Hi
I have recently bought a 2009 Panda and after an initial one off squeak on turning the steering wheel right (which went away and hasn't returned), yesterday the steering wheel light came on and resulted in no power steering. Turning the car off and on again turned the light off and returned the steering to normal. We plugged it in to diagnostics and it came up with a steering column and alternator fault. I just wondered if anyone had suffered the same problem and if so, was it a new alternator or new steering column that was needed (or both)? We are of the thinking that maybe the steering is failing due to the alternator not working properly but could be completely wrong. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi.
On a new purchase..
I would suspect the battery

Cheap and easy.. if it doesnt fix the issue.. then at least you can trust any further codes.

Charlie

 

[DaveMcT]

Before you change the battery check the system voltage when engine is running. My wife's car had an alternator that did not charge for about 1/2 mile then it kicked in and all was fine. During that time there was no power steering. Changing the battery of course made no difference. Replacement alternator and all was well again.

I did not check the fault codes but its likely the steering came up as a fault.

These are not super accurate but more than good enough.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=12V+volmeter+&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=12V+volmeter+digital&_sacat=0