Technical Please help! Steering light flashed once but no other issues?

[MariaB14]

Hi, I'm really hoping someone can help me! This is my first car, I'm a 20 year old female and I'm really cautious taking this issue to a garage in case they charge me an arm and a leg.
I have a second hand 05 punto, slightly high 128,000 mileage. I've been driving it around 2 months no issue. However I was driving down a straight road yesterday and my steering got incredibly heavy and the steering light flashed on. I managed to drive it home, engine off and on and all was fine. I've been on three separate trips since and nothing has gone wrong. I called out a mechanic to have a quick look, but all he really did was test the wheel and say I might have to get the whole steering column replaced (which at £600 is a no-go). I'm just annoyed that now I'm worrying it's going to happen again, I'm panicky whenever I'm getting in the car and starting it. I've read online that it can just be a loose wire or battery issues. Not that it matters but I hadn't drove the car for two days and it had been left out in rain and cold, so I don't know if this had some effect.
What should I do? Should I be worried?

 

[Ziggy122]

Weak batteries or poor batteries suddenly get worse soon as its cold

When a battery fails to provide enough electrical juice to power the powersteering which can at times be pretty greedy

Since its been fine since, i'd suspect without code reading that it was just a power issue

----

My advice, go to your local halfords and ask for a free battery test
They can then tell you whats going on with
While your there - ask them for the result
(they will tell you Pass, advise, replace), but what you want to know is the CCA reading

For example
Say your battery from new provided 350cca (Cold cranking amps)
And now its only producing 200CCA on testing
it means that battery would be at only 57% capacity
That means 43% of it has died *sulphicated*

That 43% is alot really, when you consider, winters literally around the corner
You have your lights on, fans on, rear heated screen, stereo playing
Without realising it, the alternator is now under alot of stress, to provide, and the battery should be there to support, but it may not be supporting enough

Then in comes power steering, demanding full juice as your parking in a carpark, and there isn't any juice for it
Simply the powersteering goes - screw you guys - im going home, and switches off

I believe they can also do an alternator test using the same diagnostic
Which checks voltage output atleast, i believe thats free

Its an easy step - halfords will try to sell you a battery, but i wouldnt there expensive, and dont have to buy one with them

Ziggy

 

[MariaB14]

Thank you! You've really eased my mind, I'll head to halfords to get it checked out tomorrow ?

 

[flisko]

got link of battery testers that show CCA?

 

[Ziggy122]

got link of battery testers that show CCA?

Its what ever Halford use

Ziggy

 

[flisko]

Its what ever Halford use

Ziggy

link

 

[oldhammer]

got link of battery testers that show CCA?

Look for 'sealey, or Autool.