battery and/or power steering

[neil_g]

Tonight as I started the car to leave work I got the power steering light come on. Checked it around d the carpark and felt fine so drove it to the nearest petrol station. Turned it off and on again and the light went away.

Now the last couple of weeks my lights dim when selecting reverse also my fan keeps speeding up and slowing down.

On the other hand my steering feels a little lighter than normal.

Am I right in thinking this is just a case of battery vs winter and im imagining the light steering?

 

[neil_g]

Pd130 by the way..

 

[.Phase]

your steering is Electro-Hydruallic and draws ALOT of battery power, especially at low speeds such as parking and therefore causes your lights to dim a little when steering, this is completely normal =]

When you put the car into reverse your fans automatically speed up to stop you choking on engine fumes, this is normal too =]

could be telling you your fluid is low? worth a check tbh!

 

[matthab]

mine does this its completely normal. Check levels and if you have a volt metre you could read what the voltage is while running and off.

 

[neil_g]

your steering is Electro-Hydruallic and draws ALOT of battery power, especially at low speeds such as parking and therefore causes your lights to dim a little when steering, this is completely normal =]

When you put the car into reverse your fans automatically speed up to stop you choking on engine fumes, this is normal too =]

could be telling you your fluid is low? worth a check tbh!

The fans dip when in forward gears too.

I have noticed when I start it up the volt gauge doesn't read normal unless the engine is revd?

 

[.Phase]

sounds like battery then!

guessing by volt meter and the rear TDi badge you got an '02 or '03 reg?
these cars are quite demanding on the battery so it's probably just worn out
worth charging up but if it keeps repeating you'll probs need to replace

I would still check fluid for the crack tho =]
take car on a long drive and let alternator do it's work?
are you doing alot of journeys under 8 miles? I heard it takes 8 miles to recharge the battery the amount it takes to start the car?

 

[RUM4MO]

The fans dip when in forward gears too.

I have noticed when I start it up the volt gauge doesn't read normal unless the engine is revd?

Does the charge indicator come on when the "ignition" switch is on but the engine has not been started? Also, if you do this in the dark, start the engine and allow it to idle and switch the headlights on, are they a bit dim until you rev the engine up to 2K>3K RPM - but stay bright if the engien is allowed to return to idle? If so, the alternator load signal wiring and the excitation feed to the alternator wiring might have broken near the plug/socket near te engine/gearbox junction. This is a common fault and relatively easy to fix. Now if some of what I've described is not "happening", then it might just be a weak or dying battery or anothe alterator problem - or the car is only used for short journeys and is running the battery down.

 

[neil_g]

It's an 03 yeah.

Does 70 motorway miles a day.

Is the power steering guff under the battery?

Not noticed any other lights on, the power steering one has only cone on this once too..

 

[bald_eagle]

yep your load signal wire to the alternator has snapped,same thing happened to me a few weeks ago and had exactly the same symptoms you are getting including the power steering light.
the volts not rising until you rev it is a dead give away.another way to check is see if the red battery light comes on when you turn on the ignition if it doesn't that's your fault

look under the front of the car with a torch on the passenger side it should be pretty obvious

there's a guide to fixing it in the faq section.

 

[pete34a]

I've got an '02 TDi with similar symptoms, culminating in calling the AA out last night. Apparently its still on the original battery, which is now struggling to hold a charge in the cold weather. Replacement battery should solve the problems.

I too have to rev the engine to get the voltmeter up from 8V to 14V. It doesn't mean your alternator or load signal wire is faulty. The alternator doesn't start charging until you rev it, so a struggling battery won't recover from starting the engine until you rev it.

 

[Nath.]

I've got an '02 TDi with similar symptoms, culminating in calling the AA out last night. Apparently its still on the original battery, which is now struggling to hold a charge in the cold weather. Replacement battery should solve the problems.

I too have to rev the engine to get the voltmeter up from 8V to 14V. It doesn't mean your alternator or load signal wire is faulty. The alternator doesn't start charging until you rev it, so a struggling battery won't recover from starting the engine until you rev it.

^^^^What Bald Eagle posted above is a well documented fix for your fault. IIRC Muddyboots was the one who posted the fix years ago.

 

[bald_eagle]

I've got an '02 TDi with similar symptoms, culminating in calling the AA out last night. Apparently its still on the original battery, which is now struggling to hold a charge in the cold weather. Replacement battery should solve the problems.

I too have to rev the engine to get the voltmeter up from 8V to 14V. It doesn't mean your alternator or load signal wire is faulty. The alternator doesn't start charging until you rev it, so a struggling battery won't recover from starting the engine until you rev it.

not true ,
since i fixed my load signal wire no revving is required,voltmeter goes up to 14 volts straight away after the engine has started before it didn't move from 8v until revs rose above 2000 and as NATH said this is a very common fault and should be the first thing the op checks.

 

[pete34a]

Just checked whether the battery light illuminates on ignition - it doesn't... I had better check the load signal wire then!!!

Sorry for the bad advice - the battery did fail a drop test so just assumed this was the route cause.

 

[bald_eagle]

Just checked whether the battery light illuminates on ignition - it doesn't... I had better check the load signal wire then!!!

yeah that will be it,good news really as its quite easy to fix,

doesn't mean you wont need a new battery in the end if its getting on a bit but at least if you do it will be charging correctly.

 

[Guinness]

However not a fun fix in the snow . I did this to mine after having had a broken load signal wire for 2 years!.

It can go unnoticed.