Theres is a battery sign on dashboard and my steering wheel is hard ti turn especially in reverse
My steering wheel is hard to turn especially on reverse and there is batterry light on the dash board
My car has 68600 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello There,
This is a commonly known problem in the Fiats. Your car has a power steering system that is electrically powered which is why the steering becomes difficult when the battery is not charging properly. As the system voltage drops, the power of the electric power steering pump decreases. This may suggest a problem either with the electric power steering itself or with the charging system which is usually a result of a failing alternator or voltage regulator. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
This is a commonly known problem in the Fiats. Your car has a power steering system that is electrically powered which is why the steering becomes difficult when the battery is not charging properly. As the system voltage drops, the power of the electric power steering pump decreases. This may suggest a problem either with the electric power steering itself or with the charging system which is usually a result of a failing alternator or voltage regulator. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
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The stiff steering wheel and flashing Battery Light may be caused by a serpentine drive belt that has broken or come off. It could be that the serpentine belt tensioner pulley was making noise and seized or that the serpentine idler pulley was making noise and seized.
Answered by CarsGuide. The power steering is an electrical system, so a problem with the battery could affect the power assistance. You should still be able to steer the car even without power assistance. It won`t affect the braking.
In normal conditions the battery light will come on when the ignition is switched on to MAR. The light should go out shortly. If light remains on or comes on whilst driving, the battery charge is failing and could signify a faulty battery or alternator. Starting issues are likely to occur. Contact a Fiat technician.
Your battery light, also called the dashboard battery indicator, is designed to let you know about an issue with your vehicle`s battery or charging system. It could indicate that your battery is damaged or worn out, or that the charging system is malfunctioning in some way.
If the battery is dead, you may not be able to turn the key completely to the off position meaning the steering wheel won`t lock—not only that but you won`t be able to get the key out. BTW, not all cars have locking steering wheels—there is no such law.
Now, when it comes to the power steering system, if the alternator fails to supply the vehicle with electrical power, the power steering pump will fail, and you will lose hydraulic pressure needed for assisting in steering. You will also lose many other systems in the vehicle.
A dashboard battery light basically means there`s a battery charging problem. Your car isn`t getting enough voltage from the car battery to operate properly. It needs more “juice!”
Most battery cases are marked positive (+) on one end and negative (–) on the other. These markings indicate the positive and negative battery terminals. The direction of the electric current in a closed circuit is from the negative (–) terminal of the battery to the positive (+) terminal of the battery.
A blown fuse could be a cause of the battery light to come on. Excessive voltage in the electrical system can blow the fuse and prevent charging of the battery. A electrical technician can replace the fuse quickly and it an inexpensive fix.
The Dashboard Lights Flicker
Similar to dimming headlights, these flickering lights are a sure indication of a failing car battery.
Does a low battery affect electric power steering? Yes it does, if the battery is running low the car control unit can switch off the electric power steering. It can be a bit scary if the steering switches off while driving but it is possible and can happen if the alternator fails.
The power steering can and absolutely will go out if the alternator or battery fails while driving.
“If the [battery`s] voltage is low, replace with a new battery or charge the battery to the recommended 14.2 to 14.7 volts,” he says. “Then try to run the vehicle and see if the voltage after is outside of that range. If it is, that`s a sign of a bad alternator.”
The power steering can and absolutely will go out if the alternator or battery fails while driving.
Yes it does, if the battery is running low the car control unit can switch off the electric power steering. It can be a bit scary if the steering switches off while driving but it is possible and can happen if the alternator fails.
system, the electric power steering gets its charge from the battery, and if it drains too much power from your battery, your car may not start. this would be abnormal, and you should get your battery serviced immediately.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Theres is a battery sign on dashboard and my steering wheel is hard ti turn especially in reverse
ANSWER : Hello There,
This is a commonly known problem in the Fiats. Your car has a power steering system that is electrically powered which is why the steering becomes difficult when the battery is not charging properly. As the system voltage drops, the power of the electric power steering pump decreases. This may suggest a problem either with the electric power steering itself or with the charging system which is usually a result of a failing alternator or voltage regulator. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
This is a commonly known problem in the Fiats. Your car has a power steering system that is electrically powered which is why the steering becomes difficult when the battery is not charging properly. As the system voltage drops, the power of the electric power steering pump decreases. This may suggest a problem either with the electric power steering itself or with the charging system which is usually a result of a failing alternator or voltage regulator. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Steering wheel does not center
ANSWER : The problem to me sounds like you have worn out bushings that hold the power steering rack and pinion assembly. This is why your steering wheel gets off center in the direction of the turn. Have the steering inspected and the bushings replaced if they are bad. You should have no problems then.
The battery light still shows after replacing with a new battery and the steering wheel is hard to turn. what is the issue?
ANSWER : Hi there. This sounds like a belt failure or belt driven component failure. First check to see if the belt is broken/missing, then check the driven component pulleys for resistance that may have contributed to the belt failure. If the belt is present and not broken, then check the crankshaft harmonic balancer (pulley) for failure by seeing if the pulley aligns with all of the other pulleys; when a balancer fails, the outer section where the belt rides can move back and forth or come off completely. When the belt is off or broken, the alternator and power steering pump will not work and cause the concerns you are having. You may need a harmonic balancer and/or a serpentine belt. YourMechanic has several available technicians to assist you with a hard steering inspection, belt replacement, and harmonic balancer replacement.
hard to turn steering wheel
ANSWER : You need to have the vehicle taken to a GM dealer to perform the steering recall to fix the power assist. You say that they fixed something, but it sounds like it not repair the hard steering. Get in contact with them again to see if they can address the recall properly. If you would rather not take it back to the dealer, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the steering and can assist you with repair.
steering wheel won’t unlock my key turns only to turn lights on but that’s it can’t unlock steering wheel to start the car what to
ANSWER : The steering lock may not be unlocking either due to a faulty ignition lock housing or more commonly as the cars age a faulty spring at the steering wheel on the under side of the column. If the ignition lock housing is the issue the housing can be replaced. It s a bit tricky as the mounting bolt has break off heads and generally need to be driven out with a punch. If the lock is not disengaging because of a faulty spring on the ignition lock many owners have had the spring removed by having it drilled out of the housing. However, removing the spring may permanently disable the steering lock. The last option would be to replace the steering column. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic who can recommend the proper repair for your situation.
steering wheel turned to the far right and locked in place while the wheel are straight. and I can’t turn the key.
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have provided, concerning your vehicle’s steering wheel is locked far right and key won’t turn with the front wheels in a forward default position, is somewhat confusing to me. It could be, undo pressure is being applied to the steering wheel lock. You could try, physically moving the left front tire side to side in either direction, to relieve the pressure on the steering wheel lock. It could be, the key you are using has a problem, try another key if available. It could be, the ignition lock cylinder is at fault. I recommend having your vehicle’s can’t turn the key be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
Steering wheel is hard to turn – 2005 Nissan Maxim
ANSWER : As you may know, the power steering system is comprised of the power steering pump and the rack and pinion system down in the front underneath your car. These two systems work together with the use of hydraulic fluid being pumped through a series of valves in the rack and pinion system to create hydraulic pressure which is what you notice in the form of power steering assistance.
The rack and pinion pumps power steering fluid through a series of valves which then ultimately push the fluid to the power steering pump. When the fluid does not freely flow through the system, you may notice the steering to be a bit tough as you describe.
To avoid any unnecessary repairs, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your power steering system firsthand.
The battery light turn on when it rains and steering wheel gets jammed for a few seconds. Then battery light turns off it works
ANSWER : This is most likely caused by the serpentine belt slipping. You need to have the belt and tensioner checked for problems and have them repaired as needed. If you need further assistance with this repair, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to inspect your steering system.
