This sounds like it could be one of 2 things; Either your battery is extremely bad or (more then likely) your alternator is failing. Your vehicle has power assisted steering which needs to alternator to generator electricity for it. Advance Auto and Auto Zone have free alternator and battery testing, I would suggest having them test both of these on your car. If you are handy with a voltmeter you can run a quick test by yourself.
1. Place the red lead on the positive side of the battery and the black lead on the negative side of the battery.
2. Read the Voltage level. A healthy battery with the car not running will have a voltage of 12.6 and a reading of 13-14 volts when the vehicle is idling.
3. Record a reading with the car off and with the car running.
After this you will know what direction to head in for repairing your vehicle.
Your car is fitted with PAS (power steering) when your engine is not running, the power steering pump will not function, thus making the steering heavy (feels like you cant move it, but you actually can, its just very very stiff and hard) when the battery light came on, and the steering went off, this is a sign that your ALTERNATOR (the battery charger) and POWER STEERING PUMP are on the same BELT, thus if the belt snaps, the light comes on and the steering gets heavy/stuck/hard.
You need to fit a new alternator belt as yours has more than likely snapped (common for all cars) and unless a new belt is fitted, you battery will go flat after a while too, as the alternator is the batteries power source (charger) when the engine is running! however the car will still drive/run, but i wouldnt advice it, as this will soon shorten the batteries power.
If you dont know how to fix it, you need to go to a garage/mechanic and tell them you need: A NEW ALTERNATOR BELT FITTING (they will charge for this service) this should then solve your problem!!
Maybe you serpentine belt. It controls your alternator, power steering , AC. This would be an easy fix if it was just the belt
These problems are all due to a defective rotating ribbon contact that breaks under the steering wheel thios part connects the airbag and horn and cruise to the wiring harness. This part is called the clock-spring contact, a coiled up ribbon electrical contact that turns with the steering wheel while maintaining a mechanical connection to the airbag mounted on the steering wheel, to replace this part you must disarm the airbag system and remove the steering wheel, this requires a special steering wheel puller tool and that you disarm the airbag system before you start the work, to do this disconnect the battery negative cable for 1/2 hour prior.
660 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×