Hello,

 

While driving on the motorway yesterday my battery light came on and power steering simultaneously failed. Nursed it to the hard shoulder as the steering was exceptionally heavy, even for a non assisted steer. Didn't fancy driving it 50 miles home so got it recovered. Any ideas what could be the cause before I take it in? Got a 1.9 diesel Octavia, 2004.

 

Cheers

First check the drivebelt hasnt snapped,if its ok get the charging system checked as the alternator may have failed. 

Power steering is electric so not surprising it failed when the battery light came on.

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Mikey VRS - Will have a look tomorrow, cheers for the advice

 

Trundlenut - The car starts no problem though, wouldn't it fail to start if it was a wider electrics issue?

Difficult to tell, a scan for fault codes will help narrow down the cause.

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Check first the tightness of the Battery Terminals then the earths, engine earth ?

I thought the power steering is driven by the aux belt, as you have to remove the power steering pump pulley to change the alternator. I would certainly think the belt has come off, if it has then it would be worth checking both the auto tensioner and the alternator pulley to make sure they both rotate freely.

I thought the power steering is driven by the aux belt, as you have to remove the power steering pump pulley to change the alternator. I would certainly think the belt has come off, if it has then it would be worth checking both the auto tensioner and the alternator pulley to make sure they both rotate freely.

If the car is a mkII then no, the steering is completely electric, there is no pump.

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I thought it was a charging warning light, not a battery warning light.

It should tell you there is a problem with the charging side - belt, alternator or wiring etc.

Battery problems come later.

Cheers for all the help - drive belt has snapped and is still in the car (can't get it out so it must be stuck on something) so will get it in the garage asap. Think there will be enough charge to get it the half mile to them. Any idea of costs to replace at a garage? I know the belt is only a tenner but presume there is an hour or two's labour as it seems pretty tricky to access.

You might only be looking at half the story there, usually for a belt to snap something has caused it ie. A pulley such as the alternator or air con may have seized

You might only be looking at half the story there, usually for a belt to snap something has caused it ie. A pulley such as the alternator or air con may have seized

 

The air con hasn't worked for years although with it being hot I did have the button pressed the day before in vain hope. Thinking back there has been a slight squeal at low speeds for the last few weeks. The belt is frayed most of the way along the bits that I can access so it looks like the damage may have been caused over time. 

 

Should I be able to just rock the pulleys if they are unseized, as I might have a little play with them if I can do any more diagnosing before taking it in?

If the compressor seizes the axle is supposed to snap so that the pulley continues to turn.

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If the compressor seizes the axle is supposed to snap so that the pulley continues to turn.

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Yeah I've heard that theory too :-)

(Have also heard of some seizing)