2013 mk 111 , heavy steering  with  various warning lights on....pic attached

 

 

I have read some other posts on this but none which show this..Thanks in advance

What fault cods does VCDS show?

 

Looks like low battery charge and/or an alternator problem to me.

^^^^^^^^^I have not had it on a diagnostic machine as yet . 

What fault cods does VCDS show?

 

Looks like low battery charge and/or an alternator problem to me.

 

That would normally be a snapped auxillary belt, so would the battery light not be on if the charge was non existant?

 

Check the engine, see if you can see if anything is unusual; but I'd be reluctant to drive it anywhere except a close garage until you've at least got a diagnostic reading on it.

If the car has a timing belt be careful the aux belt does not get jamed causing the timing belt to snap. If the aux belt is damaged try and removeit if its still there.

That would normally be a snapped auxillary belt, so would the battery light not be on if the charge was non existant?

...or a failed/failing alternator or battery. It's a 2013 car so the battery could (but shouldn't really) be getting weak after 3 years.

 

The symptoms OP described all seem to point to a lack of electrical power or the power management system shutting down heavy consumers - which is why I suggested getting the fault codes.

Edited 13 August, 20169 yr by PetrolDave

Yes, but still the battery warning light should appear in the maxidot; unless it has and the op hasn't shown us that bit...

Sorry about the delay getting back to the forum on this issue. My man put it on his diagnostic and the fault codes are to numerous to mention. Practically every electrical component had a fault against it. The battery power reading was 12.5 v....normal would be around 14 .5.....This could be a number of things but when he cleared all the codes the car was fine for about 10 days. Happened again, all the errors appeared within a fifteen minute period. Driver waited half an hour, started the car and all was well. Got the codes cleared again ( same amount of errors) and car okay again. He is looking at battery problem? The car is a taxi by the way , so at 80,000 in 3 years the battery may well be gone or going.

Update...car was fine for about a week and same again.....over 100 errors. Any ideas people? My mechanic is baffled in that when he clears the system of faults the car is fine for a period then back they come.

Update...car was fine for about a week and same again.....over 100 errors. Any ideas people? My mechanic is baffled in that when he clears the system of faults the car is fine for a period then back they come.

I've previously had the same symptoms on a mondeo, that was eventually traced to wiring loom crimping fault. Could be something similar here; a loose connection on the canbus.

Update, just been told the steering is at fault. Main error is steering angle sensor....apparently this is all built into the rack and I need a new rack....  

I had something similar (Xmas tree of warning lights, associated "all of them" fault report): The problem was actually the clutch in the alternator drive pulley sticking "open", and the lights and faults were thrown by low system voltage.

 

Oh and on anything else VAG that I'm familiar with you can change the steering angle sensor without changing the rack!

I had something similar (Xmas tree of warning lights, associated "all of them" fault report): The problem was actually the clutch in the alternator drive pulley sticking "open", and the lights and faults were thrown by low system voltage.

 

Oh and on anything else VAG that I'm familiar with you can change the steering angle sensor without changing the rack!

 

I have pm'd you.......how would one decide on the alternator or the sensors? Where in Scotland are you ? 

If the battery was reading 12.5 volts with the engine running at around 2-2500 rpm, then that points to an alternator fault which would then cause all sorts of problems with the electrical system. Does the one shot closing of the drivers window stop when the warning lights are on? That will stop if the system voltage gets too low.

Ian

If the battery was reading 12.5 volts with the engine running at around 2-2500 rpm, then that points to an alternator fault which would then cause all sorts of problems with the electrical system. Does the one shot closing of the drivers window stop when the warning lights are on? That will stop if the system voltage gets too low.

Ian

I will get the driver to check this, thanks.

I have pm'd you.......how would one decide on the alternator or the sensors? Where in Scotland are you ? 

Only benefit of  PM is that I get an e-mail copy of the message; I can't answer any sooner.

 

The more systems throw errors at once, the more likely it is that your issue is actually low voltage. In my case I had, from memory, every sensor associated with ABS, traction control, engine and Climatronic throwing about 100 "errors" between them, oh and the stereo and ventilation fan switched themselves off (which was nice; the car was trying to save electricity for me). Change of clutch pulley (we could see the alternator wasn't spinning), delete the fault log and everything returned to normal.

 

I'm in a deep corner of the islands, so not able to respond in person rather than electronically.

Only benefit of  PM is that I get an e-mail copy of the message; I can't answer any sooner.

 

The more systems throw errors at once, the more likely it is that your issue is actually low voltage. In my case I had, from memory, every sensor associated with ABS, traction control, engine and Climatronic throwing about 100 "errors" between them, oh and the stereo and ventilation fan switched themselves off (which was nice; the car was trying to save electricity for me). Change of clutch pulley (we could see the alternator wasn't spinning), delete the fault log and everything returned to normal.

 

I'm in a deep corner of the islands, so not able to respond in person rather than electronically.

Thanks for the response much appreciated....and sounds just like the issues I am having....Pardon me for asking  but where are the angle sensors located on the vehicle?....just out of curiosity.

 

regards