Power steering

[Anzio]

The power steering light came on yellow this morning, but only when I turn my lights to dipped. Lights off no warning light. Anyone had this, or knows what it could be? 2010 2Ltr Tdi SE 4x4

[Urrell]

Low power steering fluid?

 

[Breezy_Pete]

15 minutes ago, Anzio said:

The power steering light came on yellow this morning, but only when I turn my lights to dipped. Lights off no warning light. Anyone had this, or knows what it could be? 2010 2Ltr Tdi SE 4x4

Battery low on charge.

[Anzio]

Where is the reservoir for power steering fluid?

[Anzio]

What fluid does it take? Battery in good order.

[langers2k]

You almost certainly have electromechanical power steering... There is no fluid

[Urrell]

2 hours ago, langers2k said:

You almost certainly have electromechanical power steering... There is no fluid

I was thinking it was the same system electric hydraulic as on my Fabia. 

[Urrell]

3 hours ago, Urrell said:

Low power steering fluid?

 

 Edit, no fluid

[Anzio]

3 hours ago, langers2k said:

You almost certainly have electromechanical power steering... There is no fluid

I thought it was as I've never noticed a reservoir when doing jobs. I've just come back after a 10 mile drive, no light showing with lights off, but as soon as I switch dipped beam on the yellow steering wheel warning light comes on, it's got me baffled. Steering is just as normal.

[Breezy_Pete]

Try putting a different electrical load on instead of headlights, rear screen heater for example; see if that has the same effect, or not.

[langers2k]

Could just be a fault in the instrument cluster...

 

A VCDS scan would be a good start if you can find a local member to help

[Robjon]

38 minutes ago, Wino said:

Try putting a different electrical load on instead of headlights, rear screen heater for example; see if that has the same effect, or not.

 

^^This^^ 

 

I'm sure I've read in another thread somewhere (maybe Octy or Superb) that the high electrical load taken by power steering can show up the initial signs of a failing battery by randomly lighting up a warning light.

[anderson99]

13 minutes ago, Robjon said:

 

^^This^^ 

 

I'm sure I've read in another thread somewhere (maybe Octy or Superb) that the high electrical load taken by power steering can show up the initial signs of a failing battery by randomly lighting up a warning light.

 

+1 I had this on my old Fabia VRS. It was the battery.

[Anzio]

Thanks for all the replies. I tried different electrical loads but made no difference. Will probably have to get local garage to to run a fault check. My battery is spot on

[Llanigraham]

How do you know the battery is spot on?
Have you checked the resting voltage?

[Urrell]

If the battery is good and it's only bringing the fault light on with headlights and no other loads I don't know how it could be but it sounds like a classic earth fault somewhere.

[Anzio]

14 hours ago, Llanigraham said:

How do you know the battery is spot on?
Have you checked the resting voltage?

Yes, one of the first things I checked.

[Breezy_Pete]

18 hours ago, langers2k said:

Could just be a fault in the instrument cluster...

 

A VCDS scan would be a good start if you can find a local member to help

This is now my favourite hypothesis and course of action.

[Anzio]

I've just realised the light is not glowing bright yellow, it's only very faintly showing. I'll check again for any loose connections.

[Llanigraham]

52 minutes ago, Anzio said:

Yes, one of the first things I checked.

 

Sorry, but how did you check it?
We have had numerous reports on here in the past with people saying the same thing, but they haven't been checking their battery correctly.

[Anzio]

Checked with a Ring Automotive battery tester plugged in to the 12v socket by the handbrake. 

[Llanigraham]

When did you do that?

To do a proper test you need to check the "resting voltage", which needs to be done a couple of hours after the car has been left standing, such as first thing in the morning. If it is below 11.8v then your battery is on it's way out.
 

[Anzio]

Done after yeti had been standing for hours, voltage reading 12.5 

[JED]

Looks to be  Alternator fault  to me put a  volt tester with the engine running heater on head lights on you should be getting 14.5 volts 

[Anzio]

Checked with engine on, heater on lights on, etc reading 14.4 volts