Transit Connect - battery light on and power steering gone

sugarman20

Hi,

Have a Connect with 350k on it. Driving this morning and the battery light came on and the power steering went. Turned the lights off and the power steering came back for a few minutes. Pulled over and couldn't start it again.

Got it towed and they are saying it's the ecu and it needs to be replaced. Everything I read online points to the alternator belt.

Could it be the ecu?

walshtipp

sugarman20 wrote: »

Hi,

Have a Connect with 350k on it. Driving this morning and the battery light came on and the power steering went. Turned the lights off and the power steering came back for a few minutes. Pulled over and couldn't start it again.

Got it towed and they are saying it's the ecu and it needs to be replaced. Everything I read online points to the alternator belt.

Could it be the ecu?

A battery light usually indicates a fault within the charging system. Alternator may not be working or the problem could lie with the battery. Batteries generally only last about 5 years. If the power steering pump isn't getting enough power it could stop working. Have the battery and charging system tested. A motor factors can often do this for you.

Edit - Just realised these use a belt driven PS pump. Possible pump failure could also be your problem.

jetfiremuck

If its on its original alternator thats done great service. As mentioned get the charging system checked.

khaldrogo

It's the drive belt. 100%

walshtipp

khaldrogo wrote: »

It's the drive belt. 100%

Doubt it. If the belt broke the power steering would not come back intermittently like the OP said.

Dirty Nails

walshtipp wrote: »

A battery light usually indicates a fault within the charging system. Alternator may not be working or the problem could lie with the battery. Batteries generally only last about 5 years. If the power steering pump isn't getting enough power it could stop working. Have the battery and charging system tested. A motor factors can often do this for you.

Edit - Just realised these use a belt driven PS pump. Possible pump failure could also be your problem.

Are the later ones not elec power steering?
The Focus acted up like that,stop charging,battery goes low & steering dies.

khaldrogo

walshtipp wrote: »

Doubt it. If the belt broke the power steering would not come back intermittently like the OP said.

Apologies, didn't read that far

Pkiernan

If it has electrically operated power steering, then I'd be looking at the battery and alternator in that order.

I had a similar issue on a Golf when the battery failed.

Isambard

if the power steering is belt driven and the battery light came on, I'd check the belt(s) aren't slipping... if not loose, maybe some oil got on the belt or pulley?

zg3409

If its the alternator it should be possible to jump start it and it'll run for a while at least while jumper pack still connected. Any decent mechanic will run through the top 5 or 6 things. If they say its 700 euro for an ECU get a second opinion quick. While battery, alternator, belt are most common, anything could have broken that prevents restart.

sugarman20

If they say its 700 euro for an ECU get a second opinion quick.

Update: This is similar to what happened. They tried to charge me €750 cash for "fixing" the existing the ECU along with replacing the alternator (also includes a tow). I kicked up a fuss and they took €200 off it. Too kind! :pac: