Power Steering Light then Stall ?

[davmcn]

Hi guys,

I just got home from work after driving in this lovely winter storm.

As I was just about to back into my drive way the car displayed a Power Steering Malfunction light, and the car looked as if it was about to stall.


I reversed it into the driveway, and turned it off, and turned it back on to see if it was just the one time thing.


Car turned on, no lights came on right away, tried reversing in, and the light/stall came again.

I was able to get the car into the tent before it stalled again, but what's the cause of this?

Winter Blues on a blue Mazda 3 ?

[loosecannon]

Any check engine lights?

I've had this happen to me before. It was pretty serious. I thought my ECU was toast cause the error code pointed me to it.

[davmcn]

Any check engine lights?

I've had this happen to me before. It was pretty serious. I thought my ECU was toast cause the error code pointed me to it.

The story goes on, this morning I come out to my car, unlock it and get in. As soon as I try to turn on the car the battery dies and I have to boost it.


Why would the battery of died over night ? It was around 0 last night.

Also no light for malfunction of steering this morning on the way to work just the battery now.

[peterm15]

Have your battery and alternator checked.
It's not greatly likely, but it is possible your battery or alternator is on its way out, turning your wheel may have put to much stress on the system to keep it going.

[davmcn]

Have your battery and alternator checked.
It's not greatly likely, but it is possible your battery or alternator is on its way out, turning your wheel may have put to much stress on the system to keep it going.

Alternator is good. Battery is currently being reconditioned.

Car sat outside all day at work and was able to start later on. Drive home (~30km) park the car in the garage this time, turn it off, try to turn back on, dead... Dead battery ?

[Reddie1337]

Alternator is good. Battery is currently being reconditioned.

Car sat outside all day at work and was able to start later on. Drive home (~30km) park the car in the garage this time, turn it off, try to turn back on, dead... Dead battery ?

Sounds like the battery is toast. We have a lot of collision cars that come in, that if they don't have a good battery the lights will flicker and the radio will restart. It seems like a battery is your best bet.
It seems like the car at idle doesn't keep enough charge. Especially if the car just dies when you shut it off and try to restart. As long as the alternator is fine, it's a battery you have to change.

[goodcase]

This was happening in my brothers car a while back. It ended up being the alternator.

[silverstarmazda]

also, dont hold the steering wheel all the way to lock. it even says so in the manual

[davmcn]

It just turns out that tomorrow I'm going to the dealer for oil change so if I still have problems I'll see what I can get done. How much is an alternator change ?

[loosecannon]

It just turns out that tomorrow I'm going to the dealer for oil change so if I still have problems I'll see what I can get done. How much is an alternator change ?

Definitely cheaper at a private garage. I'd say you get it diagnosed elsewhere. Dealers will charge you for that, whereas private garages are usually cheaper or even free.

[Zuluwun]

I had this exact same problem at the beginning of this winter; turned out to be corroded battery terminals - bought a $4 can of battery cleaner from CT and it entirely solved the problem,my OEM battery is cranking well even on cold mornings. Try that first.

Actually, after re-reading the thread, mine seemed to be worse than yours. Turning the steering wheel at any rpm under about 2000 would cause the PS to quit (with warning light) and the engine to bog. I had to rev the engine to keep PS working and stop the car from stalling.

[davmcn]

I had this exact same problem at the beginning of this winter; turned out to be corroded battery terminals - bought a $4 can of battery cleaner from CT and it entirely solved the problem,my OEM battery is cranking well even on cold mornings. Try that first.

Actually, after re-reading the thread, mine seemed to be worse than yours. Turning the steering wheel at any rpm under about 2000 would cause the PS to quit (with warning light) and the engine to bog. I had to rev the engine to keep PS working and stop the car from stalling.

I had around the same problem as your described above. I had an oil change the next and let the battery get reconditioned overnight. I went to the dealership, and they claimed that it's most likely because I turned the wheel to lock, and it caused it to stall. They said the alternator is good to go, and no need to be replaced at all. So all in all, it seemed it was just my foolish ways that one evening, and I haven't done that since, nor had the problem again.

[Zuluwun]

Personally, I've never heard of battery reconditioning so I kind of suspect that they basically did the same thing I did, lol. Maybe left it on a trickle charger or something too.

Obviously the more you turn the wheel, the harder the PS pump is working... It's not like the steering ISN'T designed to be turned all the way to lock.. I'd find it odd to be given that explanation by a dealership. And even after the fact, I wouldn't say you had any fault in the matter (besides maybe battery maintenance? even that's a bit of a stretch).

oh well, in any case the problem was solved and that's the important part.