paul-g

Okay for whatever reason getting a power drain...haven't driven it in a few days started it a few times to move it around..of course no start. Well popped hood up put charger on it clicked start..went into car nothing..hummm tried again nothing. Went looked at charger..dummy i put cables backwards..omg never done that. Switched got car started...no codes or light (thats good ) went to back out...wth no power steering?????

Does anyone have an idea????? Everything else seems good. Got car on 2amp charge. Tomorrow going to drive to work ..god i hope power steering work. Drove around block still nothing. heeellllppp lol

Bobbrown13

How old is your battery? Computer will start shutting down systems selectively when batterly level gets too low. Power steering was shut off several tiimes before I changed out mine.

BimmerFan52

When you say "no power steering" do you mean you have to muscle the wheel and there is no power assist, or do you mean you are getting an Active Steering error (little steering wheel symbol) on the dash?

An Active Steering system error is very common when your battery runs low.

To reset the active steering, once the car is started turn the steering wheel all the way to the right until it locks, then all the way to the left until it locks, then drive the car a few miles. The error light should go off either then or the next time you start the car.

If you truly have no power steering assist check your power steering fluid reservoir (which if you have sport suspension is shared with the active stabilizer bars). CHF11S fluid only!

paul-g

I have to muscle it. Again everything was working 100%. No lights showing on dash, i have sport package but not sure if i have active steering or not? Not sure how to tell thought it was optional.

as for battery age just changed it with new excide like in may. Got a small draw somewhere maybe? Only thing i've done with in the last month was rear fog mod but i used OEM light switch and OEM wires and they are in factory locations...maybe your right battery so low shut it down. Maybe i got a bad battery...maybe i'll get it load tested. Ill post in am if it works, got charger on it 2 amp load over night should get a proper deep charge like that

audiophool

How's the drive belt?

Bobbrown13

Didnt know this. Good info, thanks!!

turboawd

hopefully you didnt fry anything putting the cables on backwards. did you check to see if your engine belt is ok? any warning lights? any noise?

paul-g

really don't think it would fry anything I was working off the front of the car. so really I sent a positive charge to chassy not thru battery. not saying it couldn't but unlikely. no lights no bells.

got full charge, hope when I start it this morning it goes as planned.i will repost when I get to work to see the results!.

paul-g

everything is back to normal thanks everyone

JayArras

So what did you finally determine was the cause? I having the same issues. I going nuts because the battery, starter, alternator, belts are all testing okay. I even disconnected the IBS on the battery, but it's doing the same thing, so I'm even ruling that out at this point.

An earlier poster stated that the battery starts shutting down systems when the power gets low. I'm beginning to think that's what's happening to me. But what I can't figure out is why can't the battery seem to hold a charge more than a couple of days?