Hi all

Had a strange issue this evening whilst driving home - All fine driving then ABS and traction warning lights come on (no sounds) and steering went heavy.
After a couple more miles (trying to find a layby) the battery light came on.
 

I parked up and turned engine off and tried to restart but, for three or four tries it wouldn't start, not even turn over.

Eventually it restarted with no warning lights although trip computer had gone to zero and, about 10 seconds after starting, fuel gauge momentarily went to empty and petrol warning sounded - then gauge went back to full (filled up this morning)

 

It's the second time in about 250 miles for the traction/ABS/steering issue, and the first time it did it I turned everything on to see if that made the issue worse, but tonight was the first time the battery light came on (driving, 50mph ish with lights and radio on)

Battery is less than 3 years old and has never been flat, if that has any bearing

Any ideas?

TIA 🙂
 

have you checked to make sure the battery terminal connections are on tight , just in case there loose ? 

I haven't, but thanks for the suggestion I'll check them tomorrow 👍
Just as more info, I've owned the car for 14 months now, and it's only done this twice in that time, both times in the last week or so.

 

 

The battery terminal was a little loose - not so loose it would lift off the post, but it would move 

Have had a clean up and cranked it down, will see if that's sorted it...

Thanks again for the suggestion

I would check the battery connections first as said above then see if its holding a full charge. Also, could the alternator be on it's way out? I would check the fuse box under the bonnet is water tight too with no evidence of moisture causing a short.

I'd also suggest checking the actual posts on the battery that you connect to as they can sometimes get a sort of calcium deposit growing on them which doesn't do anything to aid conductivity.

Test mode may be handy to check the reading of the batteries charge (hold steering wheel's right OK button whist turning ignition on until is says TEST, then scroll through until you find the battery reading)

Quick update: it's been 1000 miles since I tightened the terminal and the symptoms haven't returned - The posts were a bit mukky, so polished them up too.

I'll check the battery charge too, just to make sure- Thanks again

Fingers crossed for you then, you can't beat a free fix! Thanks for the update.

On 2/20/2019 at 10:59 AM, muggit said:

Quick update: it's been 1000 miles since I tightened the terminal and the symptoms haven't returned - The posts were a bit mukky, so polished them up too.

I'll check the battery charge too, just to make sure- Thanks again

Good stuff, it's always nice when it's (hopefully) a cheap/easy fix.