My 2013 fiesta was intermittently cutting out usually in a morning when the car was cold. “power steering malfunction” would light up on the dash. I would restart the car & it would drive fine.

However last week, I started the car & it cut out on me 3 x in 1 day, later that evening, I tried to start the car, it cut out. I turned it back over & the power steering malfunction light come straight on & power steering wouldn’t work at all.

 I thought maybe it could have been a electrical over load, the headlights were on, I had my phone charging & the radio was on?? I had to bump start it a few times recently too. 

The AA said that the power steering module isn’t communicating with the ABS.

Has anyone else had this issue?

I'd check the battery and alternator first before changing any expensive bits. The cold weather may have just been the last nail in the coffin for either one of them.

Failing that I'd guess at a bad ABS module, but it's hard to say when the only info you have is shorthand of what the AA man said lol.

Ideally you need a modified ELM327 lead and Forscan on a laptop. It should give you a few different error codes if you have a low voltage at various modules.

Sorry to hear that , I need more clarification as to what is the engine installed ? And by cutting out you mean it stalls and engine turns off while you are driving ? If so then what happens when you try starting the car again ? Does the engine start immediately or takes long time cranking ? And does it crank normally or you feel like it cranks slowly like its struggling ? Most probably its a battery or alternator but could be other things , we need more clarification and exact description of the symptoms and under what circumstances exactly do these symptoms happen 😊😊

Hi MrsF

Did you get this sorted? I have exactly the same issue, exactly as you described. What did it turn out to be? I would really appreciate your comments..

14 minutes ago, Don Benham said:

Hi MrsF

Did you get this sorted? I have exactly the same issue, exactly as you described. What did it turn out to be? I would really appreciate your comments..

Hello Don, you are very unlikely to get an answer from @MrsF who was a 'One Post Wonder' last visited the site 29th Jan 2021.

The power steering is very sensitive to low battery conditions. Does your car still have the original factory fitted battery ? Possibly time to replace it if it does.

You should also get a Laptop and download FORScan and then you will be able to monitor the EPAS

FORScan (it's free): https://forscan.org/download.html

vLinker FS lead (£40): https://www.bmdiag.co.uk/forscan-diagnostic-cable-for-ford-vgate-vlinker-fs

Thanks Unofix.  Yes it’s the original battery. It’s done nearly 100k and the stop start hasn’t worked for years, so I’m going to change it anyway. Its seems fairly likely to be the problem.

Do you know if you have to register the battery with the onboard computer when fitting it?

 

No Ford's in the UK or Europe have any kind of coded battery. Just replace it like for like. Fully charge the new battery for at least 8 hours (after you fit it on the car).

Connect the charger to the battery positive and the negative to the main chassis earth point (not to the battery negative).

You can reset the Battery Monitor Sensor (BMS) if you want to, but it shouldn't need to be.

Thanks again Unofix.  
I’m getting a new battery tomorrow.

I suspected the battery because it was first thing in the morning that it happened, but then sorted itself as I kept driving and was fine for a 20 minute journey and later in the day for a return journey. But then it happened again this morning. Only thing that makes me doubt though is the fact there is not the slightest hesitation starting the car. It hasn’t cut out either like mrsf said - just the power steering stops working and abs & other lights come on. 

 

Update - I thought it was all fine at first after getting the new battery. Stop/start working, power steering, everything fine, Drove around for 15-20 minutes, then it happened again. I noticed the speedo is not working, also abs, traction and air bag lights all on. 
 

I’m now suspecting the abs module as Luk4efc suggested. Haven’t done the FORScan yet.

Did you .......

On 3/24/2022 at 1:34 PM, unofix said:

Fully charge the new battery for at least 8 hours (after you fit it on the car).

Connect the charger to the battery positive and the negative to the main chassis earth point (not to the battery negative).

You can reset the Battery Monitor Sensor (BMS) if you want to, but it shouldn't need to be.

Or did you just buy a new battery and fit it ?

The SOC of new batteries straight off the shelf can very often be low. Also the BMS of your car will not have monitored the new battery being charged.

All sorted.

It was the drivers side front abs sensor. As pictured, the wire was worn through. The last garage to do any work didn’t clip the wire to the strut so it chafed on something -maybe the inside of the brake disc. Just shows, best doing it yourself.
The speedo not working was the giveaway clue. Amazing how it caused the computer to shut down the power steering. I wonder if anyone has been had by garages saying it needs a new steering rack..