On the way to work my steering felt stiff and grinding feeling. Just wondering what it could be. Also few months ago seem to totally lock as I was reversing slowly. 
any ideas please.  Worrying if I’m driving at speed and it goes 

Potentially the steering rack itself failing.  Not cheap to replace if so.

Low battery charge can cause issues like this, as the steering motor takes a lot of power, but usually you'd notice other faults at the same time.

Yeah, as Tom says, low battery voltage can cause this, plus you may need an update in the BCMi (Body Control Module), SCM (Steering Control) & PSCM (Powers Steering Control) as you are quite an early MK4.

Mine used to do this until the updates sorted it

1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

Potentially the steering rack itself failing.  Not cheap to replace if so.

Low battery charge can cause issues like this, as the steering motor takes a lot of power, but usually you'd notice other faults at the same time.

Hi. Thanks for reply yes I’ve been having issues with my battery aswell. Hill start turning off, camera  malfunction and others.  Ordered a new battery so hopefully solve it. 

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

Yeah, as Tom says, low battery voltage can cause this, plus you may need an update in the BCMi (Body Control Module), SCM (Steering Control) & PSCM (Powers Steering Control) as you are quite an early MK4.

Mine used to do this until the updates sorted it

Thanks aswell for advice.  Can I ask how you updated modules can it be done by forscan or is it ford job. 

Battery State Of Charge:

46 minutes ago, unofix said:

Battery State Of Charge:

This morn checked with voltage meter read 11.6 so battery not good is it. 

16 hours ago, maclee said:

Thanks aswell for advice.  Can I ask how you updated modules can it be done by forscan or is it ford job. 

You need a paid license to update modules on FORScan and a decent lead, not cheap Chinese or ELMs

Or you could just pay Ford to update them, it's worth it

Got the paid forscan is there any instructions where to start thanks 

36 minutes ago, maclee said:

is there any instructions where to start thanks 

https://forscan.org/documentation.html

1 hour ago, maclee said:

Got the paid forscan is there any instructions where to start thanks 

Yes, follow the how to guides to the letter, I don't want to be responsible if you brick a module

3 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

You need a paid license to update modules on FORScan and a decent lead, not cheap Chinese or ELMs

Or you could just pay Ford to update them, it's worth it

I have been following this thread with interest as I have an early Mk4 and would be interested in updating the modules. How much are we talking to get my dealer to carry out the updates ?

48 minutes ago, PLB said:

I have been following this thread with interest as I have an early Mk4 and would be interested in updating the modules. How much are we talking to get my dealer to carry out the updates ?

Hi Paul, 

It depends which modules you want to update.

Some take seconds, others about 5 minutes, Cluster and Nav Screen 45 minutes

And you can only do one at a time

It's recomended on an early MK4 to keep the following modules updated

BCMi, ACM, DDM, PDM, SCM, PSCM, PCM, TCM (If auto), IPAC (Camera) & HCM (If you have Adaptive LEDs) as these were the modules that caused issues