Hi all,

I have a 2011 Ford Focus 1.6 titanium.

Earlier on I was driving and I noticed when I turned into a corner that the power steering cut off half way through the corner, I straightened up and it seemed to sort itself. I stopped to check and could see nothing wrong with the wheels and there was no fluid leeking.

I got back in the car and everything seemed okay, about two miles down the road, the power steering went completely. This was followed by all the elctrics cutting out apart from the backlit dash, the needles all fell to 0 and all the warning lights came on. I parked up and switched the ignition off.

I went and had another look and could see nothing wrong. I jumped back into the car and tried to start it but to no avail, It wouldn't start. I got a jump start and the car started fine and all the warning lights were off. I drove a further 7 miles with no faults.

When I arrived at work I check the voltage to the battery, when the engine was off it was reading 12.5v, when idling it was reading 15v and when revving it read the same (this seems rather high). The car then sat for around 7 hours.

I went back out to drive home expecting that the alternator was the cause of my problems but It started fine and I drove home, 16 miles with no problems atall.

Anyone have any clue what could be the problem?? I've been looking for someone with similar problems and I have found alot of people having problems with the regulator, However, I recon that i'm just looking for anything to be faulty at this stage.

Thanks,

Hunter

the reading is high, it could be the car shut down to protect itself from a high voltage spike.

have you checked the error codes?

The 12.5V reading is on the low side i'd say, especially if you took it after the car had been driven as this is usually artificially high from extra surface charge on the battery.

Whether your problem is alternator or battery specific I can't really say.

I partly agree with troy but disagree also. 12.7 is the battery at the best health it can ever be. If this is the value with engine running then yes it is low, however after engine stops, the voltage should be at 12.7 or less all but immediately...

Hi all,

Thanks for your response,

I checked the car for error codes that night, the OBDII returned no faults.

I then checked the voltages with the OBDII, and it matched what many people in the forums where saying the car should.

The car has now been running with no faults for over a week now.

The belts not slipping and there is no signs of slack or wear.

I'm at the point where I recon its water or ice to blame.

Could well have been... Did you have the under tray on?

The under tray is on yeah

in which case the water is coming from elsewhere.... I am just trying to think how water can get in there when most of it should be sealed nicely. Unless it dropped down the front lip of the window area into the bay and then freeze there....