Flat battery now steering issues...NO MORE

F

firebobby

Elite
 South west Buckinghamshire
This morning I jumped in the Zed and got a very slow engine turn over on the key. I attached my charger and used the MR2 to go to the AV8 meet.
I got home and just tried the Zed and it started OK, but now there is a light with a steering wheel and an exclamation mark, on. The steering is really heavy now. What has happened ??
Any suggestions :(
 
Sounds as if a low battery as triggered the fault mode on steering column .
Unless battery is goosed ( or alternator isn't functioning correctly ) then a trickle charger should liven the battery & consequently the steering should return to normal , , unless its start of the dreaded failed / sticky steering wheel motor :cry:
 
Will it hurt if I undo the battery terminals and try and re-set something on the car ??
It was working fine last weekend, so not sure if a light had been left on somewhere which drained the battery ?
 
Yes you can disconnect the battery and short the leads together to try to reset it. I would be buying a new battery if I were you though.
 
ph001 said:
Yes you can disconnect the battery and short the leads together to try to reset it. I would be buying a new battery if I were you though.
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Thanks, a forum member is having a look tomorrow, so hopefully we will know if the battery is Ko'd, got it charging at the moment. Fingers crossed :)
 
I've got one of those stand alone chargers. Happened to the Zed once, wasn't using it that often then went on holiday and was dead upon return. Disconnected and charged up inside overnight and re-installed the following morning, all good. Still going strong a good few months later. Not sure what sort of charging system you're using? Maybe a good solid charge will sort? :)
 
I have a Ctek and a normal charger, It was still on this morning when I checked, I didn't start the car though. bladeowner is coming up to have a look, fingers crossed. :)
 
OK, so we connected Carly and ista. They show 'No comms with electric power steering'. Also noticed that the sports button is not lighting up. Steering is heavy, checked the relevant fuses which all look good. There have never been any problems with the steering.
Any advice gladly welcomed
 
...or the ECU that controls it. ECU testing will sort it out for you... http://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/bmw/bmw-z4-power-steering-problem
 
ph001 said:
...or the ECU that controls it. ECU testing will sort it out for you... http://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/bmw/bmw-z4-power-steering-problem
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Indeed, this is what I meant to say! Generally if there's no communication it's because the ECU has gone in the motor, luckily it's a reasonably easy fix for a company such as the above.
 
mjennings23 said:
ph001 said:
...or the ECU that controls it. ECU testing will sort it out for you... http://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/bmw/bmw-z4-power-steering-problem
Click to expand...

Indeed, this is what I meant to say! Generally if there's no communication it's because the ECU has gone in the motor, luckily it's a reasonably easy fix for a company such as the above.
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Thanks, I was hoping it wasn't that but it does sound like it is. I thought I would have experienced some problems before hand, but nothing at all :?
Just searching the forum for more info.
 
I have spoken to a friend of a friend who is an auto electrician, he agrees that it seems weird why the steering control has stopped working after a flat battery, so will have a look, hopefully at the weekend.
If this shows a problem with the steering ecu, I will be sending off to ecu testing.
What sort of job is it to remove the motor and ecu.
 
So no show from the auto electrician, Any way the steering came back to life the other night, after a 50 mile drive out and the sports button lit up and all seemed fine. Next day EPS light back on and heavy steering, no sports button. So now I'm looking at going down the ECU route. I was interested in the BMW recall and did a bit of scouring of the net.
I found this from 2012 https://suffolktradingstandards.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/bmw-power-steering-recall/
which looks like a recall for the early Z4, any thoughts on this.
 
If you ring a dealer then they should be able to tell you if there’s an outstanding recall on your VIN.

I do dread this EPS system. Not only is this a failure that I dread happening but the system itself (IMO) is the worst part of the car in terms of driving pleasure and feedback. If I had the time then I’d definitely be looking at a hydraulic conversion.

In fact if Mike at the Zed Shed started offering this as a service then I might well be his first customer.

Back when I put an S50B30 into my E30 Touring, the best upgrade for the E30 steering was to drop in a rack from an E46 Club Sport or M3. I recall it was a 3 or 3.25 turn lock-to-lock rack. I’m wondering if the same rack wouldn’t go into the Zed. Anyway, I digress. Good luck with sorting this and please do let us know the outcome.
 
firebobby said:
So no show from the auto electrician, Any way the steering came back to life the other night, after a 50 mile drive out and the sports button lit up and all seemed fine. Next day EPS light back on and heavy steering, no sports button. So now I'm looking at going down the ECU route. I was interested in the BMW recall and did a bit of scouring of the net.
I found this from 2012 https://suffolktradingstandards.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/bmw-power-steering-recall/
which looks like a recall for the early Z4, any thoughts on this.
Click to expand...
This is the sort thing that was happening on mine when the battery was on its last legs. New battery and it's been fine for the 2 and bit years since. The fact that after 50 Miles of driving everything came back to life could indicate it's a battery/charge issue. Have you actually tested the battery? Might be worth trying a new one etc before going any further.
 
Behr said:
.

In fact if Mike at the Zed Shed started offering this as a service then I might well be his first customer.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention this, having been asked by a couple of people it's currently on my to do list!

Mike
 
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