LS focus - power steering notification

[casabonka]

Hi all,
First post in ages! The last post was that I was selling my focus, but ended up keeping her. Anyway, after test driving a LZ yesterday, will finally be time to part ways.

Anyway, problem I'm having is when I start the car, most times, "power steering failure" pops up on the dash for about 5 seconds and clears. Car is driving and steering fine.

Anyone else have this issue?

[DZFord]

Yeah, it's usually low battery charge.

The power steering system is an EPAS - Electric Power-Assisted Steering. I always knew my battery needed a good charge or replacement when I started to get this message on startup.

[JasTDi]

I'm new to the Ford Focus world having just bought a LV TDCI a couple of weeks back.
I have a Skoda Octavia that runs a Electric steering system and when the voltage drops too low it sends messages to the dash as well.
When you are driving the alternator is producing voltage but on start up there is drain on the battery which causes the fault.

[GTLEGEND]

Originally Posted by DZFord

Yeah, it's usually low battery charge.

The power steering system is an EPAS - Electric Power-Assisted Steering. I always knew my battery needed a good charge or replacement when I started to get this message on startup.

LS Focus uses a EHPS not EPAS as such. It is an electro hydraulic power steering, so a electric pump, but hydraulic rack. EPAS has an electric rack and no pump as such.

The electrohydraulic power steering system uses

an electrically-driven hydraulic pump and a

conventional rack and pinion steering system.

If a message is being displayed, it will log a DTC. The DTC will direct you to what the failure is caused by.

[casabonka]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have a scan too, but nothing is showing when I scan? Could the electro part of the electro hydraulic still be affected by low voltage?

I'll have to throw on the voltmeter when back home later this week.