hi guys posting on behalf of a friend with troubles with her mk2 focus 2.0 zetec sport. Recently had an alternator replaced as the old one gave up and the garage has tested the new alternator and battery and said that they're both fine but the battery light wont go off. Since then the car has got a problem with not starting if the cd player is on for the slightest time while the car is off and the car has also whilst driving come up with the warning light "steering assist failure" and the engine management and the car didnt have any power steering but once the car was turned off and on again it was fine. Not great with electrics so hopefully someone on here can help? not sure if the alternator has blown something? not sure where else to check if both the alternator and battery are fine?

 

Start by having someone read the fault codes from steering assist and engine.
Preferably someone with more knowledge than the garage who tested the alternator.
Could be a wiring problem between engine ecu and alternator which prevents the "smart charge" to work, but a defective alternator cannot be ruled out.

 

It's not that simple, modern Fords have what is known as a "Smart charge" system, in essence it's computer controlled.

Anyway it sounds like it's not charging correctly, therefore I would first off all verify this.

I thought the MK2 was hydraulic assistance, but it sounds like it's electric?

If so this would explain why that is not working.

It should go back to the garage, as sending it away with warning lights, clearly is not fine to start with, I don't see why they replaced the battery either!

Martin

 

thanks for the reply's guys yeah think she's gonna take it to different garage to see what the diagnostics say. it was just the alternator that was replaced not the battery sorry should have worded it better. The garage replaced the alternator and said they couldnt get the battery light off which is strange? sounds like a defective alternator or something? Hopefully it gets sorted soon