762

Hey everyone I have a question for the wise collective here.

As I was coming into a parking garage this morning I was stuck going uphill 0-2 mph then back to 0 mph etc... as a truck had no idea where it was going.
After I passed the truck and went to make a slow gental u-turn I felt a quick increase in the steering load and the EPS light flicker on then off.
I proceeded to a parking space and the EPS light was still off.

In the parking spot I just wanted to see if I could re-create the issue so I left the car in neutral, and then turned the steering back and forth quickly.
This created the same brief stutter in the steering and EPS light flicker.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be going on? or things I need to do?

I am debating just unplugging the battery and seeing if an ECU reset can help.

The car has an E-Manage Ultimate tuned by UMS tuning in Mesa. I do not think this is relevant, but I figure all information needs to be out there.

762

Ok more to this situation.

Having other issues that seem related.

First to note, car has Deka ETX16 battery, and car was at airport parking lot for 4 weeks with no use. It is 1.5 weeks since the car was at the airport and has been driven every day. However Tucson does not allow for long sustained cruising, so with the exception of one trip to Phoenix and back, the car is put through short drives of about 10 minutes or so.

While driving today at slow speed I noticed that the radio would cut in and out.
- I then pulled over, put the car in neutral and turned back and forth. This cut the radio off, flicked the EPS light on and off, and made the dash lights dim/flicker.

I then reset the ECU because I figured I might as well try it.
- repeated the above process and experienced the same results.

I then took my Clore Jumpstarter link, and clamped that on to the battery.
- I then repeated the same process, and now nothing happened. No dash flickering, radio flickering or EPS flickering.

I am thinking the smallish Deka battery may have just lost some power over the 4 weeks and while it can still start the car, it just does not put out as much power as it used too.

Tomorrow I will be taking my car by an Autozone/O'Reillys to test the Battery and Alternator.

Does anyone have any ideas what this most likely will be? or any other possible causes?

762

Car functions perfectly fine while at normal road speed, and even at a recent autocross this past Sunday.

This leads me to believe it is something to do with the massive power drawn by the electronic power steering system to assist while at low speeds.

Any other advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

762

Just as an update. I replaced the alternator on Friday and ever since the car has been back to functioning flawlessly. Battery tested well, and the new alternator tests well.

s2000maniac

glad you got it resolved!

S~Factor

I appreciate the update.

wuchan01

Did you use an OEM alternator as a replacement?

RTAKev

Same issue changing alternator tomorrow car died when I made it home today. Funny I found this post when I parked I did the same exact thing. Only difference is I just purchased a new battery today before it happened, because I haven't drove the car in about a month and it wouldn't take a charge after not starting this morning. Good write up in advance.