Perfectly safe to charge while still connected. the handbook gives you all the information about charging the battery

 

I purchased a cheap battery charger (£20), which has an auto cut off, so it will never overcharge the battery and cause fizzing of the acid.
The instructions state that both the + and - can be left connected, without problems. It has an instant "get you going" mode too. Good buy from any decent car acc' shop.

 

Hi,
On Several occassions, I have started my car in the morning, and an orange warning light with a steering wheel symbol appears in the info console. The steering cannot be moved, and I have to turn the car off and on again to enable the steering.

I get this quite regularly. I was told by my first dealer that this was something "they all did".

Since a reboot fixes it, I've never bothered to pursue it further. I'm certain it's not to do with battery charge though (it can happen after several hours of driving).

 

I get this quite regularly. I was told by my first dealer that this was something "they all did".

Since a reboot fixes it, I've never bothered to pursue it further. I'm certain it's not to do with battery charge though (it can happen after several hours of driving).

Ahh, the old Ctrl-Alt-Delete works wonders
I presume reboot you mean ignition off and back on again?
Now you mention it, this did also occur after a long journey I made a while back.
Annoying though.

 

Isn't that the steering lock not disengaging properly? It happened from time to time on my previous Megane.

 

No.

The light comes on and there is no power to the steering (you can turn the wheel but it takes a lot of effort).

 

You'll just have to make light of the problem!

Hope you manage to get it sorted.

 

I had this happen to me a few times a couple of years ago when coming to a halt at junctions. The steering is moveable but just very heavy.

The dealer replaced a part that fixed the problem. But this was also part of a recall which meant the part was replaced again.

I'm guessing yours is an early car, might be worth checking if the recall work was done.

 

Mine is an early car, but never featured on that recall list. It only does it every couple of months or so, so not really an issue.

 

My wife had this problem with her old 55 civic. wasn't a problem until it happen while she was doing 60 down a dual carriageway. She had to pull over and restart the car to cure it. If i remember correctly it was done as a recall repair under warranty. She had called the dealer previously about this and they said it was something they all did, although as mine never did we knew something was wrong. It's a bonus having 2 cars as when they say "they all do it" you go check the other one and see.

 

How can a dealer get away with saying its something they all do. Whenever I've had a problem with the car the dealer has always managed to fix it.

 

As others have stated, its to do with the battery charge level usually. If i've had a car in the showroom for long enough, when we try to move it and start it up, the light usually comes on and there's no power to the steering, a quick flash round the block usually clears it up and all is well. Best to get the battery either replaced or re-charged properly. If you have any serious concerns though, as always, get her booked in so that your dealers can give it the once over to make sure all is well.

 

I have the same problem as Visionkeys - "Check System" warning, and steering wheel is locked and cannot be turned without turning ignition on and off. This happens a few times a week. We took it to the Honda dealer, who naturally found "nothing wrong" with it.
We are recording the frequency now, and will take it back. Last week, I tried to drive off a ferry with the steering locked, so I don't think it is acceptable for Honda dealers to say "It happens". This is a major safety issue. I wondered how many others have experience the problem, and whether Visionkeys or anyone else has managed to find the source of the problem.

 

I have had this fault fixed now. Every time it happened it leaves a DTC (so the dealer should be able to spot it). The DTC code was 32-09.

The solution was to replace the EPS control unit.

 

Thanks Pottsy - that's very useful information.

I have had this fault fixed now. Every time it happened it leaves a DTC (so the dealer should be able to spot it). The DTC code was 32-09.

The solution was to replace the EPS control unit.

 

Well, they certainly do not all do it, had mine 2.5 years and it has not happened. If it did, and especially if it can happen while driving, I would want some answers.

 

Hi

I have the same problem. It doesn't happen every morning but on some occasions. I printed the Official Honda Report regarding the problem. I will be showing it to my dealer when I go for my next service. Because according to my dealer the car has no defects and is perfect. lol....

 

Hi

I have the same problem. It doesn't happen every morning but on some occasions. I printed the Official Honda Report regarding the problem. I will be showing it to my dealer when I go for my next service. Because according to my dealer the car has no defects and is perfect. lol....

Where can I find the Official Honda Report? I'm heading back to the dealer before the warranty runs out, for another attempt to get it fixed. The dealer has a record of previous visits, and says he can find no system fault recorded when he checks it. He will look at it again, but suggested we also contact Honda, ask them to log the fault, and gave us the number. Honda were astonished that the dealer had done this, saying that until the dealer has failed to fix it in the warranty period, they will do nothing. The dealer says Honda have done this before. Seems we are getting the runaround from Honda.

Presumably when the warranty runs out, they will also then do nothing?

Any suggestions on how to deal with Honda would be appreciated.



Geoff

 

Yup, had the PAS system replaced under warranty for that one - two separate codes with the same result.

 

Hi I have the smae problem over here. Sometimes the light never turns off again, even after starting 20 times!! The dealer looked at it and they are asking Honda The Netherlands if they can fix it under warrenty.

@LuCiUs do you have a official report of this problem?

 

Hi NJK

I don't have an official Honda Document, but i have something you'll be able to use. And there is no question about it, they MUST fix it under warranty. If they don't that's BS! It's a fault with the car and not something you could have caused.

Send me your email address via private message and i will send you the document I have.

 

Forum rules again! I have this problem too! I thought it may have been a power steering fluid level warning (but have not had the chance to check it) Will just take it back to the dealer to sort instead then!

 

Thanks LuCiUs, yesterday I contacted the dealer and they told me that they are going to fix it under warranty and the parts are on it's way.

I also send you an pm with my email. Thanks in advance.

Niels

 

I've seen this problem with a brand new Fiat grand punto, I took it out on a test drive and this happened. It put me right off buying a Fiat after that!

 

Te same as me! I´ve a Fiat punto with dual drive, and sometimes the dual drive "colapse" and the car set to no-electronic steering, hard as a rock to move it.

It moves me to change the car to another much more reliable...Now i´ve have an Honda civic with a problem similar

 

Exactly the same thing happened to me this morning! Started the car and when I went to pull out there was no assist. Bloody thing weighed a ton but was manually shiftable. The warning light was on the dash as well.

Restarted the car and it was fine again. It's the first time its happened. Getting it serviced tomorrow anyway and I'll get it checked out.

 

Have had this continuing problem and posted a separate heading last month on it. Mine needs sometimes upto 10 turn-offs and restarts before it kicks in (it was 10 on Monday and 4 today). Have taken it back again to Honda and referenced them to this and related pages. Hopefully now they will do something about it!!

Thanks all for their experiences.

Regards

 

Power steering faliure

Glad I am not the only one, luckily it was me driving and not the wife. Just a point someone mentioned earlier in this thread about topping up the PS fluid well I can't see any PS fluid reservoir I assume their isn't one? Is this Electric power steering? Also I have notice the idle being a bit jumpy of late especially when the steering is moved.

Plan to get it sorted on friday during service lets see.

 

Glad I am not the only one, luckily it was me driving and not the wife. Just a point someone mentioned earlier in this thread about topping up the PS fluid well I can't see any PS fluid reservoir I assume their isn't one? Is this Electric power steering? Also I have notice the idle being a bit jumpy of late especially when the steering is moved.

Plan to get it sorted on friday during service lets see.

Yes it is electric power steering (hence the EPS on the display).

 

Referred the dealer to this site (which they use quite often apparently) and as a result of the feedbacks on this problem have ordered a new unit under warranty.

Thanks to all for their contributions and I will update whether this fixes the problem....or not!!!