430 Battery & Power Steering Issue

Recent F430 owner, still getting used to many things. Had an issue in the last few days, hoping it's me being silly rather than a problem with the car.

I've been driving the car every day, and loving it.

On a recent 400 mile roundtrip, I stopped not far from home to put in some fuel. Starting the car back up, the battery light came on (on the dash), and my power steering stopped working. I was able to drive it home though.

I found online that the battery light comes on when the batter is 'insufficiently charged'. I've connected the trickle charger to the connector behind the passenger seat, which now shows the battery as fully charged, but the battery light remains on.

I'm hoping the two problems are related, and really hoping that I'm just an unexperienced owner and someone can point me in the right direction of something silly I haven't done, or need to do.

Any advice please??

 

The only connection is the drive belt. How many years old is (was) it?

 

Definitely seems like the likely culprit.. have whoever will fix it check all pulleys and tensioners as well

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Thanks for the advice.
I've only had the car a few weeks, but not sure when the belt was last replaced though.

 

Did you hear any odd noises right before the battery light came on? Slapping, screeching or clunking? If the belt broke it will be laying on the top of the belly pan.


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No noises, literally nothing out of the ordinary. Just pulled up to a pretrol pump, filled up as normal, started the car up and as I started driving off I noticed the battery light came back on (after the normal ignition start checks) and the lack of power steering.

 

Does your A/C blow cold ?

 

Air con seems to operate without issue, both hot and cold air working fine (although granted it's not A/C like you'd find in modern cars).

 

If your belt broke your A/C compressor wouldn't be running so it wouldn't be cold .. are you sure you are getting cold air now ( not sure what your weather is like)

 

Just check the belt.

 

Thanks all for your suggestions.
The dealer picked up the car and confirmed the A/C Compressor had failed, and the belt had come off.

Great to know there's some experienced and knowledgable people on here to help point us noobs in the right direction!

 

Thanks for posting back up so we all know what happened.

My compressor bearings being shot was the first thing found during my PPI. Fortunately, it's not an uncommon part as it's shared with Maserati. I'm curious to know if any of the cheaper "rebuilt" compressors have been used with no issues. I kept my original so I can try to rebuild it later if I ever need a spare.

 

Any time you get a battery light and no power steering, it's the accessory belt.

 

Did the AC compressor seize and the belt burn through and break?


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