[Peruman]

Hi all,
I'd like to know if this has happened to anyone else?
Last weekend I was driving my 2012 328i. I stopped at a stop sign, then continue driving and suddenly the steering wheel wouldn't respond. I couldn't turn to any direction. The steering wheel was extremely stiff and dull. Eventually, I was able to pull over and turn off the car. Since then these messages show up on the LCD screen:
- Drive Moderately
- Increased steering effort required
- Consult service center

I took the car to the dealership and they said this could happen when the battery is low and I will need a new one and also a reprogramming of the system.

I think this is a major design flaw in the car system. How is it possible that when the car's battery is going low the steering wheel stops responding. While driving!
Anyone has ever had this same issue?

[Gamb1t]

Sounds like Skynet is waking up!
That's real scary. What if you're on a highway?! Glad you are safe.

[GTBrandon]

The motor is also in front of the subframe for these cars, and if rocks somehow got under the belly pan, they could have knocked one of the power wires loose for the VSS Motor. Probably didn't happen but just something to know and possibly check out

[afranke]

I don't think it would be related to a low battery, as when you're driving it's the alternator that's providing voltage and current to the power system (also charging the battery). If the alternator dies, then you're running on battery until it dies. In that case, you have no electrical whatsoever, so you loose power steering, power brakes, and everything else.

I would assume these cars would be smart enough to alert about a failed alternator, as it should be pretty easy to detect that the car is running and not outputting 14.4v as it should. Any chance you have someone with a Carly device near (or you have something like JB4 installed) to get the actual codes?

[Orion4]

According to this 2006 article when BMW introduced the Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC), the alternator only runs to charge the battery and all the electrically draw comes from the battery. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...troduces_.html

If this is accurate, then possibly a failing battery or IAC component may have caused the Electric Steering to fail due to insufficient power available and put you into the manual mode (or more accurately the "Gorilla Mode")

Glad you were able to pull off safely.

[loggin]

It might be the belt for the electric steering assist inside the rack that may be the problem.. I have heard that these can sometimes cause the symptoms you are having and need replacing... Just a thought..

[afranke]

Originally Posted by Orion4

According to this 2006 article when BMW introduced the Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC), the alternator only runs to charge the battery and all the electrically draw comes from the battery. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...troduces_.html

If this is accurate, then possibly a failing battery or IAC component may have caused the Electric Steering to fail due to insufficient power available and put you into the manual mode (or more accurately the "Gorilla Mode")

Glad you were able to pull off safely.

Interesting...that makes me wonder where the constant 14.4v is coming from while the engine is on.

[Orion4]

Good question. I also see 14.4VDC with car at idle at the battery post as the output of the Alternator. Without some knowledge of how the IAC determines demand and what algorithms it uses, I'm clueless,