Battery light comes on, power steering fails. Only happens when it's wet out. Already replaced the serpentine belt. Any other ideas?

Asked by bugpuddin Dec 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM about the 2007 Kia Sportage LX V6 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

A few weeks ago, my battery light randomly started flashing on and off and the power steering would fail temporarily. Rear defrost would shut off, power to the heater blower would lessen. This only happens when there are wet road conditions but not consistently. Ideas, please?

7 Answers

105

You could have a loose or dirty battery cable. Clean and inspect battery cables 1st. Could be a loose cable on the starter also.

6 people found this helpful.
100

I have a 2007 Kia sportage 2L Diesel. i have a battery light coming on and i loose the power steering. This only happens when it raining. Before i start checking the battery connections and alternator. do we have a common fault on the sportage. and did the last person find the fault.

6 people found this helpful.
40

Just bought an '08 Sportage V6 that is having this problem. I'm sure what is happening is water is splashing into the engine compartment getting the serpentine belt/pullys wet and causing belt slippage. The power steering goes out and the "battery" light comes on for a moment, then there's a squeal from the belt for a second, then it catches again and everything goes back to normal. My serpentine belt doesn't seem worn but I feel like there could stand to be more tension. Taking it into the mechanic in a couple days to see what can be done. Suggestions?

4 people found this helpful.
100

Hi Aaron. You are correct, i put the hose pipe on the belt and the crank pulley kept going around and the belt stopped still. the belt looked ok. i replaced the belt with a new one, the belt i took off was longer than the one i took off. but even with the new belt on the belt still slipped but not as bad. I then noticed the splash guard was missing so i fitted a new one. the guard was £10 from the Kia dealers. I have not issues since fingers crossed.

2 people found this helpful.
10

2006 Sportage, battery light on, smells light burnt oil.

1 people found this helpful.
100

The answer to the fault a had on my Sportage. I found a water splash guard missing and the belt was stretched. But the main fault was the bearing was on its way out on the air con pump. This was a big job. All done now and have had no other issues.

2 people found this helpful.

My 2010 Sportage did the same thing today (for the first time) after it had poured outside for two or three hours while I was at work. This thread makes me feel much better about the whole issue. Mine is nearing 100,000 miles, and I already have plans with my mechanic to replace the belts on it when it gets to that point, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who's had this issue

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