Hello,
I am a new member,but I have been on here many times and have found alot of info from everybody on here and I Thank You.

Now I really need some Help.(2002 Mini Cooper S)
I was driving in some backed up traffic and all of a sudden the Power steering went out,No big deal looked down and the Volt Meter was at 11.5 to 11.7.
I figured the alternator went out,So I pulled it out and Replaced it.Put the new one in and still NO voltage increase to the Battery.Checked big fuse in by the battery all is well.I then removed the new Alternator and had it checked and it is perfect,I then re-installed it.Battery is new has well.
Does anybody know if the ECM has to be reset due to the voltage drop.
I feel the alternator is putting out the power,it is just being regulated by the ECM or something that is not asking for the power..God I hope I make sense.
Any advice is great,I will fix it myself,I cannot stand getting ripped of from some of these shops.

Thanks,
Darryl

 

You had not mentioned whether or not the AC was on, but when I have mine on, the voltage drops like that all the time. It's normal.

Did the power steering go out because the MINI shut down ? If not then maybe the PS Pump is failing.

Did you have a CEL ? If so stop in at an Autozone or similar shop and put the code reader on in the OBDII port and see what it says. Could be the issues addressed so far were unrelated to the problem.

 

Thanks for getting back to me..Yes I did have the AC on and your right,the voltage does drop a little and that has never bothered me when that is on.The problem is that my Volt Meter was reading 11.5V after the power Steering shut down and I know that if there is not enough voltage that the Power Steering will shut down,I then shut off the AC to save the Battery to get home.Drove it home fine.I do have a code reader and nothing came up..
Thanks again for the help.

Darryl