HELP - unsafe steering issues

[FreedomFur]

So I just heard from the dealership. They are saying that the power steering has fluctuating voltage, which is causing it to intermittently turn off. They think there could be a bad ground with an aux wire somewhere and “kindly” offered to disconnect all of my wiring AND remove all of my skid plates to check (full belly skids) at the tune of $135/hour.

I don’t have any wiring under the jeep, the compressor in the trunk has wiring that runs through the passenger front drain in the floor.

My mechanic thinks it could be an issue with the smart alternator. He has found that you can’t wire things directly to the battery, like winches (which I have done). In total, I have a winch wired to the battery, then 2 sets of aux lights and a compressor wired to Aux Switches 2, 3, and 4.

I also have an aftermarket switch panel that has another set of lights and a GMRS radio.

All of this wiring has been in place for 12 months, so why is it changing up now?

I don’t understand:
1) Why this is happening in the cold only when it sits overnight at temps under 20’F
2) How they are testing to verify the voltage to the power steering is the only thing changing vs. the voltage to the entire jeep.

EDIT - They say the negative terminal on the battery was loose and tightened it, hoping that solves the issue.

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[ducatijosh]

Did it solve it? I had a similar issue today.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

My mechanic thinks it could be an issue with the smart alternator. He has found that you can’t wire things directly to the battery, like winches (which I have done). In total, I have a winch wired to the battery, then 2 sets of aux lights and a compressor wired to Aux Switches 2, 3, and 4.

I also have an aftermarket switch panel that has another set of lights and a GMRS radio.

All of this wiring has been in place for 12 months, so why is it changing up now?

I don’t understand:
1) Why this is happening in the cold only when it sits overnight at temps under 20’F
2) How they are testing to verify the voltage to the power steering is the only thing changing vs. the voltage to the entire jeep.

EDIT - They say the negative terminal on the battery was loose and tightened it, hoping that solves the issue.

Wire to the battery - but don't bypass the IBS.

This, for example, is fine ->

The ground comes from the top of the IBS, just like the ground for every other part of the Jeep.

I also have RSE power steps wired to the battery - ground going to one of the chassis ground studs on the fender by the battery.

These vehicles are subject to ground issues - there's even TSBs out there on steering pump grounds and other ground issues, showing how to check and clean them and so on.
Loose battery connection can cause real issues, of course.

 

[Philly_]

Agreed. A lose negative on the battery can cause nightmares with any Jeep. I thought I needed a whole new TIPM in my JKU and pulled it, reseated all connections, and chased a ton of other wiring down before I realized the negative terminal clamp was loose… lesson learned.

I hope this fixes your issue, otherwise, I’d look to see if the power steering fluid was somehow contaminated, then flush and refill the system.

Keep us posted! Would hate to have this happen to my jeep.

 

[FreedomFur]

It was slightly loose on the terminal I haven't had an issue since it got tightened down

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