power steering loss when A/C is on

99Slingshot · 07-18-2022, 08:18 AM

Need some guidance and hoping someone can assist. I have a 2011 335d with 235,000 miles on it. (almost all highway). This has been a great car with minimal maintenance. Coming home the other day, I lost power steering and the battery light came popped up on the dash. I had this once before and it was the serpentine belt. I pulled over and checked to see if that was the problem again. Nope. Rubber burning smell under the hood though. I turned off the A/C, radio, unplugged my phone and the power steering came back on. I was only a couple miles from home so went ahead and drove home. So when I got to my road I went ahead and turned the A/C back on to see what would happen. Power steering immediately went out. Turned A/C off and power steering came back immediately. Anybody else experience this? Seems like it would be in one of the pulleys or something. wouldn't think the A/C compressor locking up since the A/C still works great.

If this has been asked/answered in another thread, I apologize but I could not find this asked anywhere else.

marvinstockman · 07-18-2022, 11:15 AM

Does this car have electric power steering? Otherwise, monitor engine rpm when AC is engaged.

99Slingshot · 07-18-2022, 12:03 PM

No it does not have electric power steering. RPM's do not change when switching AC on/off.

mainbearing · 07-18-2022, 03:50 PM

Sounds like the serpentine belt is losing its grip. Check the belt and tensioner first.

Mike K · 07-18-2022, 10:18 PM

Yeah I agree. Worth it to do a belt replacement and then see where this issue is at...

07-18-2022, 08:18 AM	#1
99Slingshot Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: missouri iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 335d [0.00]	power steering loss when A/C is on Need some guidance and hoping someone can assist. I have a 2011 335d with 235,000 miles on it. (almost all highway). This has been a great car with minimal maintenance. Coming home the other day, I lost power steering and the battery light came popped up on the dash. I had this once before and it was the serpentine belt. I pulled over and checked to see if that was the problem again. Nope. Rubber burning smell under the hood though. I turned off the A/C, radio, unplugged my phone and the power steering came back on. I was only a couple miles from home so went ahead and drove home. So when I got to my road I went ahead and turned the A/C back on to see what would happen. Power steering immediately went out. Turned A/C off and power steering came back immediately. Anybody else experience this? Seems like it would be in one of the pulleys or something. wouldn't think the A/C compressor locking up since the A/C still works great. If this has been asked/answered in another thread, I apologize but I could not find this asked anywhere else.
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07-18-2022, 11:15 AM	#2
marvinstockman Major 400 Rep 1,080 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Rockville, MD iTrader: (0)	Does this car have electric power steering? Otherwise, monitor engine rpm when AC is engaged.
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07-18-2022, 12:03 PM	#3
99Slingshot Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: missouri iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 335d [0.00]	power steering No it does not have electric power steering. RPM's do not change when switching AC on/off.
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07-18-2022, 03:50 PM	#4
mainbearing Lieutenant Colonel 1085 Rep 1,682 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Sounds like the serpentine belt is losing its grip. Check the belt and tensioner first.
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07-18-2022, 10:18 PM	#5
Mike K Lieutenant 332 Rep 400 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 328i RWD Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Chicago Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i e91 [0.00]	Yeah I agree. Worth it to do a belt replacement and then see where this issue is at...
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