2013 Ford Explore steering locked and check charge system light on

Hi Folks A friend asked me what I thought, and I had no idea. I have not seen the vehicle, but it is about 5 degrees outside right now. He said he went to drive his car and the steering would not unlock and the check charging system light was on. That vehicle has about 1000 miles on it. Do you guys have any ideas what could be up with this vehicle? I suspect the battery voltage dropping to low because of the extreme cold. He says there is no key. Steering unlocking etc is done electronically.

Thanks for any ideas

Think you have it nailed.....

Have Ford tow it in and fix it.

It does sound like a low voltage condition, but even 5 degrees shouldn't directly cause that unless a component failed that shouldn't have. They are designed to run in much colder temps. In any case, whatever broke should be a warranty item, so iceracer's right.

side question - you didn't say in your original post - did the engine start and run?

The engine did start…Sorry I left that out. That is the part that threw me for a loop

Must be a Limited - they have the no key "start button". If the engine started. I can't see why the low voltage would stay.

I think the other poster is right - tow truck to the service bay!

This is a mystery. He is having it towed to Ford to see what they say. I will update once I hear back. I haver never heard of something like this before.

I have had a few Fords where the crimps in the connector aren't seated properly. This could be a BCM programming issue too.

What is BCM? Body Control Module?

In reply to vazbmw:

Yes.

Dang newfangled cars with their no keys and push button start.

/get off my lawn

Give me a key, throttle cable, rack, pinion brakes with hydraulic fluid and I am set LOL

bgkast wrote: Dang newfangled cars with their no keys and push button start. /get off my lawn

Update: Diagnosis from dealer was a bad alternator. Wow, new cars and their fancy electric stuff