2012 Ford Explorer XLT 171,000+ miles
Two weeks ago, I started my car in the morning (temps were cooler low 40s) and immediately upon starting the "Check Charging System" light comes on. It started right up, no hesitation, headlights appeared to be normal, radio didn't cut out, etc. So I proceeded down the drive way & within maybe a minute or so, the light went off. Subsequent starts that day did not replicate the problem.
However, everyday (except two) it has done the same thing every morning. The two days that it throw the dash light, I unplugged my phone charger, that I admittedly always leave plugged in. I thought I was on to something. Then one morning the light comes on, doesn't immediately go off & I noticed my power steering had went out. Drove it about 30 yards and the light went out & power steering went back to normal. This morning the same thing happened, except the light stayed on for about 10 minutes & the power steering was out as well - I decided to just park it and take a different vehicle.
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Ideas?