Technical Everything electronic is failing! :(

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Technical Everything electronic is failing! :(

ben0101

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Dec 18, 2011
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After 2 minutes of driving, everything electronic starts to fail. dashboard lights are intermittent; airbags, abs, power steering, ESP..nothing works! Turning the engine off and back on fixes this, but only for two minutes.

I've left my 6 month old battery on a 24 hour trickle charge, but this hasn't fixed the issue at hand.

Yesterday, engine stuttered and eventually cut out. I don't know what to do, please help!

Thanks in advance.
 
update: when stationary, my power steering doesnt work. As soon as the car starts moving again however, the power steering works again. Wipers and windows are really slow whenever I try to use them.

Anybody shed any light? I did think the alternator, but I'm not too clued up on electronics. Reluctant to pay Stoneacre Fiat £290 for a non-genuine alternator fitted.
 
Sounds as though something is drawing alot of power have you installed anything recently?
What condition is your battery in? What volts is it reading?
Could this be happening on days when it is wet i.e. Been raining etc?

Let us know mate :)

Regards
Stephen
 
I am yet to test the battery, but no it's not been particularly wet, and the problem happens in all conditions.

update: the engine (on top of the standard diesel noise) is making a 'humming' noise in the background all the time; sort of like a higher pitch turnover noise, like when you turn the air con on or something. I havn't got anything hooked up to it at all power wise (subwoofer etc). My coolant did run out and 'hot radiator' warning popped up, but i've since topped up the coolant. Whether this has anything to do with the problem I have no idea. Thanks for the reply mate, I appreciate the help.

edit: the battery is 6 months old but I will be getting it tested over the weekend.
 
Andy Monty, you've filled me with hope, thanks. I'll try all of that later!
 
sounds like an earth, mine was gearbox earth that went. lost power steering, dials all over the place etc etc
 
Had the AA out yesterday, and there is no power going back to the battery. Limped home with no lights, no wipers, no dials and no power steering. Horrible. If there's no power to the battery, that indicates an alternator right?
 
Had the AA out yesterday, and there is no power going back to the battery. Limped home with no lights, no wipers, no dials and no power steering. Horrible. If there's no power to the battery, that indicates an alternator right?

or the earth strap is broken internally as this provides a return path from the alternator to the battery,,,,,,

did the charge warning light come on (battery symbol)?

Charge your battery

clip a jump lead onto a clean engine bolt or the gear box and onto the negative battery terminal (the one with the quick release lever)


ideally here you need a basic multimeter set to dc voltage

put a probe onto each battery terminal you should be getting 12 ish volts give or take

now start the car,,,

it should rise to something like 14v dc
 
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