Technical Random ABS Failure warning and flat battery

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Technical Random ABS Failure warning and flat battery

EdgarElephant

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Jul 17, 2009
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Hi,

I have a Doblo Malibu 1.9 MultiJet (105hp) 2007. It had only done 360km when I bought it last year (demo model) I currently have a battery problem, but I think a little history is necessary...

A few months after buying the Doblo, it started randomly throwing "ABS Failure" warnings on startup. I could go for weeks without getting one, then bam. But, if I switch the engine off then turn it on, I get "Check OK". This is still happening from time to time.

About 6 weeks ago, for no reason I got a warning on the rear passenger side fog light - apparently the bulb had blown. This was surprising as I hadn't used the foglights for over 3 months. This warning has gone away although I still haven't changed the bulb.

Then, 3 weeks ago, the car wouldn't start at all. I had to get it jump-started and then drive round the Brussels ring-road for an hour to charge it up. It lasted a while until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. After a jump start and another hour on the ring road, today the battery is already flat !!!

Nothing is on (no interior lights or anything) and I just can't find what would be leaking power from the battery. I have heard that a badly charging alternator may be the cause or a dogey earth connection... but I'm a bit lost for ideas to be honest.

Any inspiration anyone ?

Thanks.
Martin.
 
I have had random "ABS Failure" warnings but not for a while now. One mechanic suggested it could be just cold weather or maybe a little moisture in a connector somewhere.

As for the flat battery problems, you really need to see an expert car electrician to trace the fault as it sounds like there could be a poor connection somewhere on the car and it needs the proper equipment to find it.

Is there a mobile auto electrician in your area?
 
There were several posts a few months ago re random ABS Failure warning lights - the cause is that the Fiat supplied battery is not powerful enough for all it's tasks. On a cold morning I found this warning light coming on, never when it was warm!

Other users had similar experiences, by going to my Posts you should find Links. One found the solution to be a more powerful battery - Bosch and it costs £100.

I just live with it, had the ABS system checked and it is fine, so one of those odd quirks.
 
There were several posts a few months ago re random ABS Failure warning lights - the cause is that the Fiat supplied battery is not powerful enough for all it's tasks. On a cold morning I found this warning light coming on, never when it was warm!

Other users had similar experiences, by going to my Posts you should find Links. One found the solution to be a more powerful battery - Bosch and it costs £100.

I just live with it, had the ABS system checked and it is fine, so one of those odd quirks.

I missed that thread :(

I would be careful about putting a more powerful battery in as the alternator may not be powerful enough to keep it fully charged and you'd just end up with flat batteries all over again.

If you've done it and it works, fine. But check the output of the alternator first if you haven't.

The same thing applies if you are adding extra marker lights or driving lights etc.
 
Hi,

Thanks for all your feedback. I have snooped around on the forums and seen that low-voltage can cause the OBC to just throw the first warning in it's list.

And the comments about the cold are valid too - I just have to leave the car outside on a frosty night and I'm garanteed to get ABS warnings the next day. Fiat have already changed 3 ABS sensors on my car trying to pinpoint the problem, but the ABS works perfectly well.

I'm going to take the car to the garage tomorrow (if I can get someone to jump-start it with me) and get a full battery, alternator and electrics diagnostic run. I'm not doing this at Fiat, there's an "Auto5" (mainstream) garage down the road with a perfectly good reputation, so I'll start there.

Wish me luck, I'll keep you posted as to my progress...

Cheers everyone.
Martin.
 
Hi,

Well, I got my Doblò back from the garage yesterday and all is now well. The electrician did a full diagnostic and found the problem was the battery.

I was a bit dubious at first as a 2 year old battery normally doesn't go under like that. But he said to me it was as if it was at least 4 years old... Being a demonstration model, the battery was most likely 2nd hand from the dealership and what's more, having only done 300km in 7 months (july to january 2006), most of it's time was spent sitting outside in the courtyard during the cold months.

So, with a bit of luck, that's the end of the story for this one. The acceleration power has returned and with 2 new front tyres as well, the fuel consumption has gone down. Bonus.

Thanks to everyone.
Martin.
 
my farther in laws doing same thing thanks for advice priced up new battery quite cheap at alpha batteries (the battery Man on ebay)
 
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