Hi guys,

New to this forum, so sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I have a Grande Punto 1.2 Dynamic 06.

Anyone come across this problem?

When I start the car from cold the battery light goes off with all the other warning light and I have power steering until I pick the revs up a little. The battery light then comes on and I've lost the P/S. When I pull away and go over about 2/3mph the P/S comes back until the car idles for a few seconds or is stationary...the battery light is on the whole time...even when doing 30mph or more the battery light is staying on

When stationary, revs don't bring back the power steering, only driving the car will bring the P/S back. All other electrics are working fine and the car is starting fine also.

My generator belt still there, tight and running.

Any ideas what this may be? Possible comuter chip fault somewhere?

Thanks.

Could be two things that I know of - your alternator is on its way out, or the power steering motor is.

Having had both, the effects can be quite similar. I would suggest getting to the garage before it lets you down, much in the same way as mine did on Christmas Eve. If it is the alternator and it packs up completely, you will need to get a tow or be recovered in order to get to the garage.

also check the battery clamps are secure and clean

Hate to resurrect an old thread, but I just experienced the same issue.

I was driving along and the battery light came on. No warnings on the display panel. Then when I came to a stop I noticed that my power steering had failed. There is no P/S warning. No lights, no error on the display panel.

I stopped the car. Waited a few minutes with it switched off while I looked under the bonnet.

I checked the alternator belt. It was tight and looks in good condition. I checked the battery terminals and without tools on hand, I disconnected the negative terminal using the quick release lever. Let it sit for a few minutes more, reconnected it and tried driving again.

I started the car, all was well. I let it sit there for a minute or two, turning the steering wheel left to right with ease (The "City" steering setting was not on - I hate that silly gimmick). All was well. So I decided to moved off and the battery warning light came on instantly. Losing power steering instantly.

I also noticed, this time driving with the window down that I heard a whirring sound that increased with the revs.

I had the battery replaced less than a year ago. The previous one died instantly last year. One day the car started fine, drove all day on a Sunday drive and came home. Next morning I woke up to go to work and the engine didn't turn over. All I got was that ticking sound.

Is there anything else I can look at before I call the dealer to book it in and spend money? Fuses? Diagnostics? Anything to look for around the alternator?

You could test the alternator if you know your way around a multimeter...

I'll be testing it out today (in daylight). I'm in Australia and this all happened after dark, making it hard to see anything.

I have a multimeter handy and know how to use well. I'm an ex-motorcycle mechanic. However, I never worked on electronics. Old carbi bikes from way back. So when electrical things go wrong I get confused. And more so when my power steering stops working and my battery charge light comes on. But from reading this forum and googling things, it turns out that the steering system is electric and thus relies on a certain voltage to work.

I guess if one cell in the battery is dead, it'll be enough for this to happen. Hopefully it's the battery (easy fix), I hope it isn't the alternator. Looks like a pain in the behind to get to between the firewall and the engine.

I wonder if the regulator/rectifier is inside the alternator or an external unit. That is, if modern cars even use them. I have no idea with all this stuff. It's great when it's working, but when it doesn't I wish for my old car, with the most complex thing in it being the cigarette lighter.

Cheers
pip

Okay. I tested the charge.

Sitting there, ignition off. Measured at the battery terminals: 12.34V DC

Ignition on. Measured at the battery terminals: 11.82V DC

Engine running idle. Measured at the battery terminals: 11.83V DC

Engine running at 2,000 RPM. Measured at the battery terminals: 11.83V DC

Engine running idle. Measured at positive battery terminal and ground. 11.82V DC

Engine running at 2,000 RPM. Measured at positive battery terminal and ground. 11.82V DC

I also noticed when revving the engine up to any RPM, there's a whirring sound. Bearings failed in the alternator? I have looked at the belts again. It seems the 1.9L Turbo diesel uses a serpentine belt that goes around the alternator, water pump, crank and aircon compressor. I guess I'll have to take the alternator out to spin it freehand and see what happens.

Is there anywhere I can measure the alternator output alone?

When I saw problems like this when I worked on old bikes, it was the regulator/rectifier that had gone, not letting enough charge through.

Is the reg/rec inside the alternator, external or is it controlled by some computer box?

Cheers
pip

Any advice would be appreciated.

hi i am also just encountering the same problem now. hope i can know the solution. thanks

pipsqeek said:

Is there anywhere I can measure the alternator output alone?

Click to expand...

multimeter probe on alternator D+ terminal

Exactly the same symptoms of when my alternator failed out of warranty. Fiat paid half towards the cost of repairing it though.

JimbbobW1977 said:

Exactly the same symptoms of when my alternator failed out of warranty. Fiat paid half towards the cost of repairing it though.

Click to expand...

mm......look like have to replace the alternator.. my car already 4 yrs old. unless recondition the alternator is possible? or worthit? l

Mine was reconditioned works fine. Also get the rubber tube that directs water away from it. Thats whats causing the problem.

Cool. I'll have to somehow cram my hand down between the firewall and the engine to figure out how to reach the alternator D+ terminal. Unless the wiring that comes off it leads to somewhere else in the engine bay that is easier to wedge my hands into.

I'm going to assume FIAT Australia (or more specifically, the importers ATECO) are going to bend me over for an alternator.

I'll have to read up on the tube that redirects water to avoid the issue. I'm finding UK based alternators for about $200 Aussie dollars. Even if they ship it for $100, it'll be cheaper than buying it locally.

surprise..surprise for me, after leaving the car for the whole day, when i come back from work, i start the car again... the red battery icon is gone! and the power steering back to normal...emm.. just wondering what cause the malfunction, whether this going to permanent or i still have to replace the alternator?

Hi
there is a recurrent problem with power steering motor; I have same problem on daughters car and I am trying to fix it; Might be relays in motor housing, and there is a forum thread somewhere on here with good instructions on how to fix;
G

i think i spoke too soon, the battery light appear again, but now its on off thing, if the battery light on, i just restart the car, the light disappear. everthing goes back to normal. any clue to what wrong.
i did test with multimeter during the not charging sign on, the battery voltage keep dropping.

Update on my car.

I took booked it in for a service with the dealer as it was due for its 75,000 km service. I mentioned the alternator and said it's not charging.

The tow truck I booked never showed. So I decided to put the battery on charge for an hour and also take my jumper pack with me just in case... not sure why but if the battery was dead, the jumper pack wasn't going to make any real difference.

I got her started, on my way to the dealer at about the half way mark, the ever glowing battery light started to flash. Then all of a sudden the beeps started. First ABS went out. Then the airbag system was "disconnected". Followed by a host of other features that make the car safe.

Then it came good for about 10 seconds. Then the tacho started to jump up and down, and the engine lost power. The speedo was also jumping up and down. The lights on the dashboard went out completely and the needles rested as if the car was turned off. I coasted down the hill, putting my hazard lights on, which was futile as there was NO power at all. They didn't even come on.

I coasted down the hill some more, getting ready to vere off the road and slowly pull the handbrake up. I came to a stop. I reached for the key, with my foot still on the throttle all of a sudden I patted her on the dashboard and said "It's okay baby, you got me this far." I went to turn the ignition off and all of a sudden she came back to life.

Engine idling to spec. Battery light not on. All systems were perfect. I dumped her into first gear, launched her back into traffic and gave her another pat on the dashboard, kissed her on the steering wheel and said "That's my girl... now let's get you to the doctor."

I raced to the dealership because I didn't want her Italian temperament (if it's anything like mine) to change direction and decide that NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYMORE.

I made it to the dealer with nothing but a slight whirring sound coming from the front of the car. I suspect the alternator crying "ENOUGH with the spinning!!!"

I dropped her off and expected a phone call the following day asking me to come and get her. What really happened was a phone cal two hours after I had dropped her off. The service was complete. However, the alternator wasn't good. With my permission it was sent off to an Auto Electrician, but first I was told about the 2-3 hours it'll take to remove it. I believed them. Because when I looked at it in the drive way, the only way it appeared to have access to the damned alternator was from the bottom or maybe the side once the wheel was off and the inner guards were removed (if possible).

Either way, I had to sit down.

Then they informed me that the front discs needed replacing. I nearly exploded because they were replaced at the 60,000 service. I told the dealer that I don't want to be angry at him, however if he's going to lie to me about the car I will come over there and proceed to stick my size 12 foot up his virgin arse.

When I arrived to return the loan car which I only had that day, I looked at him as I walked into the workshop and he got up and ran off.

Another guy came out instead. Greeted me and explained the mistake about the brakes. I told him the other guy is lucky he ducked off for his "lunch break" otherwise I'd bent the discs around his neck"

Anyway, long story short. I got a call today that the alternator was not repairable, I must get a new one. So, the bill which includes the service and alternator comes to $1,500 Australian Dollars TOTAL.

When I get the car back I'll be doing the drain mod thing, which I have yet to search the site, find it, read it and then do it to the car... whatever needs doing.

Anyway, just an update, I hope to pick the car up tomorrow.

$1500??????
What on earth have they done to the car that could cost that much? Surely an engine rebuild wouldn't be all that far off a bill like that.

i dont think aud1500!!!!!. must be AUD500 more like it .