Hi all, so from looking at previous similar threads (Jamie's and c14rke's) it seems im having the same problem

Came out from work today and got nothing but ticking when I tried to start my 56 plate 1.9 sporting (40k miles), dials went crazy and I supposedly had airbag failure, power steering failure and various other errors pop up on dash..

Managed to jump start it and drive it to my uncle's but noticed on the way there when i stopped at traffic lights or junctions my power steering stopped working and the damn thing was like a tank until i got going again..

Got a multimeter on battery is reading 11.8 volts with no ignition, dropping to 10 with headlights on and 9 when trying the ignition (Car wouldnt start again as soon as i turned it off at uncles).

Is this likely to be the alternator and could anyone give me advice on what to do about it and likely costs of replacement parts if it is the battery/alternator?

Any help is greatly appreciated, this has got me so annoyed

When my alternator failed at 82k miles, it all happened within a mile of driving on the M4 at 70 mph at 5am! Radio started flashing on and off, then several messages and beeps were shown on the display, eventually power steering stopped working, engine cut out... From my experience, I would expect your battery to be at fault. I may be wrong though, better wait for other forum members to comment.

jump start the car with it running what is the voltage reading at the battery?

Andy Monty said:

jump start the car with it running what is the voltage reading at the battery?

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Done this andy, Barely went above 12 regardless of revving etc which should make it spike a little or am i wrong there? was just dropping and dropping..

georgios1976 said:

When my alternator failed at 82k miles, it all happened within a mile of driving on the M4 at 70 mph at 5am! Radio started flashing on and off, then several messages and beeps were shown on the display, eventually power steering stopped working, engine cut out... From my experience, I would expect your battery to be at fault. I may be wrong though, better wait for other forum members to comment.

Click to expand...

Sounds exactly like what happened to mine..must have been damn scary on the motorway!

The same thing happened to me a while back. It was diagnosed as a flat battery then but eventually turned out to be the alternator was humped :-\ I had the occasional whining noise from the alternator at the time aswell, dunno if you've had that too?
Cameron.

I would dare say this is your battery....If it happens again It would be worth getting the AA out (if you have breakdown cover( to test it....and see what the battery capacity is....I had an identical issue recently and it turned out that my battery charge capacity had dropped to 50% of what it should be, and the charging resistance had gone up.

the alternator should be putting out closer to 14v

I had the exact same thing, mine boke down while i was out, i couldnt get it started so had to call the AA out, they jumped the car so i could get home but could bearly steer it and then i cut out down the road with all the signs you said above (couldnt even lock the car)

I nearly went to buy a new battery as my warrenty was due to end within like a week or so but on the off chance phoned fiat and they said bring it in, so i had to have it towed there and then they did their tests and confirmed it was the altanator that had failed which drained the battery out. (at 25k miles)

Luckly fiat decided to cover it under warrenty, hope this helps

Thanks for all the help guys, Got an update for you all now.

Took my battery out overnight and charged it up so I could hopefully get down to the garage and try and find what it was, this worked and the guy agreed it was either the battery or alternator and directed me to the local motor parts shop who run a free battery/alternator test.

Test came up it was the alternator was shot, giving 0 charge to the battery and thats also why the power steering stopped working periodically (figured as much). Ordered the alternator for 143 + VAT plus a 30 surcharge until i took my old one in (Cheeky *****).

Fitting cost me 40 quid at a local garage and cars running like a dream now!

Quite happy with what I paid, 210 fitted all within a day. Especially after reading that other thread where the guy paid a few hundred lol