Hey, this is my first post on fiatforums!

I'm currently trying to fix my grande punto, I was having issues where the car would take a few 'jumps' to start but now the battery has completely gone flat and I don't even get power from putting the key in the ignition.

As I was replacing my battery today I came across this (below) panel, and I don't know what it is. I've never replaced a battery or even touched a car engine before, this is my first ever car.



Could someone please direct me as to what to untighten looking at the image, and should this be done BEFORE I disconnect the negative clamp on the battery? Also, that wire right at the bottom is very loose. What effect does this have? I am seemingly unable to retighten it.

Regards

ALWAYS remove negative first.

That panel is the positive side with lots of connections, it's normal. You can see to the right of it the positive terminal post o the battery which the positive 'panel' is attached to. Loosen that nut, I think it's a 10mm if I remember correctly.

By the loose wire do you mean the black strap? It's to secure the battery and should be tighter than that, perhaps it has been fitted wrongly by previous owner or a smaller battery has been fitted.

This is a small fusebox.

Just unscrew the bolt on the battery terminal and remove it.
Don't remove all the cables etc...

Always remove first the negative(earth) cable from the battery.
And always put back the negative cable last.

The loose cable at the bottom is the cable going to starter and the alternator.
So... it's related to your dead car/battery.

EDIT: I mean the RED cable not the black strap Jacob is talking about

What's the small red thing with 2 screws either side??

From memory the little red thing held on with two screws stops the hole thing from moving.You need to remove the two screws and red retainer thing before you undo the positive clamp,so you can turn and lift the clamp off the pole.

Thanks for that.

Anyone know where I can get the cover from that sits over the stuff in the photo??

Looking at the right hand cable that feeds the engine bay fuse box..it looks seriously ill. Usual cable rot issue I suspect and not just a failed battery.

Hi (who ?) and welcome on board …

agree with all previous comments, but like to add a bit of "why" here:

As CMOS said, remove negative (black or - sign) first and put it back last…

WHY: a car is negative grounded, that means negative is everywhere on metallic parts of the engine, gearbox, body, etc (assuming earth cables aren't roten ;-). So if you'd disconnect positive (red or + sign) first there is a risk that your spanner could make a short between the positive post and a (negative earthed) metalic part of the car, making big sparks, eventually welding itself to both end, hurt you (can become very hot) and possibly set the car in flame, make the battery explode, lose your eyes with acid projection, etc...

As you can see it's not only a good practice, it's a MUST !!

Regarding the lose cable, if you're talking about the red one that goes to the left (and is at the Bottom of the fuse holder/clamp), it powers the starter and bring charge current from the alternator so no Wonder why your battery died … In order to tight it you'll have to hold the screw side (opposite the nut) with another open spanner or the entire think will rotate .

No clue about the red thingy, apprently useless where it sits.

The belt MUST be tighten to pass MOT, shouldn't be lose if the battery is correctly sized!

BRs, Bernie

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