Hi all,
I had a new alternator last year, and has been good since then. However, over the last few months my battery has been draining and dying when we have heavy rain. I replaced the battery last month, and it did it once straight after this, and has been fine since.
It is now doing this again. Whilst driving in the heavy rain, everything began shutting down, and the battery has died.
It is a fiat punto 1.2 63 plate.
Any help and advice would be welcome!
Thanks

Llandybie1 said:

Hi all,
I had a new alternator last year, and has been good since then. However, over the last few months my battery has been draining and dying when we have heavy rain. I replaced the battery last month, and it did it once straight after this, and has been fine since.
It is now doing this again. Whilst driving in the heavy rain, everything began shutting down, and the battery has died.
It is a fiat punto 1.2 63 plate.
Any help and advice would be welcome!
Thanks

Click to expand...

Hi.

Your car is relatively young.. but its still a Grande Punto ..

These are not uncommon on the grande

Favourites would be:


Damp fusebox.. ( loose damaged lid?)

Main earth cable braking down

Any warning lights staying on.. or an aftermarket radio..usb

Info here:
https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/424410-grande-punto-faqs.html?p=4067205

Also

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/456358-fuse-box-removal.html?p=4312703

SEARCH on the forum is great..

So you can search 'fusebox' in a specific section..Grande..or punto 2012

I own 2 gps and a 2012.. thankfully not had any of these..

There is 1 other great guide in your dilemma.. spend @£8 on a multimeter and save £100 in a garage

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-mk2-2b-guides/337880-basic-battery-alternator-parasitic-drain-testing-guide.html?p=4305895



Feel free to ask more

Charlie

Thanks for getting back to me. It is a fiat punto easy 1.2
I have charged the battery in the house and when I put it back on this morning I put a multimeter in it and it show 12.5. Took the car for a small spin and the lights all started coming back on.
The radio is the original radio.
Someone mentioned that it may be the alternator belt, would this make sense?

It could be the alternator belt needs changing...it could be a few things tbh.
Its an easy potential fix..
Did you follow the advice given?

Llandybie1 said:

Thanks for getting back to me. It is a fiat punto easy 1.2
I have charged the battery in the house and when I put it back on this morning I put a multimeter in it and it show 12.5. Took the car for a small spin and the lights all started coming back on.
The radio is the original radio.
Someone mentioned that it may be the alternator belt, would this make sense?

Click to expand...

Hi again

Ok.. looks like you have a meter..or similar.. to measure 12.5v

That is the BATTERY voltage .. @2volts per cell

When the engine is running the ALTERNATOR should be putting in 14v..
(You will see 14v at the battery terminal ) if its a lighter socket plug in device.. Im not sure..

But should still be 12+

Let us know ..

Might be worth aiming a hairdryer at the open fusebox.. then carefully replacing the box's lid

varesecrazy said:

Hi again

Ok.. looks like you have a meter..or similar.. to measure 12.5v

That is the BATTERY voltage .. @2volts per cell

When the engine is running the ALTERNATOR should be putting in 14v..
(You will see 14v at the battery terminal ) if its a lighter socket plug in device.. Im not sure..

But should still be 12+

Let us know ..

Might be worth aiming a hairdryer at the open fusebox.. then carefully replacing the box's lid

Click to expand...

If the battery voltage you measured was with running engine, it's too low: as Charlie mentionned 12,6 should be the voltage of a full charged battery (2,1 V/cell) and 14ishV with alternator charging. Do you get any light showing at dashboard ? Does the battery symbol lit when you turn the key on ? (the bulb/wire could be kaputt)

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

Hi all,
Thanks for all of the advice. Having checked everything I took it to the garage today. Mechanic said that the alternator has gone. As I said previously, we had a new alternator a year ago. I have contacted the previous mechanic and am waiting for them to get back to me re. the warranty. Is it normal for an alternator to go after a year, or is it likely that it is faulty?
Thanks again for your help

I wouldn't say it's normal for an alternator to die after one year, but it's "possible", that's why warranties are for ... Do contact the first mechanic and ask for free replacement, they should take all costs on them !

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

Llandybie1 said:

Hi all,
Thanks for all of the advice. Having checked everything I took it to the garage today. Mechanic said that the alternator has gone. As I said previously, we had a new alternator a year ago. I have contacted the previous mechanic and am waiting for them to get back to me re. the warranty. Is it normal for an alternator to go after a year, or is it likely that it is faulty?
Thanks again for your help

Click to expand...

Alternators?

Generally good for 10years : 100,000 miles

The diagnosis sounds odd though.. as it charges the battery ok the nonrainy times you drive..

Charlie

Could it be the (welknown) rain draining stuff ??

That good old blocked drainage channel problem

Bbass8 said:

That good old blocked drainage channel problem

Click to expand...

No.. not on a grande

The scutlle drain : 'duckbill' dumps the water straight over the alternator

Bernievarian said:

Could it be the (welknown) rain draining stuff ??

Click to expand...

Quite probably Bernie..

But how is it working ok on dry days..

It cannot be 'broken'

varesecrazy said:

Quite probably Bernie..

But how is it working ok on dry days..

It cannot be 'broken'

Click to expand...

Water takes days, if not weeks to dry out fully once it gets in there.

varesecrazy said:

No.. not on a grande

The scutlle drain : 'duckbill' dumps the water straight over the alternator

Click to expand...

That might explain why I am just replacing an alternator where the bearings have seized

There's a modified scuttle drain if you don't have one fitted that keeps the water away from the alternator. A good investment on a GP for ~£10. have a read here: Link

I believe the part number is 51810013