Hi all,

I have a problem with the battery charging on my '07 Grande Punto 1.9D Multijet.

Currently the car starts normally, but upon revving the engine the battery warning light appears, I lose power steering, and the car produces a whirring/whining noise when the revs lower. I assume this points to the alternator has gone, but just wanted to confirm if anyone had the same problem. Note, this happens 100% of the time I start the car.

As a bit of context, the car initially had a broken spring so it sat unused for a few days in rain and cold temperatures until it could go to the mechanic, who upon repairing the spring told me that the alternator was seemingly broken and that the voltage running across the battery was 11v, not the 14v as it should be - I indicate this as after trawling through the forum I have noted that rain drains onto the alternator causing cracks and other problems, which may be my problem too?

Video that demonstrates the sound the engine produces (Ignore my talking!):

youtu.be/ugnKj751rWc

(Sorry for not linking, I can't use the URL tag until I have 5 posts)

Thanks in advance guys.

Hi.
Sounds like you might need a new alternator ..

Non charging could be a couple of things..
but they dont make noise ..sounds as if its the alternator

Yes, I assume that it does indeed need a new alternator. But, the sound started at the same time the battery stopped charging so I was holding off replacing it as I have a hunch that the sound has to do with the problem. I myself have never heard anything like it before so I thought I'd come to you to seek guidance!

11v charging voltage, grinding noise, mechanic saw a "seemingly broken" alternator ...
I still don't understand why you ask what's wrong (and I'm very polite this time)

OllyMoo said:

Yes, I assume that it does indeed need a new alternator. But, the sound started at the same time the battery stopped charging so I was holding off replacing it as I have a hunch that the sound has to do with the problem. I myself have never heard anything like it before so I thought I'd come to you to seek guidance!

Click to expand...

If you are not sure..

Uncouple.. or CUT..

The alternator drive belt


If the engine is nice and quiet without the alternator.. you will know for sure.

Its probably worth fitting a new drivebelt while its apart..

@ Charlie: the alternator is seemingly broken !! Why bother ...??

Sometimes when we think we know,what an issue is, its nice to have confirmation from people you can trust/know.
The idea of cutting the belt may not help confirm this issue(its 'seemingly' broken) BUT could help someone else in the future..

The best approach to confirm the mechanics tells would be to slip-off the belt and hand rotate the alternator to "feel" it. The rotor will probably rub against the cracked stator: that's usually how they die after water ingress (badly designed water scuttle) and icing. There is no special benefit by cutting the belt ...

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 ;-)

Indeed their is no special benefit to cutting the belt...Slipping the belt off,after loosening the bolts isn't a hardship.
If your pretty much certain the alternators broke then chances are you'd be replacing the belt anyway..well I would..
Always more than one way to do any job...

Bernievarian said:

@ Charlie: the alternator is seemingly broken !! Why bother ...??

Click to expand...

Disabling the alternator SHOULD stop the noise.

If the noise doesnt stop..

A jundment needs to be made..

A DMF AND AN ALTERNATOR...
Could out value an older grande..

Hi there,

@ Charlie, do you think a Dual Mass Flywheel would sound like this ? They're actually just two plates with spring compensated angular gap, being sold ,@ very expensive price for nothing they really worth (I mean costs wise): pieces of "balanced" cast iron, few springs and there they go charging us 4x (or is it 10x) the price of a single mass flywheel that has been used since steam engines and proved good work and usually doen't fail (no moving, nor additional parts).


BRs, Bernie.

I'm not certain, all I'm sure of is that the battery isn't charging. The noise just seems...off. I've never heard an alternator sound that way. Not been able to run any checks as of yet as the flu has me housebound currently (Car is sat at work). Will update when I can get back near the car.

How much would it cost for a new alternator on a 1.9d multijet?

I've been having issues with the car struggling to start when cold and now the battery is completely dead. Can get car going with jump starter cables but then dies even after being driven for 20 mins or so. My thinking is either alternator or battery? Would this explain cold start issues?

Car shouldn't die if its a battery issue with it being a diesel surely? dead battery would explain cold start issues as the capacity is decreased, I fitted a 630 CCA battery to mine

Teirminator said:

Car shouldn't die if its a battery issue with it being a diesel surely? dead battery would explain cold start issues as the capacity is decreased ...

Click to expand...

That isn't true anymore ! Purely mechanical diesel engines would run forever if properly fed with air and gasoil, but nowadays diesel engine are ECU controlled and that ECU relies on nice and stable power supply to do its job properly. Should this PS fail, the ECU would fail as well, and the engine stop ...

A dying battery will have its internal resistance increased, which will result in an increased voltage drop (ΔU=R*I) when current is withdrawn off it, so less voltage available for the starter = low cranking speed (following a poor pre-heating) = cold start issue ...

BRs, Bernie.

I had the same problem with a fiat idea, it would sometimes make a skirling noise ( which was the belt slipping on the alternator pulley and of course the volts would be low or nonexistent )and their would be no power steering. The noise would stop after about twenty seconds and power steering would be restored. A replacement alternator and belt fitted -problem solved. i should of course done it sooner.

saltburn said:

I had the same problem with a fiat idea, it would sometimes make a skirling noise ( which was the belt slipping on the alternator pulley and of course the volts would be low or nonexistent )and their would be no power steering. The noise would stop after about twenty seconds and power steering would be restored. A replacement alternator and belt fitted -problem solved. i should of course done it sooner.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the valuable information !

Faulty alternator replaced: problem gone ...

BRs, Bernie.