Grande Punto Power steering/battery issue

[Brian55]

Good Morning all and thanks for the add .
My son has a 2006 Grande punto and has an issue with the battery light coming on and then the loss of power steering.
It is ok when you first start in but comes on after about 10 mins,you can then turn the car off and start it again and then it lasts about another 10 mins.
have changed the battery and cleaned up the 4 earths but does anyone have any other ideas??
thanks

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Brian,

the bad thing is that it keeps on happening every 10min, the good thing is that it's repeatable !

I would monitor the actual battery voltage, either with OBD and MES or with a voltmeter hooked to the battery terminals. If the volatge actually drops below 12.6(ish)VDC with engine running, the charging circuit is at fault, if it stay steady 13.6 to 14.4 VDC, your charging circuit is ok but you probably have a bad grounding / roten cable ...

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 ;-)

 

[Brian55]

Thanks Bernie

Will try that out

 

[Draken]

I had about the same problem ... measured the battery and everything looked good, but when the cold came, it couldn't start the engine. Measured battery power during engine start and voltage dropped to 6 volts. Bought a new battery and after that the problem has never returned with the steering wheel again

 

[Bernievarian]

As said many times earlier : most of the time when a battery shows signs of weakness when winter comes and weather gets colder, it's time to replace it ...
But in Brian's case it has already been replaced so the source of the issue sits somewhere else. Usual candidates are earth points, earth cable(s), distribution/fuse box (corrosion, moisture etc), broken cable, worn insulation ...
A good visual inspection and some methodic troubleshooting should help find the culprit ...

BRs, Bernie

 

[Brian55]

Thanks Guys

looks like i will be a busy boy on saturday trying to trace this down but you have given me places to start, bloody kids cars

Cheers
Brian

 

[Zeewulf]

Thanks Guys

looks like i will be a busy boy on Saturday trying to trace this down but you have given me places to start, bloody kids cars

Cheers
Brian

Do what my dad did when I was young (many many moons ago), would supervise while he made me fix the problem on MY car. Used to hate doing it as it always took me ages to do (dad was a mechanic at the time), but thank him for it these days as I've now gained enough knowledge to tackle most things on my car (unless it needs a car lift to do).

 

[Brian55]

Morning Guys and Girls

Update on the above ,having checked the voltages they are as follows

Battery read 12.2v then, when the car is started it drops to 11.8v if i put the lights ,heater etc on it drops to 11.3v ,it then runs for a couple of minutes before the battery light comes on and we lose power steering although the voltage doesn't drop when this happens.
Any ideas??
Thanks
Brian

 

[kjeldio]

Hi Brian !
Change the alternator, (not easy when aircon) I have done that lately, I might come up with a howto.
BRs. Kjeld

 

[Eklipze3k]

As above, not charging - should be about 14v with the engine running as per Bernie's earlier post. Either the alternator is duff, or the wiring from the alternator is damaged.

 

[Brian55]

Thanks Guys

Was hoping it wasnt going to be that but had a horrible feeling it was

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Brian,

while you are busy with the alternator (check connections BEFORE replacing it !!), do the water drain upgrade to avoid future water ingress in the alternator ...

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 ;-)

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Do what my dad did when I was young (many many moons ago), would supervise while he made me fix the problem on MY car. Used to hate doing it as it always took me ages to do (dad was a mechanic at the time), but thank him for it these days as I've now gained enough knowledge to tackle most things on my car (unless it needs a car lift to do).

Tried this with my boys. One just doesn't have any interest at all and is "handless" - takes more time correcting cross threaded screws etc to be worth it! The other is very capable with his hands but has always been "too busy" and is these days too busy with his business. Ah well, their loss. (or perhaps not so daft, as Dad often just ends up doing it and paying for the parts too if it's nothing too pricey!)

 

[Brian55]

A bit slow but here is an update,

Have now replaced the Alternator,with the assistance of my son, and now all running fine.
Turns out the old one had a crack through the metal casing,which by the look of it had been there for some time so could have failed at any time.
Have to say not the easiest job i have ever carried out and not for the faint hearted , did suffer from some skin and blood loss but that's just home mechanics
Wanted to say thanks for all the advice as was very helpful and welcome.

 

[nikrox]

Good Man..not many peeps provide an update BUT when they do it helps the forum 'learn'.:slayer:

 

[Bernievarian]

Well done Brian, for some reason I can't click the 'thanks' icon (it's not there !)

Cheers, Bernie

 

[gunemalli]

Turns out the old one had a crack through the metal casing,which by the look of it had been there for some time so could have failed at any time.

Would it be something like this? My workshop said this is a common fault on this model.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Well done Brian, for some reason I can't click the 'thanks' icon (it's not there !)

Cheers, Bernie

Newbie Central doesn't have a Thanks icon, main sections do

 

[Brian55]

Yes exactly like that

 

[Bernievarian]

Newbie Central doesn't have a Thanks icon, main sections do

Did not knew that; thanks for the clarification Eklipze !!

BRs, Bernie