Technical Warning lights

[Dave-G]

Hi all.
My mk1 punto 1997 65sx has developed a few problems which hopefully someone can help me with.
The oil warning light flickers on at tickover speed, allthough it goes out as soon as I touch the gas pedal, the car has done 70,000 miles.
The battery warning light is now staying on permanently after coming on the other day, but going off after a short time.
My battery reads 11.08-volts with engine off & then drops to 10.5-volts with the engine running.
Revving up the engine does not change that reading at all, turning on the headlights drops the batterys voltage even lower & again revving the engine makes no change.
I know that this problem has got to be the alternator, but before I replace it does anyone know what wires, etc, could be worth checking over.
One other thing, at the front of the engine bay there is a canister attached to the engine mounting next to the timing belt cover. It has a brake line going into it & a blue tube which goes into the brake master cylinder, it has wires attached to what looks like a solenoid on the top of the canister.
I'm just curious what this thing does, I've never came across on any of my previous Fiats.

 

[andymm]

get rid befor you pump too much cash into it.

change oil and filter if light still comes on when on tick over it means expense.

alternator deffo faulty could be voltage regulator but getting some one to repair it is difficult these days,people only want to sell you complete one.

not sure on the other(get a haynes book.)

 

[craig 980]

oil warning light, it 'could' be that you just have a dodgy oil pressure switch, worst case is that the oil pump is shot.

try a new oil pressure switch from a motor factors, they're not that expensive.
obviously, if you still get the warning light then you have low oil pressure and a new pump looks likely. i wouldnt use it until you get the problem sorted.

the other problem is that you need a new alternator, it could be that the regulator is shot, but its just not worth repairing one component of it as you may well have another fault next week. get a reconditioned one on exchange basis.

 

[dave]

Dave-G it might just be very low on oil or just need changing, where abouts you live? lots of alternators in breakers yards

 

[Dave-G]

Thanks for the advice everyone it was appreciated.
I live in Sunderland & you're right dave there are loads of puntos in our local breakers.
One yard has a row of six puntos to choose from, but will I need an alternator from another 65sx, or will one from any model do?
I'm not replacing the alternaror just yet though as the light has now gone out & infact goes off as soon as I start the car, now not even a flicker.
This change happened after I took the battery off to charge it, the battery terminals were not corroded but I cleaned everything up anyway, put it back & no more warning light. Could charging the battery have helped?
One other thing the alternator belt is dead tight, I can't find what the tension should be in the haynes manual, anyone know?
Thanks again Dave G.

 

[panda_owner]

I had that problem with battery: my battery light was always slightly on, no matter what RPM was. It turned out to be diodes in alternator (gretz bridge) which must be replaced by similar ones.
Hope this helps.