Loose Connection error message on a Fiat Stilo 1.2

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Loose Connection error message on a Fiat Stilo 1.2

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I am getting this message occasionally when I turn off the ignition on my Stilo 1.2 along with a couple of beeps and a host of other error messages which don't make sense, ie engine failure, alternator failure, abs failure etc etc when everything appears fine and drives fine when I start the car up and drive. With the ignition off and key out the error display remains lit and won't go off.
Leading up to this I hadn't driven the car and left it parked up for a couple of weeks, I did notice a beeping noise near the car but didn't realise it was coming from my car until I tried to start it and flat battery!!:eek: So I charged up the battery and everything seemed fine for a while until I started getting this error message again.
Now I'm wondering if anyone has had this error before and what was the cause? could it be an error the system throws up when the battery is going wonky and not delivering the correct power? Or have I actually got a loose connection?
Thanks in anticipation, any ideas or thoughts welcome.
 
Having read a lot of posts on here it sounds like a battery going down or poor earth or faulty battery if not a loose or dirty connection. If charging the battery effected a temporary cure this seems to be a likely culprit. I would check the alternator output with an ammeter and run a series of battery tests. I use a Gunsons meter that can do this and also check the battery voltage under load. This does not always show obvious battery faults though....

Good luck
 
I'm hoping it's just the battery, after an 8 hour charge and letting the battery settle I measured the voltage at 12.8 volts, I will check the voltage tomorrow while the engine is running and hopefully it will be up around the 14v mark! :)
I did notice one of the 3 spurs that come off the main earth terminal looked a bit bodged, the terminal off the wire was missing and the copper strands had just been wound around under the fastening, so tomorrow I will fit a new terminal and clean up and reconnect just as a precaution.
 
Just an update, I'm still having problems with this issue. I checked the voltage across the battery terminals while the engine was running and got around 13.9v which seems a little low to me? There was no drop as I increased the load by turning on multiple electrical items, ie heater, main beam, stereo etc
I also noticed the alternator was slightly noisy like a warble ? If this needs replacing could I source the same one off a different model such as a punto or bravo ? It could be my battery is also reached the end of it's life, could this cause the low reading?
Another thing I noticed was the instrument cluster would sometimes crackle and do strange things like all the warning lights coming on and dials fluttering, this would happen even when the ignition was off and car locked up (I sat in the car watching it happen!! :D) The time and date would often need to be reset but this hasn't happened for the last few days so maybe it's not the cluster and related to the alternator or battery?
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated? Thanks.
 
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