Technical 2010 Fiat Ducato minibus engine battery

[Ron Taverner]

I am having battery problems, poor starting, slow crank and battery be coming flat. The battery is 019 95ah en 750cca. It was bought in August 2024. We have also had a new alternator fitted and recently a starter motor. Is the battery too small for the diesel engine and should I get one that has a higher ah and cca?

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Check the earth cables. They tend to rot on the inside, so difficult to say at first sight. Then, the grounding points are getting rusted, so make too much resistance.

There's a diagram somewhere on the forum I've posted with the ground points. Could be a good hint.

Try adding an extra earth cable from body to engine, but find another fixing point on the body side. Check also the battery to body earth.

The battery specs should be listed in the owners' handbook. If you haven't got one check the downloads section of the forum to get the correct one.

 

[Communicator]

I am having battery problems, poor starting, slow crank and battery be coming flat. The battery is 019 95ah en 750cca. It was bought in August 2024. We have also had a new alternator fitted and recently a starter motor. Is the battery too small for the diesel engine and should I get one that has a higher ah and cca?

The engine block earth strap on the x250 and subsequent models from 2006, is a common cause of problems. As a temporary check, connect a jump lead between engine and a clean earth on the chassis. This strap, and the battery negative lead to chassis, are both in the starting, and battery charging circuits so merit checking. Other common parts are the CAL4 fuse at the battery positive, and the cable to the starter motor via the jump start connection point.

Take care when working on any of the positive connections. The voltage will not harm you, but you could get burnt, or start a vehicle fire.

Unless you are draining current from the battery, an increase in the Ah rating (capacity) will not affect starting. A higher CCA may help, but its effect could be lost if connections above are not in good condition.

 

[the green vanper]

And another important thing to add:

there's a special procedure for disconnecting the battery in the x250. It is described in the owner's handbook.

The airbag module is sensitive to current fluctuations and can get damaged. The repair is quite expensive and there are not many reliable workshops that know how to deal with it.

 

[Reg 65]

The bigger the battery the better but you have to draw a line somewhere and the 019 should be OK. The 019 battery is O/E standard fitment for the 2.2 and 2.3 litre engines of that year, with the bigger 020 for the 3 litre engine and later start/stop. First thing to check is the earth lead gearbox to body as stated above, and consider fitting an extra one. Beyond that I would suspect a power drain somewhere. Or maybe your driving is not generating enough power for all the starting and stopping this cold weather?
I recommend a meter like this (link) so you can see how its charging whilst you are driving - essential with a smart alternator and useful with a conventional alternator too

 

[Ron Taverner]

The bigger the battery the better but you have to draw a line somewhere and the 019 should be OK. The 019 battery is O/E standard fitment for the 2.2 and 2.3 litre engines of that year, with the bigger 020 for the 3 litre engine and later start/stop. First thing to check is the earth lead gearbox to body as stated above, and consider fitting an extra one. Beyond that I would suspect a power drain somewhere. Or maybe your driving is not generating enough power for all the starting and stopping this cold weather?
I recommend a meter like this (link) so you can see how its charging whilst you are driving - essential with a smart alternator and useful with a conventional alternator too

Thanks, that's extremely useful information. The minibus belongs to an Elderly charity which I drive for. So anything I can do to help keep it out the garage is good.

 

[Reg 65]

I'm wondering what aftermarket stuff has been fitted to this minibus that could be draining the power?
A diesel fuelled air heater for example, can still be using power when its switched off - like a TV on standby. I have fitted a switch to disconnect my chinese diesel fuelled air heater after it has gone through its shutdown cycle (disconnecting it before its blown itself cool could fry the circuit board)

 

[the green vanper]

I'm wondering what aftermarket stuff has been fitted to this minibus that could be draining the power?
A diesel fuelled air heater for example, can still be using power when its switched off - like a TV on standby. I have fitted a switch to disconnect my chinese diesel fuelled air heater after it has gone through its shutdown cycle (disconnecting it before its blown itself cool could fry the circuit board)

The CAN module in my tow hook has 2 LEDs blinking all the time... Invisible from the van, as it is installed under the chassis (LEDs pointing up). I've discovered it by pure coincidence

The OBD interface plugged into the OBD port, which normally should be powered with the ignition only.

Factory radio.

One of those three (or all of them...) were draining my battery very quickly.

I'm no longer leaving the OBD plugged in, the hook has a switch and I changed the radio to an aftermarket one (which is connected to permanent +12V) and the problem is gone. I've also disconnected the BCM for some time. The problem is gone.

So, it can be everything everywhere.

@Ron Taverner is the van equipped with some kind of lift for wheelchairs?

 

[Communicator]

The OBD interface plugged into the OBD port, which normally should be powered with the ignition only.

I think that you will find there is a permanent +12V on pin 16.

 

[Reg 65]

I think that you will find there is a permanent +12V on pin 16.

I don't know what pin it is, but there must be a permanent +12v somewhere in my OBD port, because my code reader always lights up when I plug it in, and it has no power supply of its own.

 

[the green vanper]

So has to be FIAT specific, in my daily car it is permanently plugged in but is not discoverable by the phone with ignition off.

As the OBD port in the x250 is in an idiotic place, under a cover which is secured with 2 screws. So, another switch to add. I have to start thinking about to put all of them

 

[Kiltman65]

And another important thing to add:

there's a special procedure for disconnecting the battery in the x250. It is described in the owner's handbook.

The airbag module is sensitive to current fluctuations and can get damaged. The repair is quite expensive and there are not many reliable workshops that know how to deal with it.

Hi, my A Class motorhome didn’t come with the Fiat handbook (manufacturer’s snobbery methinks) do you have a link to the procedure for changing starter battery? Thanks

 

[the green vanper]

The 2009 owner's handbook is available here:

Ducato - Ducato 250 Handbook 04/09

Davren submitted a new resource: Ducato 250 Handbook 04/09 - Ducato 250 Handbook 04/09 Ducato 250 Handbook 04/09 Read more about this resource...

www.fiatforum.com

Can't find it looking quickly through the document though. And I'm not sure at which moment (perhaps the 2011 lifting) it was introduced.

 

[Reg 65]

Hi, my A Class motorhome didn’t come with the Fiat handbook (manufacturer’s snobbery methinks) do you have a link to the procedure for changing starter battery? Thanks

My X2/90 handbook says if you need to charge the battery go to a Fiat dealer !!
One guy actually did, and they were told to connect the battery charger direct to the batter and charge it like any other, same as I do (from the jump start terminals under the bonnet as its easier)
Even more absurd the 2017 Fiat Ducato converters manual says you shouldn't install a secondary battery with more than 20% of the capacity of the original. That would be 21ah, giving a usable capacity of 10 ah on a vehicle they market as a base for motorhomes!
My secondary batteries total 400ah (2 x 019 batteries under each front seat, connected in parallel with the engine battery)
I am not suggesting anyone eldse does the same - just saying thats what I do and its worked out well so far. But if you do it, you do it at your own risk same as me.

 

[the green vanper]

My X2/90 handbook says if you need to charge the battery go to a Fiat dealer !!

Changing and charging batteries are two different things.

This one covers the procedure I'd say

And a more complex explanaition:

Starter Battery top up or removal /replacement

To avoid any problems with spiked or corrupted ECUs there are number of precautions to be taken. The SRS ECU (airbag), in particular, seems fairly prone to this and damage is often blamed on incorrect battery disconnection or jump starting...

www.fiatforum.com