Technical Alternator fail light

[goundry87]

Hi everyone , I turned my fiat stilo 1.9 jtd. On today and it cut out saying alternator fail on the dash board and now won't start it's trying to start put just not firing up ( like when u have ran out of diesel ) but after an hour or so the car will start but then cut out again after a min or so .. Does this mean I need a new alternator ?? Please help ..

 

[mhowse]

First thing would be to get a multimeter and test your battery voltage..check all terminals are tight and larger fuses tightly fitted..and for the short time it does start check battery volts when running
When you say it is trying to start is the engine turning over in a healthy fashion or just about turning over to try to start..
Case of elimination as you start with checking battery and connections there and fuses..if you have a code reader that would also be usefull as could well be another fault that is causing car to fail to start such as no fuel /crank position sensor or something else but fault code would help if not battery or alternator from reading the voltages

 

[goundry87]

I have checked the battery and its ok and all the fuses and wires are fixed secure , and I changed the crack sensor about 6 months ago . Do u think it could be to do with the fuel in anyway e.g filter
Or pump .. It's pumping from the back to the filter tho .... Thanks for the help

 

[Big Black Stilo]

This is definitely electrical by the sounds of it. Did you get a multimeter reading? I've had something similar with a bad earth on another type of diesel car

 

[goundry87]

I will check the earths thanks is wd40 alright to clean them up ..

 

[mhowse]

if you say it is pumping fuel from tank ok then just check by placing small container under exit line from filter for engine feed and if all is ok there you will have some fuel collect there and so eliminate any fuel issue on that side, do not remember which line it was off hand but sure you figure which one just make sure have small container to collect any spillage. you do not need to start car just switching on ignition should operate fuel tank pump for few seconds enough to let you know that fuel is passing from tank and filter.
A multimeter is needed for checking electrical voltage and good connections and be usefull for fault finding as well as code reader

 

[12[X]]

It (might be) a good idea to rule out the simplest causes before you start playing with fuel lines/rails (e.g., press the release valve on the rail.. fuel comes out = there is pressure) etc.. So.. if you cannot measure the charge voltage (do not have the tools) Start the car and then… remove negative battery terminal (taking all the necessary precautions, i.e., I’ve done this.. and.. it should not be dangerous, but, some people say even a broom shoots once a year.. thus whatever you do is your own responsibility i.e., I am in no way liable and/or responsible.. blah blah). If the car stalls: alternator/earth/short; if the car runs but poorly: earth (I have so much free time today :tempt; if the car runs fine: most likely battery (but don’t rule out intermittent short).

 

[goundry87]

cheers mate ill try that

 

[Davren]

press the release valve on the rail.. fuel comes out = there is pressure.

NEVER attempt to release fuel pressure from the fuel rail.

The JTD fuel system runs at about 1300 Bar (19,000 psi). Fuel at that pressure can easily penetrate human skin.

Start the car and then… remove negative battery terminal If the car stalls: alternator/earth/short; if the car runs but poorly: earth if the car runs fine: most likely battery (but don’t rule out intermittent short).

NEVER disconnect the battery while the engine is running.

The battery in the charging circuit acts like a smoothing capacitor to smooth out voltage spikes. Without it in circuit, high voltage spikes can destroy any of the numerous ECUs on the car.
.

 

[12[X]]

one stands corrected
Things learned: JTD rail pressure + alternator reliance on battery

 

[goundry87]

Ill try cleaning earths when I get back home from work , if not that does anyone have anymore ideas as to what it could be . Thanks ?

 

[goundry87]

There is fuel coming throw the filter so must be a electrical fault ?? unless does anyone think it could be blocked injectors cause it doesn't cut out if I'm reving at about 2-3 thousand revs but cuts out on tick over after about 2-3 min ??? Thanks again ..

 

[12[X]]

start with the earth (i should pay more attention to the question and not assume everyone has a petrol) after that it might be a good idea to invest in an obd2 reader (they are very cheap and connect to a laptop or even a smart phone); a dead battery would likely cause the car to power down due to what was mentioned above (have just updated myself on the issue) but you say there is no problem (also, a battery that would cause a shutdown would not have enough power to crank the engine); think it’s time for me to stop giving out advice and apologies for the earlier suggestion
PS: I swapped 2 crank sensors (in recent succession) what you describe does sound (symptoms) like the crank sensor (it has a habit of not registering a fault in my experience) i.e., abrupt cutting out of the engine + not possible to start; you are right in assuming the fuel pump could cause a similar problem (think I remember reading somewhere on here that the contacts can corrode if moisture gets in regularly but don’t quote me on this) the guessing game can go on and on.. If it were me I’d 1 clean all earth connections, 2 buy an abd2 reader, 3 (depending on the codes i.e., none) swap the crank sensor (in that order) and then start guessing again.. Perhaps someone would have a better suggestion. There was a guide on here detailing how to clean the earth connections – just search for it (could have been a JTD also)

 

[12[X]]

There is fuel coming throw the filter so must be a electrical fault ���� unless does anyone think it could be blocked injectors cause it doesn't cut out if I'm reving at about 2-3 thousand revs but cuts out on tick over after about 2-3 min ??? Thanks again ..

hehe did you clean the throttle flap? my car used to stall after i let go of the accelerator (it can get that bad) follow this:
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/83260-cleaning-your-inlet-control-valve.html

 

[varesecrazy]

There is fuel coming throw the filter so must be a electrical fault ?? unless does anyone think it could be blocked injectors cause it doesn't cut out if I'm reving at about 2-3 thousand revs but cuts out on tick over after about 2-3 min ??? Thanks again ..

where are you based ?,
sounds like a reading of the CODES would save a LOT of head-scratching ,
Charlie

 

[goundry87]

I'm based in doncaster . Plenty to do this weekend wit all the suggestions thanks again , ill keep you posted ?

 

[goundry87]

Hi everyone just to let everyone no that it was the injectors that had become blocked so just put some injector cleaner in the tank and it never cut out and has rung bang on since . Cheers everyone for the help ??