Technical Alternator not charging

[storm634]

Hi guys, I have a 2007 Fiat Panda 1.2 dynamic and the alternator will not charge the battery. If I jumpstart the car it will run for a few seconds quite poorly and then the screen will flicker and cut out.. Before changing the alternator, I want to check out some other bits and after an OBD scan, it is throwing up a U1600 code. Could this issue be key-related? And what else should I look for before changing the alternator? Thanks

 

[koalar]

U1600

Nothing to worry about

Are you sure it's the alternator

Does it run fine if leave the other car stays connected

If yes how many volts across the battery terminal

 

[storm634]

Yes it would run fine if the other car were to stay connected, and when using a battery tester the light doesn’t come up on strong output, in fact it doesn’t light up at all.
Well I didn’t give the code a second thought until another forum mentioned it could be ignition key related and the key has been in water before..

 

[koalar]

U1600 is a common error on its own meaningless, you need to know what module is reporting it

Often crops up with prolonged cranking and randomly even on a fully working car


What dash lights are on at ignition on
What dash lights are on at cranking

Only bothered about the right-hand side of the dash

Engine check, oil, immo, battery mainly

Do you have a multimeter

 

[storm634]

U1600 is a common error on its own meaningless, you need to know what module is reporting it

Often crops up with prolonged cranking and randomly even on a fully working car


What dash lights are on at ignition on
What dash lights are on at cranking

Only bothered about the right-hand side of the dash

Engine check, oil, immo, battery mainly

Do you have a multimeter

I do have a multimeter, dash lights are as follows:

 

[storm634]

This is on ignition:

This is what would be on while cranking:

 

[koalar]

I take it the battery tester works on the good car

And you cleaned the tops of the terminals before testing, green scouring pad work for me

The dark oxides aren't conductive and can cause a fails nevative

 

[storm634]

I take it the battery tester works on the good car

And you cleaned the tops of the terminals before testing, green scouring pad work for me

The dark oxides aren't conductive and can cause a fails nevative

Yep battery tester works on good car fine, with a light illuminating next to alternator strong output.. yeah terminals are OK, they were taken off not long ago to scour slightly

 

[koalar]

Ignition on is fine

But during cranking

Engine, battery, oil, should stay on and the rev counter should move up, oil will eventually go out with prolonged cranking, engine should stay lit until it's fired

Is it the same with the other car still connected

Put a test lead on the battery negative, the other on some clean bare metal on the engine block, don't use the lifting eye it's painted and not conductive

Measure the volts while cranking should remain below 0.2V

 

[storm634]

With a jump connected I imagine the lights will be illuminated.. I will jump it and re send a picture first

 

[storm634]

This time the lights stayed on while cranking.

 

[koalar]

Without the jump leads

Test post 9

What's the voltage

 

[storm634]

Without the jump leads

Test post 9

What's the voltage

Can I just ask where is post 9?
For a bit of backstory this panda is not on the road and therefore does not have a very good battery anyway, but when I used another battery the other day it just drained it so I know it’s not battery issues. Whatever Voltage I get will be slightly lower than usual because the battery is not very good

 

[koalar]

Interesting the body computer reset but hasn't registered the rpm

Put a test lead on the battery negative, the other on some clean bare metal on the engine block, don't use the lifting eye it's painted and not conductive

Measure the volts while cranking should remain below 0.2V

 

[storm634]

Interesting the body computer reset but hasn't registered the rpm

Yeah it started after this and then the revs went up.. don’t know if that helps you

 

[koalar]

Cranking should show 300rpm on the rev counter it's not

The clock not reset

The lights in post 6 while cranking are the same as if there is a faulty earth

Which will cause the alternator not to charge

 

[storm634]

Cranking should show 300rpm on the rev counter it's not

The clock not reset

The lights in post 6 while cranking are the same as if there is a faulty earth

Which will cause the alternator not to charge

Ahhh right!! Thats very interesting. Where should I start then?

 

[koalar]

Put a test lead on the battery negative, the other on some clean bare metal on the engine block, don't use the lifting eye it's painted and not conductive

Measure the volts while cranking should remain below 0.2V

This will test the main earth under the battery tray

Here's mine with a faulty earth

Part way down the page, lighting a test light

Koalar random thoughts | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

Got the car here for a few day 1.2 petrol 2011 Going to post a few pictures and video of some simple and basic tests My well be a bit random as they pop into my head and might sort them into the proper order later

www.fiatforum.com

Can't use the forum at the moment it on a go slow

 

[storm634]

This is the video of the cars ignition when the key is turned. I’m not sure if the video will play just let me know

 

[storm634]

Okay, I’ve done the voltage test and it was 0.2 when cranking.