Technical Battery light came on for 5 mins

[ahmett]

Hi all my battery light came on for 5 mins then went off. car feels fine to drive. I opened the bonnet and saw a bit of loose wiring around the battery, perhaps from the major work it had done previously. Wiring issue perhaps?

 

[Mike1alike]

Perhaps. That's for you to discover. It may also be the alternator failing. How old is it?

 

[ahmett]

Perhaps. That's for you to discover. It may also be the alternator failing. How old is it?

2010

 

[Mike1alike]

It's possible the alternator bearing to be failing. Or any other alternator issue. When the light comes back again, check under bonnet. If it smells like burned rubber, the alternator is definitely failing and the smell comes from the belt rubbing on the alternator's pulley.

 

[ahmett]

Did the same thing again came on for 10 mins then off by itself. Car feels normal to drive don’t feel like the battery is struggling. I’ll get it checked at a mechanic. I opened the bonnet after driving no smell, did notice one of the cables had some wiring exposed

 

[Mike1alike]

When light comes back again keep the engine running and measure the battery voltage using a multimeter.

 

[ahmett]

My problem looks suspiciously like this

Battery light on and no power steering | FIAT 500 (2007+)

I have a 2020 1.2 with start/stop. When the car is started all is normal but after 2 minutes exactly the battery warning light comes on and I loose power steering. I’ve checked the battery and connection’s and the earth straps all ok the alternator was only giving 13.5 volts so I fitted a new...

www.fiatforum.com

Will revert!

 

[varesecrazy]

If the steering didn't get heavy..
Your alternator is fine

Probably a battery sensor wire issue

 

[ahmett]

If the steering didn't get heavy..
Your alternator is fine

Probably a battery sensor wire issue

It did get heavy but momentarily a few seconds. I'll take a pic of the wiring issue when I next get to the car!

 

[ahmett]

This is the culprit I think

 

[A3jeroen]

Sensor is on the -side IIRC.

gr J

 

[varesecrazy]

This is the culprit I think

Nothing obvious..

The damaged cladding to ECU cables?

 

[ahmett]

Nothing obvious..

The damaged cladding to ECU cables?

Probably alternator then I’m going to mechanic in 1 hour !

 

[ahmett]

Yeah it’s the alternator they said 11.6 volts should be higher. They can try to repair it otherwise they will replace it

 

[ahmett]

They said 250 Euros for an aftermarket new alternator or 350 Euros for OEM Denso I’ll just go aftermarket

 

[Zardo]

In addition, you could ask them to also replace the Earth cable strip for this 15 year old car. It get's oxidized and loses conductivity over time. I'm not doubting that the alternator was the reason for the battery light, though.

 

[ahmett]

In addition, you could ask them to also replace the Earth cable strip for this 15 year old car. It get's oxidized and loses conductivity over time. I'm not doubting that the alternator was the reason for the battery light, though.

They also said they could perhaps recondition it for 150 euros but at that age and 230,000 kms I doubt that’s viable

Hopefully the car won’t die on me until Monday!

 

[varesecrazy]

They also said they could perhaps recondition it for 150 euros but at that age and 230,000 kms I doubt that’s viable

Hopefully the car won’t die on me until Monday!

The main item that's serviceable is the Regulator and Brush pack

The Brushes are only @30EURO,

worth seeing if that's the problem

 

[ahmett]

The main item that's serviceable is the Regulator and Brush pack

The Brushes are only @30EURO,

worth seeing if that's the problem

Car failed

 

[Zardo]

I had a battery light, too, and an intermittently failing power steering. Some days later, a burning smell in the passenger cabin and the battery light permanently on. Luckily, this happend 2 km from my place. I drove home for diagnostics: the alternator had permanently failed. Also, no power steering once the battery voltage went below exactly 12.0 V. This meant charging the battery at home. As it was an old battery, driving without the alternator with power steering was only possible for 5 km, beyond that range, the battery voltage would drop below 12.0 V with sudden loss of power steering.

So be careful if you drive it without alternator. If the power steering fails just before a bend you'll be surprised how hard it suddenly is to turn the steering wheel. This is a dangerous condition.