General Battery warning light and peer steering

[Manor101]

Hey guys new to this....

Basically over the past 3 months I've been having trouble with my fiat Punto Grande. I had a warning light come on regarding my lights. Sometimes the radio would go on and off and I'd lose power, Abs would come on and "airbags" would appear on my screen. If turn the car off and back on again it would be OK with the dashboard clear.

I have sorted out the lights so don't get the warning but now I have battery light come on and now lose the Power steering for a few seconds but then I comes back. My latest outing in the car I was doing 50mph and the battery light came on, radio started going on and off and so I pulled over, turned the car off and went to start it again and it wouldn't start, would even kick over. My friend come with start leads and we jumped the car. I then have driven the car since and it has been fine but I don't understand what to do as it has been driving fine for the last couple of days, has anyone had this same problem ???? Any help would be great.

 

[g8rpi]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum. There are three main possibilities
Faulty Battery
Faulty Alternator
Bad battery earth leads.

Halfords will check your battery for free. You need a voltmeter to check the alternator.
Bad earth lead can be diagnoised (when it happens again) with jump leads, but cnot in the normal way. Connect one lead (black) from battery negative post (leave any existing leads connected) to engine block or gearbox case. Connect a second lead (red) between engine block and chassis / bodywork. If fault disappears replace the battery and engine ground cables.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[DGPunto]

Welcome. What model/year/engine and how old is the battery?


Sounds the usual GP gremlin of not enough electricity to your PAS, g8rpi has given you the usual fixes/checks (I'm sure you will be careful with the wires and jump leads around the battery).


Depending on the model there can be issues with water running onto the Alternator (if it needs replacement make sure you get an original make one, aftermarket ones tend not to work properly).


Also if you are running with City Mode on your PAS, try without - that just adds to the electric demand

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Bob & All,

I don't quite understand WHY should he replace the battery IF the ground test shows bad earthing leads ??

BTW, welcome on the forum Manor [first_name?]...

Regards, Bernie

 

[g8rpi]

Hi Bob & All,

I don't quite understand WHY should he replace the battery IF the ground test shows bad earthing leads ??

BTW, welcome on the forum Manor [first_name?]...

Regards, Bernie

Doh! Rushing to get answer out before work.


Only replace battery if it fails testing.
Robert G8RPI.