Technical Charging issue

[Chuckie2024ie]

Hi there I have just joined the forum and I'm looking some advice I have a 2007 fiat dobloactive 1.3 multijet MPV and have strange issue it stopped charging battery and no battery light on dash any help would be much appreciated as I use it for to get my disabled brother from A to B in his wheelchair
Thanks

 

[Greasytrucker]

Hi there I have just joined the forum and I'm looking some advice I have a 2007 fiat dobloactive 1.3 multijet MPV and have strange issue it stopped charging battery and no battery light on dash any help would be much appreciated as I use it for to get my disabled brother from A to B in his wheelchair
Thanks

Does the battery light illuminate when the ignition is turned on and go out once started as it should? Or do you mean the battery light doesn’t illuminate at all at any time?

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Hi Greasy trucker thanks for your reply the battery light illuminates when key is turned then goes of when engine is started

 

[Greasytrucker]

Hi Greasy trucker thanks for your reply the battery light illuminates when key is turned then goes of when engine is started

Right ok. Are voltages completely the same with engine running and not running? As if the battery light goes out it indicates to me it must be slightly charging at least

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Had a friend look at it and he put battery metre on it and told me no charge being sent from alternater to the battery if jump start it from my golf it will sit running fine and when jump leads are removed it will run on util power from my golf drains from its battery then knock off

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Sorry forgot to add voltages stay same either running or off

 

[Greasytrucker]

Once it’s running try using the negative jump lead as a temporary earth strap by running it from the negative side of the battery to a solid metal part on the engine like a lifting eye if it has one. See if that makes a difference. Have any earth straps been checked and tugged at to see if they’ve rotted?

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Earth straps have been taken off and cleaned then put on and tightened up again plus negative jump lead has been clipped to lifting eye on engine and still same just seems to be a tricky one and by myself trying to think around the issue I had been a mechanic for 26 years then took stroke and can't figure out what issue is plus the friend that checked it is a mechanic as well and he is baffled also thank you for all replies

 

[Greasytrucker]

Yes that is a strange one. See what other members come up with, much cleverer people on here than this thick lorry driver If it was me I’d be tempted to stick a second hand alternator off fleebay on it (if they’re not too bad to to swap) and see if that alters anything, you could always sell one on again if it doesn’t solve it. Just an idea

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Funny thing I was thinking same about second hand alternater as I was quoted £358 from one motor spares and £250 from another for new one many thank for your help trying to solve problem
Take care

 

[Greasytrucker]

any ideas @bugsymike?

 

[AnthonyH]

Doblo alternators are <£100 on ebay. Maybe i'm not looking at the right ones.

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

I'll have a look Thanks again mate

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Doblo alternators are <£100 on ebay. Maybe i'm not looking at the right ones.

Yea had look on ebay for my MPV doblo model £128 thanks for info

 

[koalar]

Don't we need to check a few things before calling the alternator, it may be the alternator, even if it's a loose connection changing it may fix the problem

The lifting eye is not normally a good earth they are normally painted causing it to be insulated, I fallen for this myself

The battery light on fiats are useless as an indication of whether it charging as it does not come back on until the battery voltage falls below 5.5V

Normally it's best to check D+ at ignition off, ignition on, while cranking, with the engine running, with the revs raised

There could be a loose connection between B+ and the battery

The belt is intact and the pulley on the alternator is spinning

I can go through a few checks but a multimeter will be needed

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Don't we need to check a few things before calling the alternator, it may be the alternator, even if it's a loose connection changing it may fix the problem

The lifting eye is not normally a good earth they are normally painted causing it to be insulated, I fallen for this myself

The battery light on fiats are useless as an indication of whether it charging as it does not come back on until the battery voltage falls below 5.5V

Normally it's best to check D+ at ignition off, ignition on, while cranking, with the engine running, with the revs raised

There could be a loose connection between B+ and the battery

The belt is intact and the pulley on the alternator is spinning

I can go through a few checks but a multimeter will be needed

Hi there thank you for giving some info lifting eye was scraped before lead was clipped onto it to make sure get good earth my friend brought his metre and checked few things I will run through the checks that you've mentioned with multimeter tomorrow belt is good and pulley is turning many thanks for the info you have sent

 

[koalar]

Hi there thank you for giving some info lifting eye was scraped before lead was clipped onto it to make sure get good earth my friend brought his metre and checked few things I will run through the checks that you've mentioned with multimeter tomorrow belt is good and pulley is turning many thanks for the info you have sent

Unfortunately if it's like this one

It's insulated from the head via the paint layer between the head and the bracket, you could get lucky, the bolts scratch the paint through

But it's much simpler just to use something not painted or corroded

Any where around here

Getting a good contact with crocodile clips is always hit and miss

It's much simpler to just measure the volts between a nice shiny battery negative post and a clean part of the engine block or head, while cranking, if it stays below 200mv it's A1 but even twice that will not be an immediate concern

This will discount or confirm an earth problem 99% of the time, only if it's intermittent or during cornering, acceleration prevent it being 100%

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Unfortunately if it's like this one

View attachment 456021

It's insulated from the head via the paint layer between the head and the bracket, you could get lucky, the bolts scratch the paint through

But it's much simpler just to use something not painted or corroded

Any where around here

View attachment 456022

Getting a good contact with crocodile clips is always hit and miss

It's much simpler to just measure the volts between a nice shiny battery negative post and a clean part of the engine block or head, while cranking, if it stays below 200mv it's A1 but even twice that will not be an immediate concern

This will discount or confirm an earth problem 99% of the time, only if it's intermittent or during cornering, acceleration prevent it being 100%

Hi thank you for info I will check it out tomorrow

 

[koalar]

Not own a doblo

I believe access to the alternator isn't great

D+ the thinner cable should be just over 0V ignition off
Around 1V at ignition on
And battery voltage while cranking
14v engine running

If that okay then check

B+ AT THE POST it's not common for the nut to come loose but a few do turn up over a year

Assuming it's the alternator, but we are a long way from, being certain yet

It's the regulator module that normally goes, contains new set of bushes as well, they are around £20, ordering and getting the correct part is the tricky bit

 

[Chuckie2024ie]

Not own a doblo

I believe access to the alternator isn't great

D+ the thinner cable should be just over 0V ignition off
Around 1V at ignition on
And battery voltage while cranking
14v engine running

If that okay then check

B+ AT THE POST it's not common for the nut to come loose but a few do turn up over a year

Assuming it's the alternator, but we are a long way from, being certain yet

It's the regulator module that normally goes, contains new set of bushes as well, they are around £20, ordering and getting the correct part is the tricky bit

Thanks again I will get all checked over