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Technical  Error codes

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Technical  Error codes

I had a "check glow plug" warning message this morning before starting the engine. Using a handheld gadget the battery was at 88% health and 100% charge, low health considering its a new battery, but it could be a reading error. I did a charging test on the alternator, the ripple test came back as normal, but i couldn't do the loaded test at 2,500 rpm as nobody else was around to assist. I didn't have time to do the IAM reset, so i'll do that later. I'm no longer at the house and won't be back until tonight.

The alternator on this car doesn't seem to have a regulator on the alternator itself, its probably a sensor/circuit board attached to the positive terminal of the battery. Although i'm not certain.
 
The glow plug warning before starting still strongly points to a voltage/IAM issue rather than a bad glow plug. On these Fiat diesels the plugs are tested and powered during pre-glow, and if system voltage is unstable at that moment the ECU will log a glow plug fault even when the plugs are fine.

The handheld battery tester reading 88% health on a new battery isn’t very meaningful on a smart-charging car, those testers are often inaccurate on AGM batteries and vehicles with intelligent alternators. It doesn’t rule out a charging control fault at all.

A normal ripple test only really tells you the diode pack is OK. It won’t detect LIN control problems or a failing intelligent regulator, which is what P065A points to.

The loaded charging test and comparing commanded vs actual voltage in MES are much more relevant here.

The alternator does still have a regulator - it’s just an intelligent LIN-controlled module, not a dumb self-contained one anymore. The module on the battery terminal is a battery monitoring/distribution unit, not the alternator regulator itself.

I’d definitely run the IAM reset when you get a chance and then monitor charging voltage under load. If P065A comes back or voltage is unstable, that confirms the regulator or its LIN control wiring as the root cause - not glow plugs or the clutch sensor.
 
Mike1alike said:
The glow plug warning before starting still strongly points to a voltage/IAM issue rather than a bad glow plug. On these Fiat diesels the plugs are tested and powered during pre-glow, and if system voltage is unstable at that moment the ECU will log a glow plug fault even when the plugs are fine.

The handheld battery tester reading 88% health on a new battery isn’t very meaningful on a smart-charging car, those testers are often inaccurate on AGM batteries and vehicles with intelligent alternators. It doesn’t rule out a charging control fault at all.

A normal ripple test only really tells you the diode pack is OK. It won’t detect LIN control problems or a failing intelligent regulator, which is what P065A points to.

The loaded charging test and comparing commanded vs actual voltage in MES are much more relevant here.

The alternator does still have a regulator - it’s just an intelligent LIN-controlled module, not a dumb self-contained one anymore. The module on the battery terminal is a battery monitoring/distribution unit, not the alternator regulator itself.

I’d definitely run the IAM reset when you get a chance and then monitor charging voltage under load. If P065A comes back or voltage is unstable, that confirms the regulator or its LIN control wiring as the root cause - not glow plugs or the clutch sensor.
Click to expand...
I got back a short while ago, and now the wife has taken the 500X to pick up a chest of drawers, so i'll have to wait a while longer.

After the IAM reset it seems i'm going to check alternator voltages with MES. I'm going to open up MES in simulate mode and try to find what it is i'm doing. I imagine its like the MAF sensor i looked at a while ago, there is actual and expected values, but we'll see.

The car behaved itself today apart from glow plug warnings.
 
Mike1alike said:
You... don't wanna know! Leave it like that!
Click to expand...
I have now reset the IAM, the message it gave me was unclear, like it might not have succeeded, it said something like "IAM Unknown". With any luck the problem will never come back, will see :)

I tried to get some real time battery voltage readings, but MES kept disconnecting me, its been like that for a while, on off etc. I will have to sort the IT problem or i won't get any further with this.
 
I really am unconvinced about these battery tests. Much like the yellow warning triangle. We have too much information. Years ago, it went, or it didnt. Good diagnostic info would have been nice, but all the angst stirred up by these blasted tests and warnings is more hindrance than help as often as not. If it didnt go, you engaged a brain you worked through logically and it didnt take long. Then you fixed it. Often, parts not needed. Underneath the basics are still the same. But more time is needed, expensive diagnostics and heaps of parts seems normal now. Progress. Im not so sure.
 
The “IAM Unknown” message is normal, MES is just vague, the reset usually works. After IAM reset, the system may behave fine for a while, but if the intelligent alternator regulator or LIN wiring is marginal, faults like P065A, glow plug, or EML warnings can come back. The key next step is stable real-time voltage monitoring under load, sort MES connectivity first. Battery and glow plug warnings are likely just side effects of voltage dips. Only if faults return after monitoring should you focus on the regulator or wiring.
 
The Panda Nut said:
I really am unconvinced about these battery tests. Much like the yellow warning triangle. We have too much information. Years ago, it went, or it didnt. Good diagnostic info would have been nice, but all the angst stirred up by these blasted tests and warnings is more hindrance than help as often as not. If it didnt go, you engaged a brain you worked through logically and it didnt take long. Then you fixed it. Often, parts not needed. Underneath the basics are still the same. But more time is needed, expensive diagnostics and heaps of parts seems normal now. Progress. Im not so sure.
Click to expand...
Ordinarily i'd agree, but yesterday i got the codes off my EVO, trying to get the stop start working, and the code said neutral gear sensor. I had a look at the sensor and it appeared fine, then i gave it a pull to discover one of the wires was loose. But converesely who invented the stupid stop start?

I'd like a completly stripped back car, as little technology as possible.
 
Mike1alike said:
The “IAM Unknown” message is normal, MES is just vague, the reset usually works. After IAM reset, the system may behave fine for a while, but if the intelligent alternator regulator or LIN wiring is marginal, faults like P065A, glow plug, or EML warnings can come back. The key next step is stable real-time voltage monitoring under load, sort MES connectivity first. Battery and glow plug warnings are likely just side effects of voltage dips. Only if faults return after monitoring should you focus on the regulator or wiring.
Click to expand...
I figured it had probably completed the reset, for the purposes of clarity MES should say something more than "unknown"

I can only get a few seconds of real time voltage data at the moment, so yes, i'll try to get the I.T. sorted now :)
 
Me
AnthonyH said:
Ordinarily i'd agree, but yesterday i got the codes off my EVO, trying to get the stop start working, and the code said neutral gear sensor. I had a look at the sensor and it appeared fine, then i gave it a pull to discover one of the wires was loose. But converesely who invented the stupid stop start?

I'd like a completly stripped back car, as little technology as possible.
Click to expand...
Me too. Modern manufacturing standards and old tech would work just nicely. No points though! as they maybe one step too far and require too much tinkering. I have nothing against EV's apart from 4 things. They still cause the same amount of pollution, probably more environmental imapct because of the way the lithium etc is extracted in the first place, but they have an unjustified saintly cloak, And worse from a personal point of view, I dont undertsand them enough to be able to do maintenance which seems to require a lot more time to do even minor things that puts the cost of running through the roof and of course the elephant in the room PRICE.

Servicing being making things you cant see do stuff makes me hate them based on my exponentially growing hatred of computers, tech and electrically powered stuff in general.

The annoying thing is we could make ice cars smaller lighter and much more economical if they were treated as tools for transport rather than lifestyle, status things or pe**s extensions!
 
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Mike1alike said:
I do feel the same. This "Intelligent Alternator Management" does not look quite intelligent at all. I don't see any benefits brought from it, but it does bring all sorts of problems, unfortunately.
Click to expand...
It’s all about not charging unless necessary supposedly saving you 0.00000000001 MPG I’d imagine. It’s what i call “technology for the sake of technology” What’s wrong with an alternator charging the moment it detects the battery isn’t at full voltage? It’s worked for years
 
AnthonyH said:
Ordinarily i'd agree, but yesterday i got the codes off my EVO, trying to get the stop start working, and the code said neutral gear sensor. I had a look at the sensor and it appeared fine, then i gave it a pull to discover one of the wires was loose. But converesely who invented the stupid stop start?

I'd like a completly stripped back car, as little technology as possible.
Click to expand...
The problem is we’ve gone too far and a “stripped back car” wouldn’t pass all the silly regulations needed to put a car into production
 
Greasytrucker said:
The problem is we’ve gone too far and a “stripped back car” wouldn’t pass all the silly regulations needed to put a car into production
Click to expand...
I think a lot of those regulations come from Europe and we could make such a car, but it might not be sold in Europe and some other places.

Maybe one day all cars fuctions will be put on a single microchip, and that can be changed if there are any problems!
 
The Panda Nut said:
Me

Me too. Modern manufacturing standards and old tech would work just nicely. No points though! as they maybe one step too far and require too much tinkering. I have nothing against EV's apart from 4 things. They still cause the same amount of pollution, probably more environmental imapct because of the way the lithium etc is extracted in the first place, but they have an unjustified saintly cloak, And worse from a personal point of view, I dont undertsand them enough to be able to do maintenance which seems to require a lot more time to do even minor things that puts the cost of running through the roof and of course the elephant in the room PRICE.

Servicing being making things you cant see do stuff makes me hate them based on my exponentially growing hatred of computers, tech and electrically powered stuff in general.

The annoying thing is we could make ice cars smaller lighter and much more economical if they were treated as tools for transport rather than lifestyle, status things or pe**s extensions!
Click to expand...

Some places like Australia don't have an MOT, all those unnecessary checks are out of the window, unless you want to sell the car, which is fair enough.
 
AnthonyH said:
I think a lot of those regulations come from Europe and we could make such a car, but it might not be sold in Europe and some other places.

Maybe one day all cars fuctions will be put on a single microchip, and that can be changed if there are any problems!
Click to expand...
£40,000 each and 200 hours to fit Sir.
 
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