Technical Fiat 500 died on me!

[MissScarlett]

Hi everybody

Went to my super reliable 2018 Fiat 500 twin-air mid-afternoon and there was zero life when I turned the key. I mean nothing. My dad came over to jump start me - we thought it was maybe the battery - but when we got to KwikFit (Sunday, only place open) they tested the battery and said it was good. They then did a check on the alternator, and it showed it was only generating 5 (sorry, don’t know the terminology) when it should be 12 or 14. My car is super low mileage (48k) . KwikFit said not sort of issue they fix. Anyone had anything similar and know what issue might be? Thank you

 

[John202020]

Sounds like a new alternator required, not too bad a price, phone around or try click mechanic? If it runs whilst on the jump start most likely this and the battery is possibly goosed even though they said ok try Tanya battery if you need a new one

 

[MissScarlett]

Sounds like a new alternator required, not too bad a price, phone around or try click mechanic? If it runs whilst on the jump start most likely this and the battery is possibly goosed even though they said ok try Tanya battery if you need a new one

Hi John - thanks for the quick reply. Ok - ta for info ️

 

[MissScarlett]

Hi John - thanks for the quick reply. Ok - ta for info ️

I’ve just read on another site a dead battery in the key fob can also cause starting problems, and it had been playing up the last few days. Could that be linked to zero power? Ty. X

 

[Derbyfella]

Nope. Although the low power is what made it difficult to start.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi everybody

Went to my super reliable 2018 Fiat 500 twin-air mid-afternoon and there was zero life when I turned the key. I mean nothing. My dad came over to jump start me - we thought it was maybe the battery - but when we got to KwikFit (Sunday, only place open) they tested the battery and said it was good. They then did a check on the alternator, and it showed it was only generating 5 (sorry, don’t know the terminology) when it should be 12 or 14. My car is super low mileage (48k) . KwikFit said not sort of issue they fix. Anyone had anything similar and know what issue might be? Thank you

Hi,

7 years old and low mileage

I suspect your alternator is ok,

Fit a good battery (2018 factory battery won't be at its best), see if the Power Steering cuts out


That will highlight a problem

Tayna can ship a great battery for @£100

My 500 battery has a 4 year warranty

 

[steveras57]

Hi,

7 years old and low mileage

I suspect your alternator is ok,

Fit a good battery (2018 factory battery won't be at its best), see if the Power Steering cuts out


That will highlight a problem

Tayna can ship a great battery for @£100

My 500 battery has a 4 year warranty

In the OP it states that the test of the charging system showed the alternator was only producing 5 volts not the required 13/14 volts which to me at least suggests that the alternator is jiggered and needs replacing,- however i would concur that if the system has been under performing for a good long while then it may well have taken the battery along with it! reckon it will turn out that both need replacing!.

To see no sign of a problem previously can be a bit misleading
( and the op has not said that the battery warning lamp was coming on despite only 5 volts being produced!)
from experience i can say that failing electrical systems dont always react in the way you might think! my Mercedes 4x4 had problems with slowly loosing the battery charge to the point where it would not crank over, when i checked the charge rate for the battery i found the alternator had failed completely and was producing no charge that my multi-meter could read, however the battery/charge light on the dashboard was still going out when the engine was started up!, just because there is no warning light does not mean there is not a problem somewhere in the system

 

[John202020]

I’ve just read on another site a dead battery in the key fob can also cause starting problems, and it had been playing up the last few days. Could that be linked to zero power? Ty. X

The remote battery doesn't effect the starting, even if it is removed the car will start normally

 

[varesecrazy]

In the OP it states that the test of the charging system showed the alternator was only producing 5 volts not the required 13/14 volts which to me at least suggests that the alternator is jiggered and needs replacing,- however i would concur that if the system has been under performing for a good long while then it may well have taken the battery along with it! reckon it will turn out that both need replacing!.

To see no sign of a problem previously can be a bit misleading
( and the op has not said that the battery warning lamp was coming on despite only 5 volts being produced!)
from experience i can say that failing electrical systems dont always react in the way you might think! my Mercedes 4x4 had problems with slowly loosing the battery charge to the point where it would not crank over, when i checked the charge rate for the battery i found the alternator had failed completely and was producing no charge that my multi-meter could read, however the battery/charge light on the dashboard was still going out when the engine was started up!, just because there is no warning light does not mean there is not a problem somewhere in the system

Suspect new alternator is going to be @£300 fitted

Well worth Checking basics like main cable connections and behavior of the Charge light. Before booking a garage

 

[steveras57]

Suspect new alternator is going to be @£300 fitted

Well worth Checking basics like main cable connections and behavior of the Charge light. Before booking a garage

agreed!

 

[varesecrazy]

agreed!

The one thing that bothers me..

NO MENTION OF PAS..

My experience of Alternator failure on a modern era ePAS FIAT,

It just dumps the assistance and puts the Red Wheel symbol on Dash

I didn't see any mention of that..

 

[John202020]

The one thing that bothers me..

NO MENTION OF PAS..

My experience of Alternator failure on a modern era ePAS FIAT,

It just dumps the assistance and puts the Red Wheel symbol on Dash

I didn't see any mention of that..

Yep I thought that it passing, perhaps a mobile auto electrician should have a look before anymore things done?

 

[varesecrazy]

I’ve just read on another site a dead battery in the key fob can also cause starting problems, and it had been playing up the last few days. Could that be linked to zero power? Ty. X

It will be interesting to see what you find

 

[Automods]

I’m thinking that battery tested ok by putting meter across battery, the alternator tested by taking positive test lead off battery and putting on alternator ( no other way it would show 5v if battery was good) so Earth strap ?..