Technical Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD alternator failure

[Chris Haigh]

Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD estate. 2004. Alternator failure light came on and engine cut out. Few days ago driving on the A30 Cornwall and the engine fault light came on. Oil and battery light comes on. Three different incidents. Message came up on dash saying 'alternator failure'. last time when she cut out. Cars in garage and I'm awaiting a call from the garage (Glassons in Camborne). Anyone else had this issue. Chap I usually use said Fiats are a good car and I do actually like it, but he said Bosch supply the electric parts and they are the cheapest nastiest crap available which is why Fiat get such a bum reputation. Is this true? Any tech heads shed any light on this problem?

 

[MrDerv]

Nah, it's a load of crap.

Alternators do suffer wear and tear, some more than others, but hopefully a replacement will resolve your issues. Worth asking the garage to check the condition of the earth straps in the engine bay while they are at it.

 

[XB23]

Mine went last december .. Not a fun job took me about 4 hours new altenator from euro car parts.

 

[varesecrazy]

you may well find it's just worn out the brushes,
replacements are pretty cheap,
and you wont need to move half the engine to change them,

charlie

 

[Artermis]

As others have said - it isn't the worst job ever. Folk are right, alternators do fail over time.

I think brushless alternators are tending to become the norm these days so failure tends to be bearings or a breakdown in the electrical pack with age.

But if you think what the part costs and that it's now 12+ years old and likely done 120,000 miles or so - value for money is pretty good!

There isn't anything wrong with BOSCH electricals. I'd say they're no better or no worse than any other to be honest.

You have to consider that the electrics operate in probably the harshest environment on earth. They can be left absolutely frozen overnight, then suddenly warned up to 100 degrees or so, it with rain, snow, salty roads, hit with two atmospheres worth of pressure and thousands of RPM. Then shut down cooled off and do it all over again, hundreds of times. There isn't anything that's going to last in those kind of environments forever!

 

[Ralf S.]

I dunno if the alternator is a Bosch. Titch, the Younger Mrs S' Cinquecento, had a Marelli alternator that knacked a Rectifier. It was cheaper to buy a whole reconditioned (new everything soldi state.. just the "metal" parts were cleaned second-hand ones) than the rectifier on its own.

The recycled one was half Marelli and half Lucas (the components were stamped).. so it could be there are several likely suppliers.

Alternators do go though... brushes on an Uno once and the Cinq' up there ^^ have been my only failures though. Both my Alfas 145/155 using probably the same manufacturers parts have 375,000 miles between them and both still the alternators that they left the factory with.


Ralf S.

 

[Rtj10101]

At least its not an Mjet engine, I had so much fun changing mine. Its slightly more accessible on an 8v, just!