Grande Punto hello

[golden girl]

I am new here and have joined the forum to see if anyone has a clue as to why my battery light goes on and the steering goes stiff while reversing out of my space at home
it comes ok in minutes though the last time, the third time its happened the light stayed on but going back to the car, even after sitting a few days it goes ok and drives fine with no light on

I have new battery, alternator and starting motor, its been hooked up at the garage and an alternator fault showed up though this could have been from when it broke, I thought it had been sorted and am rapidly losing confidence in the car and I have owned only since august

thanks

 

[shaun6017]

When it does it switch it off straight away wait a few seconds n restart.

 

[golden girl]

thanks for your reply, I was advised to do that or to rev the engine to about 2000 when I start it, it only seems to happen as I reverse out at home but I would feel more confident driving the car if I could solve the problem, the second time it happened I put on the wipers before I pulled out and they were going slow but no light on

 

[varesecrazy]

thanks for your reply, I was advised to do that or to rev the engine to about 2000 when I start it, it only seems to happen as I reverse out at home but I would feel more confident driving the car if I could solve the problem, the second time it happened I put on the wipers before I pulled out and they were going slow but no light on

mine did that ,
only ever in reverse,

let the Idiot liights go out before starting - always worked for me

 

[golden girl]

thanks for your reply varescrazy, I wait for the whirring noise to stop before I start the car, never noticed if all the lights are out or not is that what you mean, sorry to appear daft

 

[varesecrazy]

thanks for your reply varescrazy, I wait for the whirring noise to stop before I start the car, never noticed if all the lights are out or not is that what you mean, sorry to appear daft

Yes - that's it , it checks all sorts of lights,
then is just left with battery handbrake and a YELLOW engine light ( i think) ,
start it then, and all should be fine

charlie

 

[golden girl]

thanks for getting back to me Charlie, I will watch for the lights going out, though it hasn't happened yet am wary of it happening while driving as the steering seems to fade quickly

 

[varesecrazy]

it's electrically assisted Power steering , as soon as the power supply stops it gets VERY heavy..,
could be a battery charge issue,
a poor connection somewhere , or wear in the PAS itself,

a proper Diagnostic scan MAY help - if the RED PAS light comes on,
charlie

 

[jameshobiecat]

As varesecrazy said, it sounds like low battery charge. You say the car has had a new alternator, do you know if it was a genuine fiat part? Others are well known to cause problems as the gp (particularly the steering) is very power hungry.

 

[golden girl]

I know how heavy the steering gets from the first time it happened no way could I turn the wheel that's what scares me if it happens on the open road, the car has been in for a diagnostic scan and all it came up with was the alternator, a friend phoned the local fiat dealer and he didn't come up with much just that it sometimes happens, the garage said the power steering could be draining the battery though that didn't show up and the fiat dealer made no mention of that, so far its only the battery light coming on

the garage took it 2 or 3 long runs and it was fine, if its going to happen its the first time I take the car out that day then no matter if its half an hour, a few hours or a week before I use it it goes ok, I have lost confidence taking it out

it always used to screech when I started it but a new battery cured that, I am now thinking of getting a bike lol

thanks again for your help

 

[golden girl]

As varesecrazy said, it sounds like low battery charge. You say the car has had a new alternator, do you know if it was a genuine fiat part? Others are well known to cause problems as the gp (particularly the steering) is very power hungry.

yes it was a genuine fiat part from the fiat dealer all £200 pounds worth, starter motor was fiat but the battery was Unipart, a friend who was a mechanic put in the alternator but garage said it needed programming and something about an eco? I thought that was it sorted but it happened again coincidentally the first time I used after said friend sorted the heater as it had stopped working, I tell you I could see the car far enough but its a great car to drive when its ok

thanks for your input I am grateful for all comments

 

[varesecrazy]

hi - just re-read the opening post,
you put the BATTERY light goes on, and the PAS gets heavy..,

is it the Battery light or the PAS light,
ones a RED BOX - the other is a RED steering wheel..,

if it's the BATTERY then it's Def. a charging issue,
if it's the PAS then could be few different things,
I would get somebody to put a test meter on the battery,

should be AT LEAST 12 Volts, = good battery

then start engine should be AT LEAST 14Volts = good alternator,

charlie

 

[golden girl]

really appreciate your input varesecrazy

car screeching when I start it not always - new starter motor

brokedown coming home - new alternater

pouring rain reversed out steering a bit stiff went to move off steering very stiff, reversed back it came ok

it only ever screeched with me but got friend up and it screeched when he started it - new battery

ok for short while reversed out steering a bit stiff drove back into space and came ok before I stopped

into garage- diagnostic

after heater sorted next day reversed out bit stiff drove back in this time light stayed on but friend and I took it for a run few hours later, perfect

always battery light

 

[varesecrazy]

charging / battery issue,
try and find the amps AH rating of the battery = post on here,
Charlie

 

[golden girl]

charging / battery issue,
try and find the amps AH rating of the battery = post on here,
Charlie[/QUOTE

will do Charlie will see if I can get friend or someone tomorrow to find out, friend did think of a heavy duty battery but might have been thinking of cost after all I had spent out, will certainly post back

you have no idea how helpful all this has been to me, many thanks

 

[golden girl]

have googled the parts no gba3202 and it says 12 volt 42 Ah for the battery but will still check tomorrow