Technical Smart-Alternator problems

[Henning Camper]

We have 10 Fiat Ducatos 2019 - all of them have now the same problem with the smart alternator not charging. They are charging randomly the starter battery or the leisure batteries but the batteries are never full. Fiat says it has nothing to do with the Smart Alternator. But when I do my research I can find many people complaining about the same problem. Does anyone here heart about this problem? On a German website somebody is offering to install a reset button and the alternator would work for some time normally. Others are suggesting to get an update from Fiat, but Fiat is not offering such an update. Does anyone here can help out and hint me into the right direction ... thanks for help.

 

[porta]

Have you checked the alternator output and, more importantly, whether the batteries are holding charge?
there was also a recall on some ducato/psa for the earth to engine strap, didn’t bother to replace the existing strap, just put an extra one on, it cured the issue

 

[Anthony489]

Hi

You mention leisure batteries, do these vehicles have extra electrical components fitted by a converter company (i.e. not fitted by Fiat), for example in a motorhome ?

If so, it is the responsibility of the converter company to ensure proper leisure battery charging. When a smart alternator is fitted this will normally mean that a battery to battery converter (B2B) must be fitted between the vehicle charging system and the leisure battery, to maintain its charging voltage. If many vehicles all have the same behaviour, it suggests a design fault.

Be aware that if you have a large total battery capacity, it can take many hours to fully charge the leisure battery but it will get there in the end. The vehicle battery may be charged to 80% capacity some of the time, so that it can absorb more charge when decelerating.

This article gives some backgound information: https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/auxiliary-battery-charging-in-vehicles-with-smart-alternators.html

 

[Henning Camper]

Thanks for your answers. I talked to a big camper rental company in Iceland. They say they have the same problem, the only thing how they fix this problem is to replace each year the start battery. Seems the 80% charge status is causing with older batteries the problem by not sending a charge to the leisure batteries. Also a German Youtube channel is telling that their costumers are changing the starter battery by time to solve the problem, they are also saying they are still waiting for an software update done by FIAT.

 

[porta]

Thanks for your answers. I talked to a big camper rental company in Iceland. They say they have the same problem, the only thing how they fix this problem is to replace each year the start battery. Seems the 80% charge status is causing with older batteries the problem by not sending a charge to the leisure batteries. Also a German Youtube channel is telling that their costumers are changing the starter battery by time to solve the problem, they are also saying they are still waiting for an software update done by FIAT.

I’ve not heard of the software update for the ducato, mate works for a fiat dealership, but has mentioned about batteries and earth leads which we did on ours and went for a dedicated high power starter battery from yuasa and no problems since (2+ years)…also had a few issues with water in fuse boxes that seems to be not a problem with face lift models
i have a caveat that, even when I was in the trade, we often had to counter public concerns over many faults that were: publicised by a bias press (lancia rot problem that was nowhere near as bad as made public and certainly no worse than home grown fords/vauxhalls/leyland)
recalls in other countries that DIDNT affect UK and vice vesa (panda icing issues, security/immobiliser systems that wouldn’t talk to ecu and the ducato 4x4 that wasn’t even officially sold in UK)
general engine/transmission issues that were model type specific but not model range issues, (strada/ritmo synchros on 1300/1500, GM single point injection systems on 1600 and not an issue on rest of range