Some important info..

[RK]

Hey Guys, Please read this may help you.

Thought this is quite important info on the bravo battery. I posted a problem about my 1.2 sx battery going completely dead in one day! When i mean dead i mean i had no central locking and not even a faint power light would come on. In my sx i have a sound system with 1 amp, a newly fitted alarm system and thats it, everything else standard. Anyways, I had a mechanic mate check it out. The outcome was that the alternator in the bravo does not give out a lot of current so therefore when i had everything on (lights, sound, fans etc) the battery was giving out more then it could and the alternator couldn't keep up (i was basically cooking my battery). I know this sounds minor but this really is a big problem i had to deal with! I have bought a new battery which is twice the size and was a ahrd fit but managed and will see how i get on!

Thanks for everyone who helps on the forum.....nice to know that there is help about!

RK

The FIAT massive! lol

 

[Ash]

why buy a bigger battery when you need a bigger altenator?

it will only really happen on 1.2's as the larger engine models all have bigger altenators.

Anything With Tits or Wheels Will Cost You MONEY!!

 

[Kris]

not trying to hijack this post but do you reckon the same would be possible with the 1.4 model?

Kris

 

[Andy]

as Ash said i would recomend getting a bigger alt aswell, as the larger battery will more than likely have a bigger draw and take alot more to recharge aswell, so you will suffer the same fate eventually.

when i had my 1.2 i was running 2 amps with all of my speakers running from them and never had an issue, and the poor stereo hardly ever got a break!

Andy_sx

 

[klemster]

I never had that problem on my 1.2!

 

[RK]

alt

hi guys, you make a good point. How much does an updated alternator cost?

 

[Jayfish]

whilst upgrading the alt is a good point it may not be needed; if your original battery was already on the way out it wouldn't have been able to hold sufficient charge. see how you get on with a new battery for a bit.

 

[Buzz]

Um, dont do the above please, because if it IS your alt, and you drain that new battery fully just a few times, then you'll have killed it!

As above, its only really going to be a problem on a 1.2, and only really if you use additional power regularly. ie daytime running lights, sat navs, amps, car-phone chargers etc. You dont need to buy a physically bigger battery, to get a better one! I've never bought anything other than Bosch Silvertop heavy duty batteries which for your 1.2 will still come n at under £50. They have more CCA and a higher capacity than the standard battery but are the same size as the original.

An alternative solution is a solar trickle charger. I bought a 1.5W solar panel when i was putting my car off-road over the winter. It just plugged into the cigarette lighter, and provided over 1w of charge so long as it was daylight. I didn't know how long it was going to be off-road, was planed to have been 2 months, turned out it was 6! Anyway, it started first time, every time. Even after 6 months. I no longer need mine as i use the car daily now, so get in touch if you want it!

Alternatively, uprate your alternator as above. Price depends if its new, where you get it etc, but i think you can exchange your old one in for a partial refund on most new alternators anyway

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Jayfish]

laying money on the battery having been duff

 

[Buzz]

I think we already established the battery was knackered? Theres a bet i wont be taking, lol

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Ozric-Al]

I could use one of those trickle chargers Buzz. How much are they?

"Doctor said to give up Keee-Babs. I said 'No, no-no'"

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[Buzz]

I paid a mere £20 for the 1.5W one, and it came with a cigarette lighter socket, and croc clips. They had 2.5 watt ones for about £30 i think.

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Ozric-Al]

Nice. Will have to look out for one given that Shabash! will soon be hibernating each winter.

"Doctor said to give up Keee-Babs. I said 'No, no-no'"

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[Buzz]

Maplin mate. theyve got em on sale on the website, and the 2.5W ones are half price! :O fifteen quid!

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Ozric-Al]

Nice. Ordered and on it's way.
Can use it to charge up the Cinq too.
Cheers Buzz.

"Doctor said to give up Keee-Babs. I said 'No, no-no'"

My Members Page

 

[Buzz]

Glad to be of help. Its no good to recharge a flat battery. Nowhere NEAR enough power. But if ya need/want a trickle charger, its the biz!
And since its solar powered, its effectively free and very environmentally friendly if you ignore the fact that its keeping a polluting car on the road. haha

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Dave]

get a battery from halfords, they give u a lifetime or its 12 months or something like that so it it goes dead they will replace it nothing lost ey.

 

[Tommy K]

or buy a yellow/ red top.... haven't run mine flat yet!!

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