Technical Battery draining, mileage blinking; radio dead

[PattiD]

hello, I need some quick advice. Should I disconnect my battery until I can get the car to a shop. Seems something is wrong with the electronic system. Mileage started blinking. Tried to turn on radio it was dead. Now today I tried to start the car and battery is not turning over. I am three hours from a service dealership. Is it safe to drive this car? Should I Disconnect the battery in the meantime?
Thanks for advice,
Patti

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Blinking mileage means that proxy alignment is needed, as the car CAN system discovered some changes in it. Could be the loss of the radio unit. But could be a lot of other issues.

I have no idea how quickly the battery is draining, so it is very difficult to confirm if it is safe to drive the car. Is the battery draining only when stationnary? The best would be to confirm with a voltmeter if the alternator is working properly and charging the battery when the engine is running. If the charging is correct (it should be around 14,4V), it should be safe to drive to the dealer. If you don't have a volt/multimeter, there are USB chargers with a digital voltmeter (like this one for example: https://www.amazon.com/LIHAN-Charger-Display-Voltage-Current/dp/B01M9IKYVH) that allow to control the voltage easily. I have one in both of my cars.

I can see that in the other thread that varesecrazy replied with a very similar answer. It would be good to find the fuse for the blue and me module and take it out to disconnect the module (perhaps in the owners' manual?).

And I would definitely charge the battery properly before driving (as alternators do not charge the batteries properly...).

 

[varesecrazy]

hello, I need some quick advice. Should I disconnect my battery until I can get the car to a shop. Seems something is wrong with the electronic system. Mileage started blinking. Tried to turn on radio it was dead. Now today I tried to start the car and battery is not turning over. I am three hours from a service dealership. Is it safe to drive this car? Should I Disconnect the battery in the meantime?
Thanks for advice,
Patti

Yes, disconnect the battery

It is probably only a gradual drain, so the running engine will keep up on a journey (my family have a similar issue on a French car..)
It will keep going on a weekend trip, but dies if parked for a week

It wrecked a $300 battery, and soon flattened it's relpacement,

So well worth disconnecting it now

 

[PattiD]

Yes, disconnect the battery

It is probably only a gradual drain, so the running engine will keep up on a journey (my family have a similar issue on a French car..)
It will keep going on a weekend trip, but dies if parked for a week

It wrecked a $300 battery, and soon flattened it's relpacement,

So well worth disconnecting it now

thanks again, I am hoping this electrical issue can be fixed -I love the car!

 

[the green vanper]

Check in the owners' manual if there isn't a special procedure to disconnect the battery. There's one for the Ducato.

Airbag modules are very sensible and the repair is quite expensive. And the dealership just replaces the module, which is even more expensive...

 

[PattiD]

Check in the owners' manual if there isn't a special procedure to disconnect the battery. There's one for the Ducato.

Airbag modules are very sensible and the repair is quite expensive. And the dealership just replaces the module, which is even more expensive...

Will do, thanks!

 

[PattiD]

Hello,

Blinking mileage means that proxy alignment is needed, as the car CAN system discovered some changes in it. Could be the loss of the radio unit. But could be a lot of other issues.

I have no idea how quickly the battery is draining, so it is very difficult to confirm if it is safe to drive the car. Is the battery draining only when stationnary? The best would be to confirm with a voltmeter if the alternator is working properly and charging the battery when the engine is running. If the charging is correct (it should be around 14,4V), it should be safe to drive to the dealer. If you don't have a volt/multimeter, there are USB chargers with a digital voltmeter (like this one for example: https://www.amazon.com/LIHAN-Charger-Display-Voltage-Current/dp/B01M9IKYVH) that allow to control the voltage easily. I have one in both of my cars.

I can see that in the other thread that varesecrazy replied with a very similar answer. It would be good to find the fuse for the blue and me module and take it out to disconnect the module (perhaps in the owners' manual?).

And I would definitely charge the battery properly before driving (as alternators do not charge the batteries properly...).

Many thanks for the advice. I decided to arrange to have it towed to RI...107miles to a dealership that has a FIAT service dept. I can't take a chance getting stuck on the road.
Hope it's just the radio module. Time will tell.