General New altenator Punto Grande

[Libertine]

Hi,I had a bearing rattling around in my altenator and took it in to get it replaced. I bought a brand new altenator from the local spares shop and took it to the garage to have it fitted. They fitted the part and when I collected the vehicle, on the first start my power steering failed and the battery light was present. I restarted and it all worked as normal.This problem started happening every time so I went back to the garage and they said they had no idea but it could be a faulty altenator. I went back to the spares shop and they tested it and said it was charging fine.This problem is very strange as it only happens every other time it is started. Also it does not happen at all if the key is turned as far as possible without starting the ignition and then turned back again, then started. I have tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery and it still is happenng. Any ideas???Libertine

 

[dholmes2407]

Is the car telling you to get your powersteering checked? any grinding noises from the powersteering?

Sometimes if the battery has been stood with a low charge it can do this. if your only doing short journeys your battery might not have got the full charge it has needed after your alternator failing. Maybe disconnect the battery and give it a good charge over night.

 

[Andy Monty]

there have been a few cases on here of aftermarket alternators not been upto the task

think a couple of members have since bitten the bullet and got a genuine fiat unit and the problem went away

 

[Libertine]

Is the car telling you to get your powersteering checked? any grinding noises from the powersteering?

Sometimes if the battery has been stood with a low charge it can do this. if your only doing short journeys your battery might not have got the full charge it has needed after your alternator failing. Maybe disconnect the battery and give it a good charge over night.

#Hi Dholmes,
I did take it for a run up your end. Went to visit my mate in Whitley Bay and have since returned to South Wales. That about 700 miles altogether.
The guys in the garage want paying to take it off, have a specialist look at it and then paying to put it back on again. The shop I bought it from says its fine. Begining to wish I left the old one on until it seized up.
Libertine................................................................................

 

[Libertine]

#Hi Dholmes,
I did take it for a run up your end. Went to visit my mate in Whitley Bay and have since returned to South Wales. That about 700 miles altogether.
The guys in the garage want paying to take it off, have a specialist look at it and then paying to put it back on again. The shop I bought it from says its fine. Begining to wish I left the old one on until it seized up.
Libertine................................................................................

And there are no noises or powersteering warning, just the battery light.

 

[phil0254]

for some reason ,the best bet appears to be to fit the genuine article ,which i did when mine failed ..sounds as though you'll end up paying just as much as if not more ..the new alternator is probably working ok ,but just isn't compatible with the car ..what are you getting at the battery voltage wise with the engine running ???

 

[sledge]

Mine has been exactly the same for about 8 months now, annoying as it may be. Personally the inconvenience of seeing the light go on occasionally and having to turn off and restart the engine to rectify the problem is not to me worth the several hundred quid extra to have a, if indeed this will solve the problem a genuine FIAT alternator fitted, particularly as I am about to to trade the car in and jump ship back over to and take my chances with GM.

 

[sledge]

Incidentally.....after much discussion with my third party garage who fitted the non-oem alternator they told me that the issue can be resolved by a dealer. Its a simple case of `tuning` the new alternator to the existing steering control unit using factory supplied diagnostic equipment. If this is true or not I don't know, I CBA spending time and money just to make a light go out unless I positively have to

 

[alexh365]

Sledge thats simmilar to what I've been told. Going to speak to Yani who does FIATECUSCAN and see if he can suggest whether theres something that he can see in the steering ECU.

 

[Libertine]

Battery is failing, think it might be on its way out. If I leave radio on for 15 mins it will drain, but it is charging though.

 

[Libertine]

for some reason ,the best bet appears to be to fit the genuine article ,which i did when mine failed ..sounds as though you'll end up paying just as much as if not more ..the new alternator is probably working ok ,but just isn't compatible with the car ..what are you getting at the battery voltage wise with the engine running ???

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[Libertine]

for some reason ,the best bet appears to be to fit the genuine article ,which i did when mine failed ..sounds as though you'll end up paying just as much as if not more ..the new alternator is probably working ok ,but just isn't compatible with the car ..what are you getting at the battery voltage wise with the engine running ???

Battery does drain really fast. Had the radio on for 15 minutes on low volume without engine running and it drained it the other day. Wouldnt turn over until a good charging from a jump. Flippin engine management light is flashing now aswell. I dunno, lol. But it is charching.

 

[jameshobiecat]

Surely it is worth putting in a new battery for £60 and seeing if that is the problem. Once they have been discharged too much they are never the same again.

 

[Libertine]

Maybe, I did not run it flat before the altenater went though. I replaced it because it had a bearing gone and was loud. Gonna get the battery tested i think.