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Alfa 159 Master Fuse?

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fuse master
3K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  Ian Lusso 
#1 ·
Is there a "Master Fuse" anywhere on the 159?

I'm currently waiting on the AA to arrive to assist my wife who is currently stranded at her mom's house with the 159 after pulling the car out and then locking it and going back inside. When she returned she unlocked the car and put some items in the boot, and when she got in the car refused to start. According to her none of the ignition lights are coming on and the alarm now also doesn't want to arm.

I'm currently at work and just need to know where to start looking because the battery is less than a year old and was fine all weekend.
 
#3 ·
The AA will be there in 30 mins. they will do a voltage drop test on the battery and try a jump start using a digital booster. (just to see if the car starts). If that fails then I will go down myself and have a look. Meanwhile I'm studying from the 159 Technical Training Manual.
 
#5 ·
Yes it seems it's the battery. The AA dude started and checked alternator charge at idle which was a full 14.4V and strangely no faults displayed on the car. The battery suddenly performed flawlessly and the car started several times again after that. he wanted to get a voltage reading to verify if the battery was run down but couldn't. Now I am going through bank records to determine when the battery was replaced. It is still within warranty at least.
 
#10 ·
...sooooo I went to Bosch this morning to exchange the battery and even though they had scribbled their date on the battery (14 Dec 2015) they were unwilling to accept without the receipt that I obviously misplaced at this time, so I left, went home, and decided to go back and make some noise in one of their upstairs offices because that damn thing cost me R2000 IIRC. While still speaking to an alternative sales person at the bottom, he told me not to worry and to bring the car around if it starts, or alternatively just bring the battery around and they will test and swap if required. I was so happy at this outcome and the fact that nobody would have to meet my spade today...

...then my mom calls... "I found this one receipt of yours. It says Bosch Diesel Electric and Battery and 14 December 2015..."

She didn't even know I was looking for it :thinking:
 
#11 ·
Usually battery places are full of crap. Raylite even backpedaled on their 5 year warranty on a battery by buddy bought for his mito when it crapped after 3 years. They told him the warranty time was 2 or 3 years. Cant remember the details exactly. Point is they didnt want to exhange. Then when he produced the evendence on the invoice that states 5 years the manager came out to tell him its not the batterys fault its because he drives an alfa and alfas are known for effing up the batterys because of the alternators they use (you cant make this shizz up haha) anyways. He then proceeded to buy a new battery from the china battery place right next door to that battery centre lol

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#13 ·
What the hell...

The AA tested the battery yesterday morning and got below 11V (the ECU shuts down at 11V) and less than 200A. They boosted the battery and started the car using a digital booster and 2 to 3 minutes later the battery measured over 12V. The alternator was charging at 14.4V at idle.

Later I go back to Bosch with the car and they get the battery nominal voltage as 12.84V and capacity of 900A. Bear in mind this battery when new has a rating of 745A :ponder: My battery grew bigger and better in the past 10 months... :yikes:

wtf!? Who is lying to me? :grumpy:
 

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#14 ·
I know your car is new and sparkly etc but are the terminals and the earth connection good? including the body end of the earth strap?

And is it a 100% sealed battery like a varta or does it have a sticker that says 'maintenance free' over the caps which you need to open and check?
 
#16 ·
All terminals and connections are sound. The car is now 3 years old so it's hardly "new" though. And yes it has a sticker with "maintenance free". The electrolyte levels are good.

I wonder if the alternator has a shorted diode in the rectifier packs. The charging current would then be reduced, it's harder to do a quick check on than charging voltage. But, if the car was not being driven long distances, over a period of time the discharging would exceed the recharging and you'd have your AA call out as happened.
Charge current was checked by the AA as well and unfortunately I couldn't recall what he mentioned. Charge rate was apparently sufficient. The charge voltage would drop at idle if the diode or rectifier pack was faulty that's why I mentioned the 14.4V at idle. My car is back with my wife today. Hopefully it doesn't give any issues :thumbu p:
 
#15 ·
I wonder if the alternator has a shorted diode in the rectifier packs. The charging current would then be reduced, it's harder to do a quick check on than charging voltage. But, if the car was not being driven long distances, over a period of time the discharging would exceed the recharging and you'd have your AA call out as happened.
 
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