Giulietta's Dead Battery Points to Alternator Failure

Had the exact same problems with my 2018 Giulia last winter. As someone with basic car maintenance experience, I first suspected a dying battery, but it turned out the alternator was failing. The symptoms matched perfectly, battery low warnings, dimming headlights, and starting issues. The alternator replacement ended up being the complete fix. The workshop diagnosed it quickly with proper testing equipment, confirming the alternator was not providing consistent charging voltage. Total cost was 960 Euro including parts and labor. The alternator replacement took about 4 hours at the workshop. Since the fix, all electrical issues disappeared completely and the car runs perfectly. To help diagnose your case more specifically, could you share: Current mileage on your Giulietta, When the symptoms first appeared, If you have any aftermarket electrical accessories installed, Whether the battery has been replaced recently The alternator failure symptoms can sometimes be confused with other car electronics issues, so these details would help confirm if your case matches mine. Best to get it checked soon, as driving with a failing alternator can leave you stranded when it completely gives out and can potentially damage other electrical components.

Latest service was at 145000 KM, currently at 147012 KM. Thanks for sharing your experience. Following up on my alternator issue, just had the voltage tested by a mobile mechanic. Output is fluctuating between 11.2V and 13.1V while running, definitely confirming a charging system fault. Got quoted 890 Euro for an OEM alternator replacement including labor. Seems like engine misfire issues I noticed were also related to inconsistent power delivery to the ignition system. Planning to have it replaced next week before it completely fails. The car electronics symptoms started getting worse over the last 2000 KM. Glad to hear a straightforward alternator replacement solved similar issues in your case. Hope this helps anyone else experiencing the same problems.

Thanks for the voltage test update. Those readings definitely confirm what you and I both suspected, a failing alternator. The fluctuating voltage explains all the symptoms perfectly, from the dim lights to the engine performance issues. The 890 Euro quote sounds fair for an OEM alternator replacement. When I had mine done, they also recommended checking the serpentine belt condition since they need to remove it anyway to access the alternator. Might be worth asking about, especially at your mileage. One thing I noticed after my alternator replacement, the battery took about a week of regular driving to fully recover from being consistently undercharged. If your battery is over 4 years old, you might want to have it tested after the alternator work to ensure it hasnt been damaged from the charging system issues. Good call getting it fixed soon. A car wont start situation from complete alternator failure is exactly what happened to me before I got mine replaced. The inconsistent charging voltage can really strain other electrical components if left too long. Keep us posted on how the repair goes. Other Giulietta owners will definitely benefit from hearing the outcome.

Thanks everyone for the input. Just got the car back from the workshop after the alternator replacement. Total cost came to 920 Euro since they found the serpentine belt was starting to show wear and replaced that too while they were in there. The voltage drop issue is completely resolved, tested at a steady 14.2V at idle. All electrical symptoms have disappeared. No more battery low warnings, headlights are bright and stable, and the car starts perfectly every time. The engine also runs much smoother now that it's getting consistent power to all systems. They did a battery health check which showed some degradation from the charging issues, but it's still holding enough capacity to work properly with the new alternator. Will probably need replacement in the next year or so. For anyone searching with similar symptoms, fluctuating voltage, dim lights, starting problems, definitely get your charging system tested. The starter motor was working extra hard with the low voltage which could have led to premature failure if left unfixed. Will update if any other issues pop up, but so far the alternator replacement seems to have completely solved the problem.