2015 Fiat 500 Intermittent Power Steering Cutout and B1010 Code

Question

My 2015 Fiat 500 is randomly losing power steering assist while driving, and the power steering warning light flashes on the dash. I hooked up my scanner and found B1010 stored in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) module. It seems to happen more often when I am on the highway or revving the engine higher than 3,000 RPM.

Dave Kowalski · Accepted Answer

The issue was indeed the alternator's internal voltage regulator. Upon testing, the voltage would climb to 16.8V as the RPMs increased past 3,200. I replaced the alternator with a New Magneti Marelli unit (Part number 51859051) which cost about $210. After installation, the charging system stayed rock steady at 14.2V and the B1010 code disappeared. No steering issues have occurred since the repair.

garagegrease · Answer

The B1010 code is specifically triggered when the control module sees voltage exceeding 16V. Check your alternator output with a digital multimeter while someone revs the engine; you might have a failing voltage regulator that is overcharging.

hd_trucker_77 · Answer

Check the wiring harness connector at the alternator. Sometimes a corroded sense wire can trick the regulator into thinking the battery is low, causing it to push max output even when the battery is full.

Carlos Diaz · Answer

Fiat EPS modules are very sensitive to voltage spikes. If the alternator is spiking, the EPS module will shut itself down as a self-protection measure to prevent the internal electronics from burning out.

2015 Fiat 500 Intermittent Power Steering Cutout and B1010 Code

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