Fiat 500 B1010-17 Battery Voltage High and Power Steering Failure

Question

My 2012 Fiat 500 popped a power steering warning light and the steering got incredibly heavy while driving on the highway. I hooked up my scanner and I am getting code B1010-17 which says battery voltage signal is too high. I checked the dash display and it was flickering between 15.8V and 16.2V while driving.

Sarah Thompson · Accepted Answer

The issue was definitely the alternator voltage regulator. I replaced the original Denso unit with a new Magneti Marelli alternator (Part # 51859038). After installation, the charging system stabilized at a steady 14.2V. I cleared the B1010 code in the Body Control Module and the power steering function returned immediately. The part cost about $180 and took about 2 hours to swap through the wheel well.

hd_trucker_77 · Answer

I had this on a 500 Abarth last year. It turned out to be a loose sense wire on the back of the alternator. Make sure the small plug is seated correctly before you go buying a whole new unit.

Brian O'Connor · Answer

Check the voltage directly at the battery with a multimeter while someone revs the engine. If it goes above 15V, your voltage regulator inside the alternator is shot. These Fiats are very sensitive to voltage spikes and will shut down the EPS to protect the electronics.

Tom Patel · Answer

You might want to check the negative battery cable sensor (IBS). If the sensor is failing, it can send incorrect data to the ECU, causing the alternator to over-charge.

Fiat 500 B1010-17 Battery Voltage High and Power Steering Failure

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