Tonale MHEV battery flat

[ALFAAA]

Hi to all.
I have a 2023 Tonale MHEV (1500 engine) Veloce.
I have not driven it for weeks ,tried to start it today and the battery is flat.
Does anyone know if there is a process on how to charge the battery .
Is it like the old cars charger straight on the positive and negative posts.

[Colin Edwards]

Contact the dealer service department?

[MD]

Good advice from Colin and a bit more about charging anything with more than a dynamo on it.
Battery chargers are supposed to provide a voltage reduction from 240volt mains to somewhere near 15volts. The voltage also needs to be converted from alternating current to direct current. Finally there will be some form of current regulation to charge the battery.
The problem arises when the (let's just say the "filtration") is on the cheap side and not very clean electrically, the battery charger can release voltage spikes and other radio frequency energy into the charging connection and fry sensitive electrical components especially in modern cars.
The purpose of this long winded baloney is to be sure that when you make the charger connection to the battery (if it is still in the car) the battery is disconnected from the loom circuit. It is then safe to connect the charger direct to the battery positive to positive and negative to negative.

Alternatively, take the battery out of the car and apply the same direct connections.

There are more procedures at play here requiring a trickle voltage to the car loom while the battery is removed to keep the car's settings alive hence you also need to take Colin's advice.

[Anth73]

Does anyone know if there is a process on how to charge the battery .
Is it like the old cars charger straight on the positive and negative posts.

The battery charger I bought from Repco advised to connect the positive lead to the positive battery terminal and the negative lead to an earth point, just like when you jump start a car. Only connect the negative lead to the negative battery terminal if it is isolated.

PS: ALFAA please check your inbox.

[Craig_m67]

It's a hybrid, under warranty!?

I'd be contacting the service department of the people who sold it and asking them exactly what to do.  It's not a simple old car.  You don't want to short something (very expensive) and have them refuse to warrant anything on the car again.

Give them a ring

[bazzbazz]

It's a hybrid, under warranty!?

I'd be contacting the service department of the people who sold it and asking them exactly what to do.  It's not a simple old car.  You don't want to short something (very expensive) and have them refuse to warrant anything on the car again.

Give them a ring

Agreed.

If under warranty the only thing that matters is to do it they way they tell you to. And just as importantly get them to send the advice in an email, so you have written proof in case some act of god occurs and something gets screwed up. Otherwise they will always tell you you did it wrong and it is your fault.

[ALFAAA]

Thank you for your messages , I phoned Zagame, All sorted out , great service

[Colin Edwards]

All new Alfas sold in OZ are covered by 24/7 roadside assistance.