ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONNECTION UNIT
Fault finding - System operation87G
87G-9V7 MR-372-J84-87G050$110.mif
UPC
Vdiag No.: 48, 4C
a) Battery
The principal purpose of the battery is to provide the powerful current briefly required by the starter motor to start the
engine. For optimum starting, the current supplied by the battery must be sent to the starter motor with minimum
loss. To achieve this, the electrical connections (wires, terminals, connectors, etc.) must be in good condition.
When the engine is not running, the battery must feed the accessories that operate constantly, even with the ignition
switched off, such as the alarm, radio codes, computers, etc.
–PR004 Battery voltage represents the supply voltage of the Protection and Switching Unit.
–PR008 Battery voltage after rest represents the battery charge status. If PR008 is less than 12.1 V
(battery discharged) during the first few miles, a "Charge battery" message is displayed on the instrument panel.
The Protection and Switching Unit determines what the voltage across the battery terminals should be, based on the
battery charge status, the operating phase and the battery temperature.
To obtain this voltage, the Protection and Switching Unit actuates the alternator.
b) Alternator
The alternator only operates when the engine is running. Its function is to recharge the battery, and at the same time
to supply the electrical power required to operate all the electrical accessories on the vehicle.
The Protection and Switching Unit is linked to the alternator by a serial connection. The Protection and Switching
Unit and the alternator communicate via this connection.
Alternator management is therefore completely new in relation to previous Renault vehicles.
The Protection and Switching Unit intelligently manages the alternator regulation voltage according to the engine
phase, the battery charge and the temperature.
The alternator sends the Protection and Switching Unit the following signals:
–Type of alternator: the Protection and Switching Unit configures itself according to the alternator specifications.
The Protection and Switching Unit can detect electrical or communication faults on this connection and signal them
using fault DF007 UPC - Alternator connection.
When the battery charge and PR008 Battery voltage after rest decline, the Protection and Switching Unit can
temporarily increase the alternator voltage by 1 V for a duration of 30 minutes after starting.
Before the engine is started and during starting, the alternator voltage is fixed at 10.6 V.
A maximum of 30 seconds after the engine is started, the Protection and Switching Unit sets the alternator voltage
at the optimum calculated value.Note:
A battery must always be fully charged, even when stored.
