Hi all,

Hoping someone may have an answer or a clue to my problem. I'll just give you a timeline of everything I can remember from a very long afternoon/evening yesterday.

1. Drove to work as normal yesterday morning.
2. When I came out to my car at 3:30pm, the car opened as normal but no 'beep' from alarm.
3. Put key in slot, but it wouldn't turn at all. Lights around keyhole did light up.
4. Spent some time faffing about - locking/unlocking trying again etc.
5. Manually put radio on and it asked for code.
6. Eventually called out RAC and waited.
7. When RAC came, first thing was to check the battery. I think it was on about 1.85v? he plugged in his gizmo and gave it another go but couldn't move the key. He did however get the key to move, but I could tell it wasn't 'right' the way it moved - and anyway, nothing happened at all.
8. Occasionally and very briefly, the dash would say 'Steering lock: Disabled' but it wasn't.
9. RAC Man checked all internal and external fuses - all okay.
10. Then he checked out the ignition unit - removed from centre console and checked connection - looked okay.
11. Now he's run out of ideas. He eventually called out a tow truck to take me the 50 miles home. Because steering lock on and wheels slightly left facing, had to use skid blocks to load me up.
12. Got me home about 9pm.

I have my own reliable mechanic who's going to have a quick look for me later today but he knows I'm a member here and thought it would be useful to see if anyone has had this problem before or knows any tips.


I look forward to any thoughts on this before I bite the bullet and get the car air lifted to my (not so) local Fiat Dealership and take out a second mortgage.


Thanks in advance


Frustrated of Kent.


Gaz

Only experience I have of this is from a Corsa, but as the Croma does share some GM parts it's possible that it's the same problem. In that case, I believe it turned out to be the steering lock part of the ignition barrel had gotten stuck on. blu73 may be able to confirm exactly what the problem was and how we (he) fixed it.

Thanks Eklipze,

I'll pass that nugget onto the mechanic. I imagine probably a new barrel needed? Hopefully blu73 will see this.

Cheers
Gaz

wow, that was a long time ago that was. Can't even remember what had happened to the corsa exactly and how i decided what to do about it, but certainly the steering lock was stuck on, i think the car still started though. I had to cut the clamp round the column that held the ignition barrel and actual lock and i think the barrel was not swappable and i had to buy a whole new steering lock and barrel together - getting it off was a right hassle, and people even came on the drive to check i wasn't stealing it cause clearly i looked well dodgy lol. Lucy prob remembers better than me tbh, she was sat next to me while i hacked her car apart lol. Was so long ago now that the part i bought doesn't show in my ebay history.

Hi,

Sounds like a right palaver you went through. Seems very drastic. I'll pass this on but, seeing as I can't even get the key to turn I think it might be a bit deeper than that being the only problem. I'm thinking the key might be locked for another computer reason. You know what these modern cars are like, especially if they lose a little power to the battery.

Thanks for the answers so far...

Gaz

from your description it does sound more computer related than an actual physical mechanical issue..

I think the fact your battery was so so low is a giveaway here really. I'd stick a fresh one in or get it properly charged - see if you can get any codes out of the ecu and check for drains on battery.

But yes the corsa was a bitch, the gaps and angles meant i couldn't get in there with any powered tools so spent an age cutting the hardened steel off the column - like hacksaw blades not in a saw for most of it and then chisel and hammer to smash it off once most of the way through lol.

blu73 said:

But yes the corsa was a bitch, the gaps and angles meant i couldn't get in there with any powered tools so spent an age cutting the hardened steel off the column - like hacksaw blades not in a saw for most of it and then chisel and hammer to smash it off once most of the way through lol.

Click to expand...

Aye it was no wonder you got some looks, lol.

I had a similar sounding problem with mine 2 days after I bought it new and eventually the dealer had to replace the main ecu which fixed it.

Hopefully that won't be the same as your problem and they can be very fussy about not having enough electricity. Can you get a charge onto the battery and to stay on the battery if you disconnect it from the car?

Ideally you want to get enough electricity into the car to at least connect to MES in case there's anything helpful stored there.

How old is the battery and have you had any issues with the alarm / immobiliser?

Hopefully it'll be something daft like the boot or glovebox light staying on and flattening the battery.

My experience sounds similar.....

https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/321087-check-car-protection-system.html

Eklipze3k said:

Only experience I have of this is from a Corsa, but as the Croma does share some GM parts it's possible that it's the same problem. In that case, I believe it turned out to be the steering lock part of the ignition barrel had gotten stuck on. @blu73 may be able to confirm exactly what the problem was and how we (he) fixed it.

Click to expand...

The Croma has a completly different set-up to a Corsa. The "key" goes into a "slot" in the central console and the steering lock is a separate motorised unit on the steering.
Get a good battery on it, not a jump pack or other car across the existing one as it may be dragging the voltage down. If that is not an immediate fix, you need to get a computer with Multiecuscan or AlfaOBD and a EOBD interface an see what codes are showing.

H.T.H
Robert G8RPI.

Hi All,


Thanks so much for your replies. My mechanic is coming round this afternoon to have a look and I have printed out this thread for him to have a peruse. He's going to get me a new battery anyway - it's worth it whether or not it fixes the problem.


If it does then it's a cheaper alternative than shipping the whole thing on a truck to Fiat.


If it doesn't then at least I won't have Fiat fitting a new (probably far more expensive) battery just for the hell of it.


I'll let you all know how things pan out.


Cheers


Gaz

if it does fix it, ask him to check the alternator is charging properly while he's there

I hope it will be as he replaced it for me a few months ago...

Hi all,


Mechanic been and fitted new battery. No joy.


He's been through all the checks that the RAC man carried out including checking the inside of the ignition key unit and has had no joy there either.


Looks like the next port of call will be the Fiat dealership and getting it over there on another low loader.


Bah!


Gary

Hi,


Just spoken to dealers.
Apparently they've had a few of these over the last couple of years and he reckons they just replaced the ignition unit.


He also reckons there's no reconfiguration to do...


He's going to get someone to confirm and ring back with a price etc.


Sounds too simple to me... but just maybe. I could replace this myself!


Regards


Gary

Hi all,


Got a call back (in fact I had to call them again).


They can order me a unit at a cost of £332.60.


They say they can't do a return if it doesn't work. They'll have to order it and it should be in mid next week after the bank holiday.


My dilemma is:

1. Pay the money and put the unit in myself - looks very simple - or get my mechanic to do it (at least he has the scan equipment to plug in afterwards if anything needs adjusting) and take the hit if it doesn't work and then get the car over to them to have a look.
2. Try and book the car in with them (who knows when the next slot will be). Then they will probably faff about for a day before deciding themselves to order the part. Even if this didn't work, I'd not be surprised if they charged me for the part anyway and then whatever eventually fixes it. The problem with sending the car over to them is that I will have to organise a whole day to get it there. There's a possibility that the RAC will be kind enough to transport me over there, but I know what a pain it is to get a non-movable, steering locked car onto a lorry and off again.
3. Try and find a second hand one (probably get some Hen's teeth whilst I'm at it) and try that out first. Then, if it didn't work, I wouldn't be sure that it's because it's the second hand unit not working and I'd be back to square one.

Any thoughts?


Regards


Gary

Ring a couple of other dealers, explain the situation and see if they come up with the same solution. If not, then obviously report back. If so, then I'd be doing option 1 and fitting the unit myself.

Hi,
Spoke to another dealer (there aren't many near me.


He reckoned that the unit was a probable diagnosis but thought it a very bad idea to just buy a bit and bung it in willy nilly.


I can dump it over there at any time and they'll have a look at it when they can.


I'll speak to my Financial Advisor (wife) about it later.....


Gaz

Hi buddy,
Had similar problem when I had wrong (to weak) battery fitted on my Croma. Make sure you've got healthy battery which is specifically for Croma (go for nothing less than 85Ah for alarm fitted Croma). You can unlock ignition by slotting metal bit (for manual opening of the car) from you car key into little hole just under actual bit where you put your key to start off ignition. That will release the ignition and you can try to start your car with new battery.
Hope that just as easy.

gazskeltz said:

Hi,



I'll speak to my Financial Advisor (wife) about it later.....


Gaz

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see new reply..,