Hi I am a newbee

I am lucky enough to have 2 x 2013 turbo air, we love the cars.....

One the start stop works as expected (compared to other cars I have tried, that is, it stops most times at the lights, except when aircon etc.)

The other car (I drive more Km with)the start stop , stops at the lights and then about 3 sec later starts. Then for a surprise randomly it will work for a set of lights.

Fiat can't find the fault can some make some suggestions to assist finding the fault.
Thanks David

This thread originated back on 2010. My Panda is a 2013 build (though classed as a 2014 model here in Oz and first registered in mid 2015 - try explaining all that to the insurance company). Anyways, the start/stop on my Panda can be turned off with the button on the dash (as mentioned), BUT, it remembers that you don't want it on, even after turning off the engine. If you do happen to turn it on, it doesn't reingage until you go over 10 km/hr. Turning it off appears to be instantaneous. This suggests that Fiat have listened to some complaints.

On the other hand, with the engine off, the aircon does NOT work although the fan continues to blow. Useless in our summers because all that happens is that the car gets hotter and hotter but even quicker than it would have otherwise (pumping in hot air from outside). The power steering does work (the Panda has electric power steering, don't know about the others). I can't comment on the hill start because I don't use the stop/start system unless I find myself in a stupidly horrid traffic jam.

aussiepanda said:

This thread originated back on 2010. My Panda is a 2013 build (though classed as a 2014 model here in Oz and first registered in mid 2015 - try explaining all that to the insurance company). Anyways, the start/stop on my Panda can be turned off with the button on the dash (as mentioned), BUT, it remembers that you don't want it on, even after turning off the engine. If you do happen to turn it on, it doesn't reingage until you go over 10 km/hr. Turning it off appears to be instantaneous. This suggests that Fiat have listened to some complaints.

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My I wish my 2012 plate Qubo remembered that I don't want stop/start on when I turn it off (every journey). It's a most dangerous 'invention'. Imagine you get to the top of a long steep hill to a T junction.. You stop to see it's clear left and right, a car is coming from the right, have to wait 10 seconds, the hill hold does its job briefly but in the time you're on the foot brake to make that work, the bluddy engine dies! Same applies at a flat junction, though - just as you're about to set off, all goes quiet under the bonnet.
Last week I was guided to the A1 by my Satnav to a narrow road between hedges at the end of which was a short slip road onto the motorway. Slip road is only about 50yds and the traffic is hammering past at 70mph. Same scenario - you reach the end of the slip by 2nd gear, stop to await a gap and just as there's a chance to dive into the fray, guess what? NO FREAKING ENGINE!!!

I had two Smart cars both of which had hill hold that worked ALL THE TIME ON ANY LEVEL from flat upwards, why do Fiat think it's not useful under about 20 degrees?

Harrumph

R-V-M

Red Van Man said:

I had two Smart cars both of which had hill hold that worked ALL THE TIME ON ANY LEVEL from flat upwards, why do Fiat think it's not useful under about 20 degrees?

Harrumph

R-V-M

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Hill start SHOULD be available at any time, it's just stupid that it's not.

Speaking of stupid, I honestly can not see the point of the stop/start feature, particularly on my 875cc motor, it's not as though it's a gas guzzler. Still, I understand that some people want it and I'm glad I can turn mine off (properly). Typically, heavy traffic here is slowly moving so it'd never get used and there aren't many stop light cycles long enough to make it worth it. Maybe I'm just a grouch.

StevenRB45 said:

You not have a handbrake? (Might be a daft question never driven an auto).

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You've ht the nail on the head. You just use the handbrake. The HH on Fiats is crap anyway, only kicks in if the gradient is over a certain percentage. Far better off being able to manually operate (like on my Toyota) or just using the handbrake.

aussiepanda said:

Speaking of stupid, I honestly can not see the point of the stop/start feature, particularly on my 875cc motor, it's not as though it's a gas guzzler. Still, I understand that some people want it and I'm glad I can turn mine off (properly). Typically, heavy traffic here is slowly moving so it'd never get used and there aren't many stop light cycles long enough to make it worth it. Maybe I'm just a grouch.

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Stupid is burning fuel needlessly, which is what any engine does at idle. SS is a good idea on any engine imo. Anything that saves fuel and reduces emissions and pollution in built up areas.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

You've ht the nail on the head. You just use the handbrake. The HH on Fiats is crap anyway, only kicks in if the gradient is over a certain percentage. Far better off being able to manually operate (like on my Toyota) or just using the handbrake.

Stupid is burning fuel needlessly, which is what any engine does at idle. SS is a good idea on any engine imo. Anything that saves fuel and reduces emissions and pollution in built up areas.

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Yep, I use the handbrake a lot, just at some junctions there's no need then a car comes and you're caught with SS dropping you in the cack..

The idea is fine, the workings are probably fine but everyday driving situations are not predictable to the degree that SS just fits into all situations. My reported experiences are perhaps only the frustrations when I encounter the 'it shouldn't be cutting out now' times and yes, wasting fuel is best removed if possible but this is really one of those good ideas out into practice before all situations were thought through. Maybe like EGR valves and DPFs? I know little of both those except all the issues I've read about and out of all those I doubt there's more than a couple of replies singing their praises. I digress

R-V-M

Red Van Man said:

Yep, I use the handbrake a lot, just at some junctions there's no need then a car comes and you're caught with SS dropping you in the cack..

The idea is fine, the workings are probably fine but everyday driving situations are not predictable to the degree that SS just fits into all situations. My reported experiences are perhaps only the frustrations when I encounter the 'it shouldn't be cutting out now' times and yes, wasting fuel is best removed if possible but this is really one of those good ideas out into practice before all situations were thought through. Maybe like EGR valves and DPFs? I know little of both those except all the issues I've read about and out of all those I doubt there's more than a couple of replies singing their praises. I digress

R-V-M

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Perhaps the issue is with fiat's implementation rather than the concept. We have a Peugeot-Citroen e-hdi, and I wish our other car had it, it is entirely predictable for a start so you know when it'll start and stop without fail which stops moments when you're left high and dry. Second my record for sitting at lights engine off with the lights, climate control, wipers and radio on is about 4 minutes none of this "it only works if everything is off and the wind is in the right direction and there is a j in the month". In city centre traffic I like it no point in pumping out pollution to power the radio while you sit at lights.