500 Climate Airflow problems

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500 Climate Airflow problems

stevieste23

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Mar 27, 2015
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Hi there Newbie here.

I have just bought a 500 1.4 Lounge for my daughter. Checked everything when I bought it, but not the climate control, controls. I have searched the web and cant find anything.

Problem: The airflow only blows out of the bottom (foot well) vents. If you press for any other they light up but nothing changes. I have found info on manual ones but nothing for climate control.:bang:

Any ideas/info would be gratefully recieved.

Cheers

Ste
 
I presume you have tried pressing AUTO and just leaving it to do its own thing - which might work better than you expect. The other good news is that disconnecting the battery, leaving for a few minutes, and reconnecting without turning on the ignition for several minutes should allow the system to re-learn the flap positions - this is definitely worth a try before you do anything else.

Beyond that, the flap motors on the side of the climate control unit (visible from under the glovebox - or glove shelf!) appear to be the same as the ones fitted to FIAT Stilo models. They are German in design (look similar to those on the Golf Mk5 as well) and prone to the potentiometer (variable resistor) becoming intermittent, meaning that the climate control ECU doesn't know the position of the motors. The motors fitted to the 500 are likely made by Denso in Poland. They are technically not the same as stepper motors, but some wrecking yards will call them that.

A registered copy of MultiECUScan (software) can connect to, and diagnose, the climate control system - reading out the positions of these motors and any fault codes lodged. At about 50 euros, MultiECUScan makes sense if you want to work on any FIAT/Alfa Romeo models in the future - otherwise, a trip to the dealer is probably best on this occasion.

-Alex
 
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Thanks Alex

I've tried the Auto and waiting but no luck. I don't have a radio code so if I disconnect battery will I loose access to the radio. If so is there any way of getting the code off the machine before I disconnect battery.

P.s the radio is all working at the moment.

Regards

Ste
 
I've tried the Auto and waiting but no luck. I don't have a radio code so if I disconnect battery will I lose access to the radio.

No, the radio code is also stored in the car's body computer and should automatically re-synchronise once the battery is reconnected.

I'm hoping you haven't fallen victim to the 'failed plastic cog' issue which has affected quite a few owners of 500's with climate.

Basically a flimsy plastic gear wheel deep inside the heater box breaks. Replacement parts are not available - you have to buy a complete heater box, which costs around £1000; fitting involves removing both doors and stripping out most of the dash and interior trim forward of the seats.

More than enough reason for someone to trade a car in.
 
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No, the radio code is also stored in the car's body computer and should automatically re-synchronise once the battery is reconnected.

I'm hoping you haven't fallen victim to the 'failed plastic cog' issue which has affected quite a few owners of 500's with climate.

Basically a flimsy plastic gear wheel deep inside the heater box breaks. Replacement parts are not available - you have to buy a complete heater box, which costs around £1000; fitting involves removing both doors and stripping out most of the dash and interior trim forward of the seats.

More than enough reason for someone to trade a car in.

Hi, and welcome,
FIAT radio codes are available to DONATED Forum members - IF it's not the original unit..;)

other thing to consider is buy yourself a private warranty,
could cover a few of the "unforseen" issues you may come across ;)
 
No, the radio code is also stored in the car's body computer and should automatically re-synchronise once the battery is reconnected.

I'm hoping you haven't fallen victim to the 'failed plastic cog' issue which has affected quite a few owners of 500's with climate.

Basically a flimsy plastic gear wheel deep inside the heater box breaks. Replacement parts are not available - you have to buy a complete heater box, which costs around £1000; fitting involves removing both doors and stripping out most of the dash and interior trim forward of the seats.

More than enough reason for someone to trade a car in.
is that for the auto climate control versios only? can it happen to my old school knobs ac?
 
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