Hello all,

Wondering if someone can help me with this one.

2004 Fiat Panda 1.2 dynamic auto.

To cut a long story short, the battery died yesterday, but I took a jump and decided to limp it to a local garage to get it tested and buy a new one.

On the way however the battery appeared to completely die a death and with it the car rather abruptly cut out.

I now have a new battery (which did turn out to be the original issue), however when attempting to start the car it gives a 'gearbox' warning and although turning over will not actually now fire up.

I'm wondering if the car is still in gear (since it cut out in gear) and therefore is unwilling to start because of this and being an auto I have no idea if this is the case how to get it to go back into neutral.

I'm sure I can't be the only person this has happened to in the world... can I?

Thanks all in advance for posts.

Just to update, the padlock immobiliser is also being lit so I'm wondering if it's triggered a safety feature to not start because it thinks it has a gearbox fault (i'm sure the gearbox is fine).

I smell a trip to a garage to have the computer reset... any thoughts?

or indeed any way that joe bloggs can find away around the immob... fat chance I realise, lol

if the immo light is on then the car does not recognize the key and it will only turn over, never fire. they the spare key.

Before you start investigating the padlock light, first and always start with the battery. If you are sure the battery needs replacing, do this first as this may cure all the problems you're having. Once replaced, if the padlock light goes out then try to move back to Neutral, start it and check the charging voltage - should be around 14v. You can't start the car in gear, but then this shouldn't show the padlock light.

If the padlock light is still on, then this is a whole other more complicated problem.

james2609 said:

Before you start investigating the padlock light, first and always start with the battery. If you are sure the battery needs replacing, do this first as this may cure all the problems you're having. Once replaced, if the padlock light goes out then try to move back to Neutral, start it and check the charging voltage - should be around 14v. You can't start the car in gear, but then this shouldn't show the padlock light.

If the padlock light is still on, then this is a whole other more complicated problem.

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OP already replaced battery according to first post.OP does the dash show N? Doesn't sound like a gearbox issue, as if stuck in gear it won't turn over.I'd disconnect the battery, slap it on charge (as sometimes new ones are not fully charged if they've been sitting about) and they reconnect it and try starting again.Have you got a spare key? If so, try this also to see if the padlock remains lit.Sounds like a immobiliser issue.

Jon, time to hand me that speed reader of the year award

A few weeks ago my 1.1 Active Eco manual showed, I think, the light you mean and would turn over but not start. I've no idea what caused it but the fuel cut off switch under the front passenger seat had tripped. Pressed that and its been fine since. Its possible that the same has happened to you.