Hi All,
Have just bought a 2009 1.3 MJ Dynamic and am still getting used to it and cannot vouch for the battery's quality.

Yesterday I fitted a new Kenwood aftermarket stereo using the generic Autoleads ISO DIN adapter. Radio turned on / off with ignition - kept its programming after ignition off - thought I had cracked it.

This morning, battery was totally flat - even the clock was dead :-(. I recharged it with a mains charger and went to have a look at the forums. I saw the warning that draining of battery by new HUs is a known problem, so pulled the connections. Checked the fiat's radio socket with a multimeter and I'm getting a good earth and 12v constant feed and my car's loom is also providing an ignition switched 12V.

However, according to the wiring diagram, the panda shouldn't be providing a switched 12v pin and I notice that it is not 'clean' when off as its measuring 0.2v. I pulled the new radio out whilst looking into this and went for an engine start.

Turned over beautifully and started immediately, but noticed the Engine warning light is on constantly :-( . No problem with performance, tried a few restarts but it keeps glowing constantly.

So, may I ask:

1. Do you have any thoughts on the radio drain problem and
2. Any thoughts on the constant engine warning light?
3. From looking at the forum - poor battery quality and engine lights seem to be linked - could that be it?
4. I saw a post about start / stopping engine 4 times in quick succession to reset warning light - is that correct or is there a better way to reset it?
5. Finally may I have screwed the system by turning the ignition to MAR to chech the radio voltages whilst it was on charge at 14-15V?

Any ideas / advice gratefully accepted - many thanks in advance

Malc

a basic generic fault code reader sounds like it needs plugging in to clear this fault light
be aware whatever you are told you cannot put an aftermarket radio in a fiat and not have problems unless you make sure the can lines are disconnected

1. Radio drain problems are very common with aftermarket head units. I've ended up fitting solid state (no CD reader) MP3 units which seem to not have problems. Kenwood & Pioneer seem to cause many problems, but others do too. Even when using a proper ISO connector.


2. Any thoughts on the constant engine warning light?
Get the code read. Clear it when sorted.
(If the fault is not still present, it may clear after 3 restarts by itself.)


3. From looking at the forum - poor battery quality and engine lights seem to be linked - could that be it?
Yes. See (2) & (5)

4. I saw a post about start / stopping engine 4 times in quick succession to reset warning light - is that correct or is there a better way to reset it?
See (2)

5. Finally may I have screwed the system by turning the ignition to MAR to chech the radio voltages whilst it was on charge at 14-15V?
Possible, but unlikely. You may find disconnecting the battery for an hour may clear any spurious errors.

Not just Pandas, my Bravo did the same last week, lit up like a christmas tree. Amazing list of faults! The lights needed resetting and it was fine thereafter so probably not a serious issue.

Run a separate power supply for the head unit via a relay. Switch the relay off an ignition controlled live.