Technical Yet another thread about S&S issues(?)

[brokencr0ss]

Hello guys.
This is my first post on this forum, and for a bad reason... Unfortunately.
I do know there are more threads talking about S&S issues, but mine is a little bit special in a certain regard, I think.

I have a 2014 Punto Multijet 85. Bought it one month ago, was a courtesy car from Fiat with about 40k kms.
All was fine with the S&S. Stopping the engine every time I wanted, except a couple times it said it was unavailable.

Well, last week it didn't work at all and no warning saying it was unavailable.
I do know there are certain conditions to be met for it to work.
Anyways, a dozen of minutes after driving, it worked again.

This week I haven't almost driven it (vacations). Sometimes I just drive it to a nearby spot to be with my friends, and I do use the radio/cd a lot when the car is turned off, which might be the culprit for the presumed battery drain.

Thing is, the S&S doesn't currently work, I've driven about 15kms today and nothing at all. It also doesn't show any warning saying it's unavailable, except if I stall it on purpose... And even then, I'm not able to start it up again by depressing the clutch.

So, assuming it's the battery needing to be naturally charged by the alternator, shouldn't it be showing it's unavailable every time I come to a halt and release the clutch?

Thank you, and I'm really sorry if I'm just being redundant with all this.

 

[Pedrolami]

Mine doesn't say unavailable, just doesn't stop the engine. Same car too.

First step would be get the battery out and put it on a charger, I have an 'intelligent' charger that can condition the battery so that is a good first step.

Once charged, the car should be able to start using SS. If it is the battery you will find this will stop over time this would definitely require replacement.

I have had mine from new and had a battery replaced under warranty, may be worth approaching the dealer to see if they are prepared to sort this, if not then they ain't cheap.

 

[brokencr0ss]

Mine doesn't say unavailable, just doesn't stop the engine. Same car too.

First step would be get the battery out and put it on a charger, I have an 'intelligent' charger that can condition the battery so that is a good first step.

Once charged, the car should be able to start using SS. If it is the battery you will find this will stop over time this would definitely require replacement.

I have had mine from new and had a battery replaced under warranty, may be worth approaching the dealer to see if they are prepared to sort this, if not then they ain't cheap.

Thank you, I'll contact the dealer tomorrow and see what they can do. The car is still under warranty so yeah.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[derbyshire gp]

I had a similar issue with mine a 2012 plate....
long story cut short dealer had to replace the "battery monitor" has been okay since..
Short journeys wont help though (as the charging system wont have long enough to top the battery back up) if your draining down by leaving radio on etc.
My start stop comes in after say 5-6 mins of driving or when temp reaches the half way marker but when i had a new fiat 500 as courtesy car it would kick in after 2-3 mins.:bang:
After car has been stood a while again it will be longer... just got back from holiday for 1 week and it didn't kick in for over 15-20 mins of driving

 

[brokencr0ss]

Short journeys wont help though (as the charging system wont have long enough to top the battery back up) if your draining down by leaving radio on etc.

Definitely.
Drove the car today for about 30kms and the system is working as it should. So yeah, the battery was indeed flat from the radio abuse and short trips.
Funny thing is, the dealership said S&S didn't depend on the battery. Sometimes I wonder if they actually have any idea of what they're talking about.

Anyways, it's fine. That's all that matters.
Thank you all for your input!