Technical 2012 Fiat 500 Twin Air - Start/Stop Unavailable & Check Engine

[vfr750dude]

Hi, new to the site

Daughters car is a 2012 500 twin air, has only had it a few months... Bought from a private seller - she was driving along a motorway when she heard a high pitch sound and this message popped up on the dashboard

Start/Stop Unavailable & Check Engine

car went into limp mode EML on, she got off the motorway at next junction and pulled over.

I went out to help, got there c. 1 hour after the incident. I started the car, and drove it home.. not in limp mode and no errors or EML on... seemed fine. Next time out, the error flashed up on screen and limp mode again.

I have had a mechanic look, and there were codes: active and inactive

The mechanic replaced the oil pressure switch and removed the throttle body to examine it, and it seemed ok. He thinks the ABS problem is because someone has overfilled the brake fluid, the brakes seem fine.. I changed the oil/filter spark plugs and air filter.

We cleared the codes, and it seemed fine for a few miles then the warnings came back on and we're in limp mode.

Mechanic says he cant figure it out, and will need the advice of a specialist...


Any Ideas?


Cheers

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi, new to the site

Daughters car is a 2012 500 twin air, has only had it a few months... Bought from a private seller - she was driving along a motorway when she heard a high pitch sound and this message popped up on the dashboard

Start/Stop Unavailable & Check Engine

car went into limp mode EML on, she got off the motorway at next junction and pulled over.

I went out to help, got there c. 1 hour after the incident. I started the car, and drove it home.. not in limp mode and no errors or EML on... seemed fine. Next time out, the error flashed up on screen and limp mode again.

I have had a mechanic look, and there were codes: active and inactive

View attachment 433258


The mechanic replaced the oil pressure switch and removed the throttle body to examine it, and it seemed ok. He thinks the ABS problem is because someone has overfilled the brake fluid, the brakes seem fine.. I changed the oil/filter spark plugs and air filter.

We cleared the codes, and it seemed fine for a few miles then the warnings came back on and we're in limp mode.

Mechanic says he cant figure it out, and will need the advice of a specialist...


Any Ideas?


Cheers

Hi
With any random pings like this.. I would suggest replacing the Battery to Chassis to Motor cable.. They rot internally and cause all kinds of weirdness as you lost connections while driving

Being a 500.. Do check the rear hatch wiring at the hinge pivot area


Duckbills under front screen.. Wipers area.. to stop water getting backed.up and drowning the dashboard


Generally electrics are actually pretty good, those 2 cable areas are 90%. Of reported failures

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Always check the battery condition too.

 

[vfr750dude]

Thanks for the advice, I will check tomorrow ..

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks for the advice, I will check tomorrow ..

Does it still run Stop:Start routines?

That's a fair gauge of battery health

 

[vfr750dude]

Hi

Does it still run Stop:Start routines?

That's a fair gauge of battery health

Didnt get chance to try anything today, but I know the stop start never activated whilst we have driven it.. but the battery doesnt appear to have any problems turning the engine over..

 

[Bonefish Blues]

The two things aren't incompatible. The battery may be too low for start stop whilst still feeling fine for starting.

 

[steveras57]

Once the main earthing cables are jiggered! it dont matter how much juice youve got in the battery! cause the curcuit cant complete properly! you dont get enough amperage to run high drain systems!.
Non-existent or intermittent earthing causes all kind of electrical problems and codes to come up! if left unaddressed can cause damage to sensitive electrical components! such as E CU,s etc hopefully a new cable will sort it!.

 

[vfr750dude]

bought an ODBC2 reader and it has a battery voltage display, which reads 12.6 when not running and between 13.6 and 14.5 fluctuating when driving.

I also purchased a replacement used accelerator pedal off ebay, but that hasnt fixed anything... How do you identify if the earth is bad?

I think I am going to have to buy a used throttle body,.... do they have to be re calibrated when changed?

 

[steveras57]

Needs calibrating via multi ecu software ! that many members on here have and use! look in the multi ecu scan area of the forum to see if there is anyone in your location!

 

[vfr750dude]

just following up so that others can benefit...

got the car running again, the issue was the throttle body, managed to get a used one off ebay and got it re-calibrated.

thanks for the help ;o)

 

[steveras57]

Good news!- might take a while for stop start function to return as system relearns its parameters are ok! its so blinking random nobody knows for sure! glad the main issue is sorted though!