About a month ago, I spent several hours one Saturday washing and polishing the Croma.
I parked her at angle on the drive, removed the keys and set to work - no radio/CD on while I beavered away with the sponge and chamois'. Job done, took a few snaps and went to move her back in line with the other cars on the drive.
When I started the car, I noticed that the amber car/padlock light remained on and the "Check Car Protection System" message was displayed. I parked the car up, tuned her off and removed the key. I then reinserted the key to see if the error remained and other than the said message on the dash, nothing - no "whur" of the steering unlocking as the key went in, infact there was resistance stopping me from turning the key.
At that point the steering actually locked and I was greeted with an additional message of "Steering Lock Enabled". Still no power and resistance at the key, which if I still turned did nothing.
Central locking, Radio, CD Changer, tailgate release, courtesy lights all working - nothing else though
I removed the battery and placed on charge overnight. Fully charged, it was put back on. Only the same items worked (Radio and CD changer did not need the code). Still nothing but the "Check Protection / Steering Lock" messages. Panic.
I searched through the forum, where I found and read the following:
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/286718-absolutely-dead-croma.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/314342-check-vehicle-security-system.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/279020-croma-ignition-imobolise-probelms.html
As its dead, its looking like its possibly the body computer and/or ignition module. B*ll*cks!
Decided to get the car into PowerItalia for them to check it over. Obviously it would need to be carried, and with it locked in park and steering lock engaged, it was needing to be lifted as well. This was arranged on the Wednesday of that week for the following Tuesday.
Over the weekend inbetween, I went to clear the car out of anything we may want while it was in the garage including the CDs. She had now sat there for a week in the bl**dy cold, but without thinking or remembering that I could just pop out the CDs, I put the keys in, "whur" goes the steering and with a little hesitation/slow cranking (as if battery is flat/failing) she starts! - No warning messages either. Took her for a drive, got back, parked her up, turned her off, removed the key. Tried her again after a couple of mins and she started again. Went for another drive and all seemed well
How come it had sat there dead as a dodo for 6 days and now wanted to play ball?
So, cancelled the tow truck and on the Tuesday drove her to work instead. Phoned PowerItalia and Roger agreed to plug her in and check for faults after work, which when I left the office she started, but the "Check Car Protection System" was back drove perfectly ok though.
PowerItalia found no errors - checked all elements on FiatECUScan/MultiECUScan
Drove home, "Check Car Protection System" on. Parked her and restarted - message gone. SDodgy Sensor? Battery??
I then had a good search and read of the forum with regards to warning messages in general and it became apparant that in many cases a battery change had rectified the related problem.
On checking mine (a UniBull 700) it was "only" an 80ah. Googling the actual model number of the battery I could find nothing other than that version being for sale in 2009.
So based on its age and the recommendations in the thread....
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/242368-battery-b-ggered.html
....i purchased a VARTA Silver Dynamic F18 (110) 85ah.
Not wanting to tempt fate, but since the VARTA was fitted (25th Feb) the messages have not only gone away and not returned, but the car has been remarkably better all round. Apart from the obvious starting being easier and more immediate, the idle is smoother, the pick-up is better and my MPG has increased without any change in driving style. Fingers crossed its sorted it.
Obviously, a new battery did not cure the same problem for the Guys whose threads I have linked to above, but I have pulled this together with those links so if anybody does get the same messaged/issues they can find a reference point in one thread. Hope that is of some help - although hope that nobody else has the same issue!
Bob
I parked her at angle on the drive, removed the keys and set to work - no radio/CD on while I beavered away with the sponge and chamois'. Job done, took a few snaps and went to move her back in line with the other cars on the drive.
When I started the car, I noticed that the amber car/padlock light remained on and the "Check Car Protection System" message was displayed. I parked the car up, tuned her off and removed the key. I then reinserted the key to see if the error remained and other than the said message on the dash, nothing - no "whur" of the steering unlocking as the key went in, infact there was resistance stopping me from turning the key.
At that point the steering actually locked and I was greeted with an additional message of "Steering Lock Enabled". Still no power and resistance at the key, which if I still turned did nothing.
Central locking, Radio, CD Changer, tailgate release, courtesy lights all working - nothing else though
I removed the battery and placed on charge overnight. Fully charged, it was put back on. Only the same items worked (Radio and CD changer did not need the code). Still nothing but the "Check Protection / Steering Lock" messages. Panic.
I searched through the forum, where I found and read the following:
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/286718-absolutely-dead-croma.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/314342-check-vehicle-security-system.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/279020-croma-ignition-imobolise-probelms.html
As its dead, its looking like its possibly the body computer and/or ignition module. B*ll*cks!
Decided to get the car into PowerItalia for them to check it over. Obviously it would need to be carried, and with it locked in park and steering lock engaged, it was needing to be lifted as well. This was arranged on the Wednesday of that week for the following Tuesday.
Over the weekend inbetween, I went to clear the car out of anything we may want while it was in the garage including the CDs. She had now sat there for a week in the bl**dy cold, but without thinking or remembering that I could just pop out the CDs, I put the keys in, "whur" goes the steering and with a little hesitation/slow cranking (as if battery is flat/failing) she starts! - No warning messages either. Took her for a drive, got back, parked her up, turned her off, removed the key. Tried her again after a couple of mins and she started again. Went for another drive and all seemed well
How come it had sat there dead as a dodo for 6 days and now wanted to play ball?
So, cancelled the tow truck and on the Tuesday drove her to work instead. Phoned PowerItalia and Roger agreed to plug her in and check for faults after work, which when I left the office she started, but the "Check Car Protection System" was back drove perfectly ok though.
PowerItalia found no errors - checked all elements on FiatECUScan/MultiECUScan
Drove home, "Check Car Protection System" on. Parked her and restarted - message gone. SDodgy Sensor? Battery??
I then had a good search and read of the forum with regards to warning messages in general and it became apparant that in many cases a battery change had rectified the related problem.
On checking mine (a UniBull 700) it was "only" an 80ah. Googling the actual model number of the battery I could find nothing other than that version being for sale in 2009.
So based on its age and the recommendations in the thread....
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/242368-battery-b-ggered.html
....i purchased a VARTA Silver Dynamic F18 (110) 85ah.
Not wanting to tempt fate, but since the VARTA was fitted (25th Feb) the messages have not only gone away and not returned, but the car has been remarkably better all round. Apart from the obvious starting being easier and more immediate, the idle is smoother, the pick-up is better and my MPG has increased without any change in driving style. Fingers crossed its sorted it.
Obviously, a new battery did not cure the same problem for the Guys whose threads I have linked to above, but I have pulled this together with those links so if anybody does get the same messaged/issues they can find a reference point in one thread. Hope that is of some help - although hope that nobody else has the same issue!
Bob
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