General The Good News and the Bad News

[GettinBetter]

So the weekend ended on a good note, the ECU was removed, to read the serial numbers, the Starter serial number was photographed, as was the alternator connection details. Battery refitted, and clock reset, all ready for Monday morning.

Finally decide on popping into the petrol station, and although 74 miles was more than enough for a round trip to work, its a new car and I have no idea how accurate the gauge/range is, so best err on the safe side.
Filled up with super dooper E5, turned the key and click click.

I needed to get to work so, advised the staion attendant of my predicament, and rang for a taxi.
Arrived at work (still early ) and discussed with my work colleagues how we were going to fix it.

One colleague kindly took me to the station during lunchtime, and having stuck a meter on it, it read 12.4 V, so I turned the key and it again clicked, and the reading dropped to about 8V, and upon releasing the key the meter sat at 11.4 V.

This explains a couple of doubts I had earlier:

• Such as why whilst the battery was off over the weekend it didn't take a charge and sat at over 13.0V.
• Why when fast idling with meter on the terminals it didn't rise as high as I was expecting (closer to ~14V).

New battery turns up tomorrow....


... and it goes in for a stainless exhaust Thursday

 

[GettinBetter]

Battery replaced during lunch break, and vroom, started no problems, and shot back to work. Even the Start/Stop worked ONCE!
But driving home tonight, it didn't work again....

Now I'm just stuck with the flashing odometer... still least it starts ok

 

[GettinBetter]

Ower.. I'm such a nob, disconnected the three plugs under the passenger seat, I heard the Bt&Me was under there, and made the mistake of turning the ignition on while it was disconnected. Anyway I've now got the passenger airbag exclusion warning light on now, and am struggling to get it off? Is there a simple solution?

 

[GettinBetter]

Arrgh, there was a simple solution.... it was in the EVIC menu. I disconnected the battery, (in an attempt to reboot) so needed to reset the date & time, but while in there I noticed 'Passenger Airbag' in the menu, entered that mode and voila, fixed light is now off.

Still, only had it a couple of weeks now so negotiating the learning curve.. well, that's my excuse.

So Blue & Me and the flashing Odometer to fix......

 

[steveras57]

I think you mean blue&me +flashing odometer to fix! --FOR NOW! as for the future?......thats the joy of Fiat ownership, your so unsure of whats around the corner it keeps your mind off all your other troubles!.

 

[jrkitching]

So Blue & Me and the flashing Odometer to fix

Most folks just unplug the Blue&Me module (you have to physically disconnect the connector to stop the battery drain) and do a proxi alignment with MES to stop the mileage flashing.

 

[vexorg]

Surprised it didn't turn over at 8v, most cars drop to about that when the starter kicks in.

I'd be double checking the alternator, you might just be getting by on the new charge of the battery if the alternator is weak.

 

[GettinBetter]

I think you mean blue&me +flashing odometer to fix! --FOR NOW! as for the future?......thats the joy of Fiat ownership, your so unsure of whats around the corner it keeps your mind off all your other troubles!.

Yeah, it's begining to feel like that already, started off with one problem, and after about an hour and a half had two problems.....

Most folks just unplug the Blue&Me module (you have to physically disconnect the connector to stop the battery drain) and do a proxi alignment with MES to stop the mileage flashing.

I would unplug it if I knew where it was and which plug if there's more than one, I read somewhere it was under the passenger seat, but there was three under there, so did all three, but nope. Firstly I had missed the bit about it being under the REAR passenger seat, secondly at least one of the other plugs was the airbag..... so IS it under the REAR passenger seat?

Surprised it didn't turn over at 8v, most cars drop to about that when the starter kicks in.

I'd be double checking the alternator, you might just be getting by on the new charge of the battery if the alternator is weak.

Yes, I did. After replacing the battery, and starting it, I stuck the meter on it to see what effect raising the RPM did, and as expected it rose to around the ~14V mark. So I'm quietly confident (for now) that it's ok. I have ordered a Starter and Alternator anyway, so if any of them start playing up I'll be ready to go.

Driving to work this morning (I didn't notice at what point) the Odo stopped flashing, after starting it to come home however, it was flashing again!!

I'll get this stainless exhaust sorted tomorrow, then finish putting on my new motorbike exhausts, and take another gander at it, maybe? or play with my latest project (no not the 500 although technically it is the latest) my flight sim motion platform .

Loads to do, can't wait to retire only two weeks to go.

 

[GettinBetter]

Surprised it didn't turn over at 8v, most cars drop to about that when the starter kicks in.

I agree, yes they do, but IMO when you let go of the key a good battery will still show more than 12.3V, mine had dropped to 11.4V anything under 12.2 V a). requires charging, or b). is not accepting a charge/cannot hold a charge/internal resistance is too great. In a 'wet' I would have checked the specific gravity, to see what state it was in, but in this case I just had to lob it.

TBH, I just wanted proof that it was indeed the battery, I noticed straight away when I bought it, that it sounded sluggish when turning over, so knew something was up. It was getting me to work every day, and the tyres seemed more important at the time. I was working my way through it, having replaced the earth strap to the engine, and inspected the starter connections, and I already knew it wasn't readnig ~14V when fast idling. Dumping me in the rain was the push I needed to get a new one.

Its the joys of buying a secondhand car.

 

[steveras57]

Dont go leaving your Fiat to play with your other toys! They are a HARSH! mistress! and dont take well to being ignored! more trouble will follow if you do that!.

 

[GettinBetter]

Dont go leaving your Fiat to play with your other toys! They are a HARSH! mistress! and dont take well to being ignored! more trouble will follow if you do that!.

OMG, I normally hate cars, and I think the 500 is just me playing with the new toy, I'm sure I'll get tired of messing with it. But I love driving it, it's just so nippy.

Also I just want to get it to a stage where I have confidence in to to do a long journey.

 

[steveras57]

You dont want to know how i felt when after 7months of tryingi finally cured my low speed misfire! and got the stop start system to work! overjoyed for days!!! we do like our toys working properly so we can show off to our friends!shallow shallow shallow! but what ya gonna do eh!

 

[John202020]

The blue and me is in the rear passenger quarter panel you need to remove the seat base and the trim, cut the trim at the seat belt area lower mounting point if you need to completely remove it.

 

[GettinBetter]

The blue and me is in the rear passenger quarter panel you need to remove the seat base and the trim, cut the trim at the seat belt area lower mounting point if you need to completely remove it.

Thank you, is it the only thing in that position, i.e. a stand alone unit?

 

[GettinBetter]

Just had a call to say the exhaust is done Woo hoo .

 

[steveras57]

Before you bolt it on the new pipes its a good idea to check the condition of the sump! if its rusty its good time to fit a new one before putting the exhaust back in the way! .
There is wiring under the panel with the blue& me but its the only unit!

 

[GettinBetter]

Before you bolt it on the new pipes its a good idea to check the condition of the sump! if its rusty its good time to fit a new one before putting the exhaust back in the way! .
There is wiring under the panel with the blue& me but its the only unit!

Might be a bit late, It's been at at the exhaust specialists place all day, and I'm pretty sure it'll be all fitted by the time I pick it up tomorrow.

I was under there the weekend, looking at the pipes starter & alternator, and never noticed anything, but wasn't looking at the sump, so will need a recheck.....

Thanks for that, I'll try unplugging the B&Me unit, as soon as I get a minute.

 

[GettinBetter]

The Good News.....

Yep, I'm happy.....

 

[steveras57]

looks really nice good job !do you mind if i ask how much it cost you!? looking at the lovely condition of your rear axle you must be well off! dont see many that clean!- looks like new!

 

[GettinBetter]

Ah, well.... its 2013, with 35k miles
First thing I do with all the used cars I get is to;

• Make a mental note of all the things that will need attention and put them in order of importance Tyres Brakes & Steering always take precedence.
• Work my way through the list, and whilst things are apart, everything is covered in oil (air line, shutz gun type sprayer with an oil bottle) & all bolts are put back with copper grease, except where nutlock is required for reliability/safety.

When ever something fails in the future, the bolts are easy to get undone, there is almost no corrosion, and life is easy.

Exhaust was £900-00, and I wanted it. I had a 'lifetime' deal (as long as you kept the vehicle and managed to keep track of the receipt) many years ago with Quick Fit, and as I kept the vechicle for twelve years I just kept going back for new exhausts. Went back 3 times, so 4 in total, before selling it. I figured this is the same except there's none of the hassle of it failing/booking appointments/going back/time wasted/etc. (assuming the car lasts that long).

Have acquired a reversing sensor system, and the fog lights to fit in due course, oh and not to mention a remap in on the cards. That should be about it, and I'll get back to my other projects.

Last car I had before this was a 2003 AstraSXi 97k miles off ebay, for £500, which I bought for spares. I turned out to be in better condition than mine, so it was kept and ran for 11 yrs & scrapped at 213k miles, lovely motor, hows that for cost effective motoring.