i use a power cut-off switch to keep a charged battery, but after more than 30 days away, the car will not start unless i push-start it..it turns over but sounds like it has no compression...after 4 or 5 attempts at cranking, it still just makes the same sound...i revert to push starting and have been able to start it that way....Detroit customer service has no answers for me and my dealership told me i should buy a different car..they said this car wasn't designed for my driving needs.(sitting at the airport for than a month at at time) imagine that!!! this has been going on since i purchased the car new in 2012..500 POP standard trans. any help?
Technical starting issues after sitting long period of time
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Technical starting issues after sitting long period of time
griff74
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Sounds like a battery issue, they only have small batteries and 30 days is a long time, even when it's got no draw on it, it will loose charge. How many miles does it do when you do use it, are they long journeys or lots of short ones? I would say after 3 years of being left for a month at a time the battery is toast now anyway. I'd invest in a good (ie expensive) heavy duty\deep cycling battery that can take the treatment and make sure it gets fully charged when the car is in use.
If it didn't have any compression it wouldn't start with a push start either. I guess someone is pointing at a lack of oil to operate the valves? I don't see that though.
Do you think the starter motor is actually engaging and spinning the engine over? Does it spin over "energetically" or is it slow?
How long do you try it on the starter? After 30days it could take maybe 20 or 30 seconds of cranking to get the right mix of fuel into the engine. Try counting the seconds, it will feel way longer and it will feel uncomfortable.
Do you think the starter motor is actually engaging and spinning the engine over? Does it spin over "energetically" or is it slow?
How long do you try it on the starter? After 30days it could take maybe 20 or 30 seconds of cranking to get the right mix of fuel into the engine. Try counting the seconds, it will feel way longer and it will feel uncomfortable.
Just a guess ............
Sounds like your battery needs changing.
Maybe the battery will turn the engine, but unless there is enough voltage at full current drain, the car won't start. Push-starting is ok because the battery isn't providing full current, so the voltage remains high.
Batteries have an internal resistance plus connection resistances. The more current you take, the more the resistance drops the effective voltage. Basic Ohms Law I'm afraid.
Good luck,
Mick.
Sounds like your battery needs changing.
Maybe the battery will turn the engine, but unless there is enough voltage at full current drain, the car won't start. Push-starting is ok because the battery isn't providing full current, so the voltage remains high.
Batteries have an internal resistance plus connection resistances. The more current you take, the more the resistance drops the effective voltage. Basic Ohms Law I'm afraid.
Good luck,
Mick.
thanks guys.....my issue is not with the battery...after thinking the same thing, i put a master cut-off switch in the car....and an optima battery as you all have thought of...i recorded the starting sound and gave that to the dealership..they said it sounded like an oil pressure problem and the cams need that for timing..but then the problem of fuel flooding if i crank the engine too long...so if i crank too long , i might overheat the starter, or i might flood the engine...( it has no "clear choke mode" as do some other manufactures)..thanks for your input...we all thinking the same here..but it's not the answer...this has been an issue for the 3 years i've owned it ....the dealership suggested i carry spare spark plugs with me...jsut what i want to be doing after a 20 hour flight in my business suit at the parking lot in Phoenix in 110 degreee heat.....
I have been trying to engage the starter for about 4 seconds at a time ..maybe about 4 tries using this technique...then i resort to push starting...if i can find a parking attendant that is willing to help me...after 2 or 3 tries of popping the clutch, it has fired up...however the power steering is inop until i reboot the power again.....i think that is from the cutoff switch ...
How long are you cranking it for?
I don't get why it will start when pushed but won't fire up on the starter.
I recently left my Accord Type R for maybe 6 weeks and although the battery was good it took for ever to start, I'm pretty sure it as down to lack of fuel getting into the cylinders. I literally churned it on the starter for multiple 20 + seconds at a time.
There's maybe a clue in the 110F heat you mention. Fuel may have evaporated and its taking time to pump fresh fuel in to injectors/cylinders.
I don't think you will flood it by churning it on the starter. If that we the case by the time you have given up trying to start it on the starter it wouldn't push start.
I don't get why it will start when pushed but won't fire up on the starter.
I recently left my Accord Type R for maybe 6 weeks and although the battery was good it took for ever to start, I'm pretty sure it as down to lack of fuel getting into the cylinders. I literally churned it on the starter for multiple 20 + seconds at a time.
There's maybe a clue in the 110F heat you mention. Fuel may have evaporated and its taking time to pump fresh fuel in to injectors/cylinders.
I don't think you will flood it by churning it on the starter. If that we the case by the time you have given up trying to start it on the starter it wouldn't push start.
yeah, Russ, i was thinking the same thing about if I had tried cranking it a few more times b4 resorting to push starting, that it would have fired up ....but i was worried about flooding ...then it would be a long wait period b4 restarting....or change the flooded plugs...i just dont understand the engine peramitters and the design concept ...even Fiat can't give me an answer ...that's what is soooooo frustrating ...i appreciate your time....thanks
On the UK/rest of world models, power steering issues are a real red flag for a battery that is on its way out- they are equipped with an electric power steering system (basically a motor clamped around the steering column). Often it is the very first thing that flags up, even before any starting problems come up.
Now, I don't know whether US models have electric or hydraulic power steering, but if it's electric it's definitely worth investigating.
As stupid as this is going to sound, have you tried a different Optima battery? It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that you've had bad luck and got one that's not quite right (has an unusually high self discharge rate).
FWIW (I had a 1.2 which is a totally different engine), I left mine stood for weeks at a time when I was at Uni without the battery disconnected and I <never> had a problem starting it. Bit tappety for a few seconds sometimes and didn't do the battery any long term good but at the time it was fine.
If it's an optima Gell battery I doubt if the alternator on a humble 500 will ever manage to fully change it.
These are popular with overland 4x4 people and to get the best out of them you need a high output alternator and a voltage regulator adjusted to provide higher volts.
These are popular with overland 4x4 people and to get the best out of them you need a high output alternator and a voltage regulator adjusted to provide higher volts.
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Well, if it's not the battery, it must be something else then.
Strange that it will push start without a problem, but not start on the battery.
Have you tried NOT trying to start on the battery and going straight to the push start?
If it fails to push start as easily as before, it must be a fuel issue, and the attempted battery starts are enough to get the fuel flowing ready for a push start.
If this is true, it must mean that if your battery is good AND you keep trying, it will start eventually.
If not, it MUST be the battery.
Regards, and good luck,
Mick.
Strange that it will push start without a problem, but not start on the battery.
Have you tried NOT trying to start on the battery and going straight to the push start?
If it fails to push start as easily as before, it must be a fuel issue, and the attempted battery starts are enough to get the fuel flowing ready for a push start.
If this is true, it must mean that if your battery is good AND you keep trying, it will start eventually.
If not, it MUST be the battery.
Regards, and good luck,
Mick.
AGH1965
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Slightly off-topic, but are you allowed to do that with an American 500? The handbook of the European 500 says:
griff74
Member
From what's been said now I would go with either fuel evaporation or issues with the multi air valve gear, our European 500's don't use multi air (apart from the twin air engines which use a version of it) maybe ask in the 500L or current Punto sections, as they do use them and someone in one of the hotter countries in Europe might have seen the same issue. Hope you get to the bottom of it!
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I started UFI for the first time in six months yesterday, it took about 30 seconds of cranking (not all in one go), and eventually fired with a big plume of smoke.
I'm going to guess it's down to the Multi/ Uni Air system.
My Jeep by comparison can sometimes sit for 12 months but will still fire within seconds and without any other issues.
I'm going to guess it's down to the Multi/ Uni Air system.
My Jeep by comparison can sometimes sit for 12 months but will still fire within seconds and without any other issues.
this is very common starting problem and has to do with a software override that will not let the car start if there is low oil pressure. your dealer has an updated you should have been notified by mail. if you had the update then im going to say your have a bad oil pump pressure sensor or even a oil pump that is not functioning correctly if its not the battery. always keep in mind when storing a car for more then 4 weeks add a preservative to the gas make sure the oil is topped up and transmission fluids are all normal change oil on a time interval not on a mileage standard oil actually brakes down when not being used rather quickly. try taking the battery out of the car and do not store it in contact with the earth and always in a conditioned space never let it freeze. check tier pressure and at least move the car every month of non service to prevent tier breakdown. i know more then you asked but it never hurts to remind people that storing a car for more then 2 weeks is hard on it
i had an after though that i think is very critical and that is moisture if you live any place where it rains and that is for most of us. moisture can get into the components of a car when it is stored. fuel, oils brake fluid are all susceptible to moisture contamination you might have some old seals that are cracked or in poor condition allowing moisture to collect in the fuel system this can contribute to poor start ups. when we drive our cars the heating cycle helps to evaporate some of the monster that collects so naturally when a car sits it can develop moster related issues also do not by cheap fuel off branded fuels are often contaminated by poor production and or handling
i had an after though that i think is very critical and that is moisture if you live any place where it rains and that is for most of us. moisture can get into the components of a car when it is stored. fuel, oils brake fluid are all susceptible to moisture contamination you might have some old seals that are cracked or in poor condition allowing moisture to collect in the fuel system this can contribute to poor start ups. when we drive our cars the heating cycle helps to evaporate some of the monster that collects so naturally when a car sits it can develop moster related issues also do not by cheap fuel off branded fuels are often contaminated by poor production and or handling
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This looks like an old thread, but I had this problem after our 500 sat in the sun for 3 months. Here's what worked:
1. Charge the battery.
2. Turn the ignition to the first position. You can hear the fuel pump running in the back of the car. The pump will stop automatically in 3 or 4 seconds.
3. Turn the key off, then perform 2. again.
4. Repeat. Try 10, 20 times.
5. Turn the ignition key to the second position to crank the starter, and you should start OK.
1. Charge the battery.
2. Turn the ignition to the first position. You can hear the fuel pump running in the back of the car. The pump will stop automatically in 3 or 4 seconds.
3. Turn the key off, then perform 2. again.
4. Repeat. Try 10, 20 times.
5. Turn the ignition key to the second position to crank the starter, and you should start OK.
Presumably by this time, the problem has been resolved. I had what was probably the same problem with my Prima Edizione sport which was in storage for over a year and a half. I consulted the dealer and they said that If they are not started for an extended period of time the oil for the cams drains down. I cranked it for an extended time and TaDa it fired up and ran fine.
