This morning the trusty 500 would not start (yikes!). The car had not been run for two and half days, thought it may be the battery to start but no lights on the dash for errors. Managed to get the car started after pumping the gas a bit, plume of acrid smoke came out to back tho!

Anyone else had this issue? Not had it before, had the car from new since end of may. Now about 4k on the clock.

The media player dash said cancheck - not sure what that meant cannot find the error online. Trying to download the manual to see if that lists it.

This is a known problem (the smoke and bad starts) and it usually only affects the car on cold mornings when it hasn't been garaged, however mine has done it a few times. Apparently there is a software update that fixes it but my dealer said they couldn't do anything about it.

I've not heard anything about the 'cancheck' message though, probably best to ring the dealer and ask them.

Steed said:

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The media player dash said cancheck - not sure what that meant cannot find the error online. Trying to download the manual to see if that lists it.

Click to expand...

Your player could be looking for a CAN signal. The error is mentioned in a post on the punto forum

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto/137265-cancheck-error.html

Hope this helps

I had this issue a little while ago of not starting or not starting straight away. Took it to the garage as still under warranty and they said it can take up to 20 turnovers for it to start but they updated something-or-other and I havent had the problem since (touch wood)

Thanks guys and gals. Will ask dealer about software.

Morning everyone!

My wife and I are due to pick up a 1.2 Pop in December (not sure exactly when yet). I have noticed some similar threads to this over the past few weeks

Is this just something that is an issue for the earliest models, or is it something that seems to be a problem for all the 1.2's?

My next question would also be is it worth mentioning this to the dealer upfront? Of course, we might not have any trouble at all, but given that the first few months of ownership will be in winter I'd rather do what I can now!!

Thanks a lot

Hi Super Uwe (no connection to the uni, right?)

I guess my thread is one of the ones you've seen (it's the most recent on the forum as far as I know)

Basically, so far, the jist of it is it's only happened that one time, and although it's grumbled a bit once or twice since (usually after I've stalled it.....) and it's not been particularly cold since it's more a "keep an eye on it" sort of problem rather than a "run to the dealers asap".

The thing I've changed is she now runs on shell fuel *only*, no more supermarket crud I think! It certainly seems to like it (someone else found that, and I'm inclined to agree after a 50/50 mix half tank and then a full tank of shell tonight )

I couldn't find out whether the 1.2s now ship as standard with the software update I talked about, but from what I've read and assumed it seems probably not, as it's not a guaranteed fix according to reports.

It's also worth remembering that the majority of 500s on this forum are 1.2s, so I don't think it's that wide spread an issue.

Guess what's going to happen to me tomorrow now I've said that.

Thanks zanes,

Nah the name is from my email address which is a tribute to Uwe Rosler (who was of course a very good player for Man City but when we at Southampton had him he was rather past his best!!), it's just one of those stupid things from back in the day that I've never bothered to change!

OK thanks for info. To be honest I'm not that worried, as you say the law of averages would suggest that it'll happen from time to time.

I suppose when you read these things on forums you automatically assume it is going to be an issue!

Anyway as I mentioned in my post it was only because the first few months of ownership will be during mid-winter, but hey ho.

Just to update, Perry's had the car for Friday, Saturday and now Monday. Couldn't find any fault with the car. We had the no starting issue about 8 times in 3 weeks so a bit of an issue for a 4.5 month old car.

I said about the software update and they said "don't take too much notice of what you read online."

Anyhooo they have done the software update and they say it started fine this morning so hope that is the end of it rather than an ongoing issue...

Lloyd71 said:

This is a known problem (the smoke and bad starts) and it usually only affects the car on cold mornings when it hasn't been garaged, however mine has done it a few times. Apparently there is a software update that fixes it but my dealer said they couldn't do anything about it.

I've not heard anything about the 'cancheck' message though, probably best to ring the dealer and ask them.

Click to expand...

seriously? so they're didnt say there was a fix coming,they will contact Fiat etc?

Lloyd71 said:

This is a known problem (the smoke and bad starts) and it usually only affects the car on cold mornings when it hasn't been garaged, however mine has done it a few times. Apparently there is a software update that fixes it but my dealer said they couldn't do anything about it.

I've not heard anything about the 'cancheck' message though, probably best to ring the dealer and ask them.

Click to expand...

"cancheck", what is the mean? Never see it before.

I assume this is the "download for hard start" that was applied to ours when it was serviced earlier this month (not that we'd reported a problem to them).

trphil said:

I assume this is the "download for hard start" that was applied to ours when it was serviced earlier this month (not that we'd reported a problem to them).

Click to expand...

Possibly, just picked the car up. Glad to have it back. Had an 07 corsa whilst the 500 was in the garage and it felt like a tank.

Media player seems to be doing a better random selection than before.

Looks like Stevie Wonder did a valet on the car using a shaggy dog that had been sleeping in a muddy puddle. :bang:

Not sure if this is same prob, I had a couple of weeks ago, but how long did you run the car before you switched it off on previous usage?

I left my car in front of the garage next to mine all day and then when I brought my old car home and garaged it, I got in the 500 started it, ran back 7 meters or so, and forwards in front of my own garge and then left it overnight, after less that 30 seconds running. Next moring it didn't start after normal amount of turning on starter motor. I remembered back to a similar problem I'd had with my previous car which just wouldn't start again after one cold morning I started it up and reversed backwards then jamed it into 1st and didn't give it enough throttle for uphill start and it stalled. 3 days later I still couldn't get it started so called out brakedown. They turned up and and turned it over for about 40 seconds playing with accelerator until it started. Bloke explained a short period of runing can flood the car, and ideally you should let it run for a few mins before turning off. I tried turnig my 500 over for 30 seconds, ( not a nice feeling) pumped the throttle slowly and eventually it fired and has not had problem since.

alfatastic said:

Not sure if this is same prob, I had a couple of weeks ago, but how long did you run the car before you switched it off on previous usage?

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My Zafira used to do that, was a real nightmare to start as the usual trick of holding the throttle fully open wouldn't work - electronically rather than physically connected throttle. Engine management system in "Cold start, need plenty of fuel" mode NFTW.

alfatastic said:

Not sure if this is same prob, I had a couple of weeks ago, but how long did you run the car before you switched it off on previous usage?

Click to expand...

It had been on a 16 mile journey the day before. Took quite a few goes and some pumping to get the fella going. A cloud of blue and black guff came out the coco valve.

The next few times it started after two or three goes. It reminded me of my Dad's cars in the late 70's to 80's that needed choke etc. on damp starts.

Will see how it goes now...

Started first time this morning. No grinding noises or farty smoke.

Re: 1.2 farty starty *Update*

Steed said:

Started first time this morning. No grinding noises or farty smoke.

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Update - Well now the weather is a bit colder and damp the car is still a bit teasy in the morning. Tends to be a half turn grumble then try again and it goes ok. Doesn't happen all the time and only seems to be after an overnight rest.

Maybe it's just one of those things like the indicator that turns off half way round the roundabout followed by that lovely crunch of plastic when you put it back on...

Re: 1.2 farty starty *Update*

Steed said:

Update - Well now the weather is a bit colder and damp the car is still a bit teasy in the morning. Tends to be a half turn grumble then try again and it goes ok. Doesn't happen all the time and only seems to be after an overnight rest.

Maybe it's just one of those things like the indicator that turns off half way round the roundabout followed by that lovely crunch of plastic when you put it back on...

Click to expand...

All the Fiats I've owned have had indicators that work in exactly the same way as the ones on the 500... turn off half way thru a manoeuvre and then don't want to be put on again. Therefore it's a feature.

Re: 1.2 farty starty *Update*

nottsfiat07 said:

All the Fiats I've owned have had indicators that work in exactly the same way as the ones on the 500... turn off half way thru a manoeuvre and then don't want to be put on again. Therefore it's a feature.

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Must be quite interesting for all those BSM learner drivers!