Hello, got a slight problem, just had to replaced my water pump booooo!!

A day after upon starting my car it asked for a radio code.

Luckily I knew this so I entered it, today when leaving work to drive home it again asked me for the radio code! How annoying.

Hoping someone with FIAT knowledge can help me out, somebody pointed out an earthing problem, i have no idea about this can anyone shed any light?

Thanks in advance

Scott

Start by checking that the battery has been reconnected properly, and perhaps give the terminals/posts a clean for good measure.

would the battery of been disconnected to change the waterpump?

Most repair procedures start by recommending to disconnect the battery. Check this first.

Radio code is needed if power to radio is interrupted. Radio only needs a tiny current to maintain its memory and if the car is starting ok, poor battery connection seems most likely.

I have changed 500 wiring looms, airbags, batteries, water pumps and never needed to enter the radio code. The only time I have entered a 500 radio code is when audio units have been swapped or body computer replaced. (faulty head unit is also a possibility).

portland_bill said:

Radio code is needed if power to radio is interrupted.

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I remove head units on Fiats on a daily basis so why haven't I ever entered the radio code after removal/refitting?

T14086 said:

I remove head units on Fiats on a daily basis so why haven't I ever entered the radio code after removal/refitting?

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Mostly these days, the radio is coded to the car, so it is "known" to the body ECU. If the radio is moved to another vehicle it will not work until it is paired with the "new" vehicle by a dealer. FiatECUscan may do this, but I've had no need to investigate. This is common to most manufacturers, not just Fiat. I have an aftermarket head unit in mine, but the original radio will still work if refitted, without the need for the code. If however, I try to fit it into another vehicle, it will demand the code before working. Its effectiveness as an theft deterrent will rely on the potential thief knowing this. Umm...?

Some radios need their code entered first time they are connected, or is disconnected for more than a few minutes. Often their is a menu item to turn this on or off, so this may be worth investigating to address the effect of this problem, but does not fix the cause.

portland_bill said:

Mostly these days, the radio is coded to the car, so it is "known" to the body ECU. If the radio is moved to another vehicle it will not work until it is paired with the "new" vehicle by a dealer. FiatECUscan may do this, but I've had no need to investigate. This is common to most manufacturers, not just Fiat. I have an aftermarket head unit in mine, but the original radio will still work if refitted, without the need for the code. If however, I try to fit it into another vehicle, it will demand the code before working. .

Click to expand...

Yes I am well aware of this, I have a little experience in the motor trade myself (https://www.fiatforum.com/500/280591-radio-code-fiat-500-a.html ; https://www.fiatforum.com/500/198604-radio-locked-need-help.html etc etc, however you said;

Radio code is needed if power to radio is interrupted

...which is incorrect information.

portland_bill said:

Mostly these days, the radio is coded to the car, so it is "known" to the body ECU. If the radio is moved to another vehicle it will not work until it is paired with the "new" vehicle by a dealer.

Some radios need their code entered first time they are connected, or is disconnected for more than a few minutes. Often their is a menu item to turn this on or off, so this may be worth investigating to address the effect of this problem, but does not fix the cause.

Click to expand...

Given that the original factory-fit radio will be paired to the car & won't subsequently ask for a code unless something malfunctions, is it possible that the original radio was replaced for some reason & the replacement needs to be activated by code rather than pairing if the power supply is disconnected?

T14086 said:

Yes I am well aware of this, I have a little experience in the motor trade myself (https://www.fiatforum.com/500/280591-radio-code-fiat-500-a.html ; https://www.fiatforum.com/500/198604-radio-locked-need-help.html etc etc, however you said;

Radio code is needed if power to radio is interrupted

...which is incorrect information.

Click to expand...

In the context of this thread, it is most likely correct and therefore useful in trying to diagnose this problem. There is a common problem on this forum that people are often ready to criticise without adding anything of value to the thread. Such a shame.

T14086 said:

I remove head units on Fiats on a daily basis so why haven't I ever entered the radio code after removal/refitting?

Click to expand...

portland_bill said:

In the context of this thread, it is most likely correct and therefore useful in trying to diagnose this problem. There is a common problem on this forum that people are often ready to criticise without adding anything of value to the thread. Such a shame.

Click to expand...

You're both posting something of value.

T14086 is saying that, from substantial real-world experience, the radio is normally paired with the body computer & doesn't normally need a code after power has been disconnected.

Portland_Bill is saying that this car's radio is repeatedly asking for a code, that the battery was almost certainly disconnected when the water pump was replaced & that it may well have an intermittent connection.

We're not here to score points, we're here to help folks sort out issues when other avenues have been exhausted. If we can all be constructive & use our collective experience to 'think outside the box', we might just be able to offer the OP some new input to help fix the problem.

I am not a car savvy person so i would have to get the garage to check this out, Thanks for the suggestion, the car runs fine, starts fine. I parked the car on a funny angle at work the day it happened , like sideways on a hill which is confusing.

Again thanks

This happened on Tuesday, (the second time in a week its asked for the code) but it has not asked for it again since then, i suppose i will have to monitor it, the weather has been hot since then Tuesday which was torrential rain.

Totally stumped, anyway thanks for your suggestions shall get them all tried,

Have a great bank holiday weekend.

Scott

portland_bill said:

There is a common problem on this forum that people are often ready to criticise without adding anything of value to the thread. Such a shame.

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Mr Bill, do your background work before you cast personal accusations against people you do not know, you could end up looking very stupid indeed.

For the benefit of everyone you do not need to enter the radio code on a 500 (or grande) if you disconnect the battery neither do you need to disconnect/remove battery to change water pump however some manuals will recommend this for safety reasons. No earth point(s) are removed during water pump/belt change.

To the OP, have you had the car from new? if not ask your local Fiat dealership to obtain the radio code from the ISR (small charge of £15) as this will confirm if the radio is the original. At the same time ask if there is any history of work done on the car which could be of relevance as this will be recorded.

T14086 said:

Mr Bill, do your background work before you cast personal accusations against people you do not know, you could end up looking very stupid indeed.

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You're doing it again! Being negative instead of positive. What is wrong with you?

All the information I posted was general and meant to be helpful. Any radio requesting a code is usually a result of it losing its power supply. Even if this request is not expected, this is a symptom and power supply should be checked before condemning the radio itself. This not happening on many others is no reason to discount this as a possible cause and its diagnosis is simple and free.

Try to be positive.

portland_bill said:

You're doing it again! Being negative instead of positive. What is wrong with you?

All the information I posted was general and meant to be helpful. Any radio requesting a code is usually a result of it losing its power supply. Even if this request is not expected, this is a symptom and power supply should be checked before condemning the radio itself. This not happening on many others is no reason to discount this as a possible cause and its diagnosis is simple and free.

Try to be positive.

Click to expand...

This is easy enough for the OP to check - just disconnect & reconnect the battery & see if you can reproduce the symptoms.

Could the damp weather be the clue here? If the radio is only 'playing up' in damp weather I would suggest there is probably an earthing problem somewhere in the loom. I'd have a good root around the battery and water pump to see/feel if anything is loose. Although I think I would be heading back to the garage first to see if they could shed any light on it, after all they took it apart in the first place

portland_bill said:

You're doing it again! Being negative instead of positive. What is wrong with you?

All the information I posted was general and meant to be helpful. Any radio requesting a code is usually a result of it losing its power supply. Even if this request is not expected, this is a symptom and power supply should be checked before condemning the radio itself. This not happening on many others is no reason to discount this as a possible cause and its diagnosis is simple and free.

Try to be positive.

Click to expand...

Grow up, T knows his stuff, don't be rude.

My radio needed the code a few years ago after I let the battery get flat once. So it's definitely a power issue somewhere.....

scout500 said:

Could the damp weather be the clue here? If the radio is only 'playing up' in damp weather I would suggest there is probably an earthing problem somewhere in the loom. I'd have a good root around the battery and water pump to see/feel if anything is loose. Although I think I would be heading back to the garage first to see if they could shed any light on it, after all they took it apart in the first place

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This is sounding like it could be the problem, thanks for your input.

Where do i go about checking this?

Thanks

I'd start with the battery, make sure that all the connections are tight and anything that may have been removed when the water pump was replaced.

I'm a bit of a novice with the 500 myself only owned one since Feb (with no problems) so I'm advising a bit blind really.