Hi I have a 2014 twin air 500l mpw and twice now I have had the engine Management light flashing and a lack of power plus start stop unavailable warning on the dash, I switched the car off and started it again and it was cleared. I have a code reader, but this hasn't picked up any faults. Any idea guys would be greatly appreciated as I have it booked in to Fiat on 13th July. Thanks

Hi and welcome

Its a 2 cyl engine.. so works quite hard..

Sparkplugs need changing every 20k

Oil also is a critical component on the 875 motors..
Is it the correct grade and clean?


There is a chance its partially down to low battery voltage.. not uncommon if the factory fit battery has seen its voltage dropping after lockdown inactivity

Charlie

Thank you I was wondering whether it was a battery issue but wasn’t sure, so at least I can go to fiat and say that battery could be the problem. It was a new battery when I bought the car just over 2 years ago so am unsure of the quality, not a main fiat dealer but an independent garage.

EDHAYNES402017 said:

Thank you I was wondering whether it was a battery issue but wasn’t sure, so at least I can go to fiat and say that battery could be the problem. It was a new battery when I bought the car just over 2 years ago so am unsure of the quality, not a main fiat dealer but an independent garage.

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Are you sure you want to go to a fiat dealer?
A normal garage should be able to test your battery and replace if necessary with a correct stop start battery much more cheaply, dramatically more economically.

Bear in mind a stop start battery from Halfords will be between £120 and £150

If you like you can tell us the make of current battery and the numbers from the label, we may be able to tell you something.

Hi thanks for that I have just booked for a free health check at halfords so will see what they say and go from there. I will probably cancel the appointment with Fiat. I will attach photos of the battery. The voltage on my AA car Genie shows 12.19v.

Just use the visit as 'Guidance'

Your voltage sounds good....12.2 is fine

What does the Genie show for voltage when engine is running?


I think a 60ah battery is towards the minimum.. but that should really be only an issue on cold starts..and other very high loads

That is a stop start battery so at least the dealer did just put a normal battery in.
How many miles have you driven since you have owned car?
Have you had it serviced?

varesecrazy said:

I think a 60ah battery is towards the minimum.. but that should really be only an issue on cold starts..and other very high loads

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Checked our 2013 panda TA 63ah

The punto is possibly higher rated.. similar to the 500l

Will try and check tomorrow

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all your messages, I have now sorted it by buying a trickle charger and hope that this sorts it, I had the car serviced annually in December and have done 17000 miles since I bought the car. I am seriously considering selling the car now as it really doesn't suit me especially as I am only averaging 29 mpg for mainly town driving. With regards to car genie it doesn't show me what the battery charge is whilst the car is running only when I switch the car off and it syncs with my phone app.

29mpg..

Thats pretty poor.. maybe it isnt running right after all..

But stable battery voltage should help

Yes maybe, I have also bought some cataclean to see if that makes a difference, if injectors or cat are blocked. The best I have averaged over my ownership is 31 mpg after long journeys. I have an excel spreadsheet that automatically works out the average mpg that my dad set me up with years ago, this is by far the worst car I have ever owned for mpg, most cars I have owned have averaged 40 mpg+ which I thought this car would easily achieve but I was wrong, but then again I just tend to do short journeys of less than 4 miles so that won't help.

2013 Punto twinair Stop:Start battery appears to be identical to the Panda TA of same year

Also 63ah 450cca Exide manufactured for FCA

EDHAYNES402017 said:

The best I have averaged over my ownership is 31 mpg after long journeys. I have an excel spreadsheet that automatically works out the average mpg that my dad set me up with years ago, this is by far the worst car I have ever owned for mpg, most cars I have owned have averaged 40 mpg+ which I thought this car would easily achieve but I was wrong, but then again I just tend to do short journeys of less than 4 miles so that won't help.

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4 miles.. no wonder the battery is low

My punto TA Was bought for a 13 mile each way commute

Engine running for

45mins am
120 mins pm

A diesel ..or electric wouldnt have worked..

Plug in cars might work for you though..

EDHAYNES402017 said:

The best I have averaged over my ownership is 31 mpg after long journeys. I have an excel spreadsheet that automatically works out the average mpg that my dad set me up with years ago, this is by far the worst car I have ever owned for mpg, most cars I have owned have averaged 40 mpg+ which I thought this car would easily achieve but I was wrong, but then again I just tend to do short journeys of less than 4 miles so that won't help.

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Hello, I have 500L MPW 0.9 TA 7 seater version and I think it's the best family car we've ever had (knock on wood, it's only been 3 years).

I've averaged about 36 mpg of mixed use based on 'full to full petrol fill-up method' that I had done rather religiously for a year or so. The car computer reported slightly higher mpg (37-38 mpg). I can get 40-41 mpg for country driving but that is with hyper-mileaging driving style. I changed the spark plugs not long after I bought the car and use injector cleaner every 6 months or so.

Your 31 mpg average for long journeys sounds low ... is this what the car computer tells you as well?

Thanks everyone, the car has now gone, I have now got a ŠKODA Fabia estate as I don’t need 7 seats really. The Fiat was starting to be a real money pit. The car was certainly the most expensive on parts £650 for a clutch and it would have been at least £120 for the coil packs if I still had the car, so I will say goodbye to this forum and I doubt very much I will be back.