Technical Drive Mode Unavailable

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Technical Drive Mode Unavailable

Geolith

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When I start the car it says "Service Engine" and then "Drive Mode Unavailable". What does it want from me?
 
When I start the car it says "Service Engine" and then "Drive Mode Unavailable". What does it want from me?



I have had that happen twice. Service Engine indicates a fault in the Injectors etc. HOWEVER, after a couple of hours it went away. Took it into the dealer and no fault was recorded on ECU. 2nd time I called the AA out and guess what? No fault recorded on ECU. He reset it and it has never happened since. Nothing found at routine service, Just an annoying glitch I suspect.

It is worth noting that I got the full basket of alerts not just those two. Does it start? Does it run properly? If it doesn't clear the fault itself in a few hours I suggest you call the dealer
 
Does it start? Does it run properly? If it doesn't clear the fault itself in a few hours I suggest you call the dealer

I started the car twice, everything seemed normal, except the message persisted and I was unable to switch the drive modes. Haven't tried to actually drive yet, I'm still at the office, but I'll see how it goes in a couple of hours.
 
I started the car twice, everything seemed normal, except the message persisted and I was unable to switch the drive modes. Haven't tried to actually drive yet, I'm still at the office, but I'll see how it goes in a couple of hours.



Once I was actually able to start the dar (it refused to do anything at all for a short while) it then drove normally until I finished my journey. By the following morning no more nagging messages and seemingly no faults stored. Others have reported similar problems which have been due to water getting at the ECU or similar
 
Water sounds plausible, there's a lot of thawing going on there during the morning drive.



All I can add is that no actual fault was ever found and a year on is still driving normally. Good luck
 
The message doesn't go away, and the worst thing is that it prevents me from using remote start, because any kind of error message during start cancels the remote start routine automatically. I'm going to the local dealership on Monday to see what can be done.
 
The message doesn't go away, and the worst thing is that it prevents me from using remote start, because any kind of error message during start cancels the remote start routine automatically. I'm going to the local dealership on Monday to see what can be done.



It won't take them long to hook it up to the diagnostics, if they clear it and it doesn't reoccur hen everything is probably fine. Remote Start isn't an issue here, we don't have it.

How does it drive?
 
Remote Start isn't an issue here, we don't have it.

The best thing about the remote start is the parking heater function, which is a blessing in our harsh winter conditions. If the temperature is below +5ºC, it automatically starts heating the car during the remote start. In my case, it heats the driver's seat, the wheel, the windshield, the wipers, the driver/passenger windows, the back window, and the side mirrors. Basically, it switches on all the available heating, both electric and hot-air based.

How does it drive?
Haven't noticed any problems so far. The default driving mode doesn't seem to be affected in any way, I just can't switch to anything else.
 
The best thing about the remote start is the parking heater function, which is a blessing in our harsh winter conditions. If the temperature is below +5ºC, it automatically starts heating the car during the remote start. In my case, it heats the driver's seat, the wheel, the windshield, the wipers, the driver/passenger windows, the back window, and the side mirrors. Basically, it switches on all the available heating, both electric and hot-air based.

Haven't noticed any problems so far. The default driving mode doesn't seem to be affected in any way, I just can't switch to anything else.



Exactly the symptoms I had. The first time it cleared itself, the second time the breakdown chap cleared it (because the car would not start) and no reoccurrence and no faults stored either time. The only thing the breakdown chap noticed was that the battery was down by about half a volt. Once fault was cleared car fired up and no further issues since (about 9 months)
 
You could try the method used to clear "glitches" on the 500 hatch - disconnect the battery for about 10 minutes then reconnect it. No guarantees on this one, but easy enough to try.
 
Well, I didn't see this coming: Turned out to be a faulty thermostat. The dealership is going to replace it, but I will have to pay the full price, as the original US warranty doesn't extend abroad.
 
Well, I didn't see this coming: Turned out to be a faulty thermostat. The dealership is going to replace it, but I will have to pay the full price, as the original US warranty doesn't extend abroad.



THAT is a major job lol. It took the dealer 2 weeks to replace my thermostat gasket (honest)
 
Good Lord... :eek:



Front bodywork off, degas aircon, disassemble aircon, replace thermostat, reassemble aircon, regas aircon, refit front bodywork. To be fair it did include a 10 day delay waiting for the part to come from Italy, but it's a hellishly expensive job outside of warranty
 
Front bodywork off, degas aircon, disassemble aircon, replace thermostat, reassemble aircon, regas aircon, refit front bodywork. To be fair it did include a 10 day delay waiting for the part to come from Italy, but it's a hellishly expensive job outside of warranty

The dealership is going to order the part today. They say it should arrive in 3-4 days, so the replacement most likely will happen in the beginning of the next week. As for the price, aside the diagnostics fee, it will cost around €200, including VAT and everything.
 
The dealership is going to order the part today. They say it should arrive in 3-4 days, so the replacement most likely will happen in the beginning of the next week. As for the price, aside the diagnostics fee, it will cost around €200, including VAT and everything.



That's a very good price. Maybe they've found a shortcut. Best of luck. Is it out of warranty then?
 
Is it out of warranty then?

Yes, paid out of my pocket entirely.

Anyway, I didn't expect this kind of problem occurring so soon in a 2016 car, and I told the dealership so, and they said that apparently faulty thermostats are a thing with these engines. Just the other day, they said, they serviced a new Jeep Cherokee with the same 2.4 Tigershark and it had exactly the same problem.
 
Yes, paid out of my pocket entirely.

Anyway, I didn't expect this kind of problem occurring so soon in a 2016 car, and I told the dealership so, and they said that apparently faulty thermostats are a thing with these engines. Just the other day, they said, they serviced a new Jeep Cherokee with the same 2.4 Tigershark and it had exactly the same problem.



2016 and not still in warranty? Ask for a goodwill contribution from Fiat if not.

Maybe with your engine it's easier to access, but the 2.0 Mj is a pig to get to the thermostat.
 
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