About a month ago, I spent several hours one Saturday washing and polishing the Croma.

I parked her at angle on the drive, removed the keys and set to work - no radio/CD on while I beavered away with the sponge and chamois'. Job done, took a few snaps and went to move her back in line with the other cars on the drive.

When I started the car, I noticed that the amber car/padlock light remained on and the "Check Car Protection System" message was displayed. I parked the car up, tuned her off and removed the key. I then reinserted the key to see if the error remained and other than the said message on the dash, nothing - no "whur" of the steering unlocking as the key went in, infact there was resistance stopping me from turning the key.

At that point the steering actually locked and I was greeted with an additional message of "Steering Lock Enabled". Still no power and resistance at the key, which if I still turned did nothing.

Central locking, Radio, CD Changer, tailgate release, courtesy lights all working - nothing else though

I removed the battery and placed on charge overnight. Fully charged, it was put back on. Only the same items worked (Radio and CD changer did not need the code). Still nothing but the "Check Protection / Steering Lock" messages. Panic.

I searched through the forum, where I found and read the following:

https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/286718-absolutely-dead-croma.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/314342-check-vehicle-security-system.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/279020-croma-ignition-imobolise-probelms.html

As its dead, its looking like its possibly the body computer and/or ignition module. B*ll*cks!

Decided to get the car into PowerItalia for them to check it over. Obviously it would need to be carried, and with it locked in park and steering lock engaged, it was needing to be lifted as well. This was arranged on the Wednesday of that week for the following Tuesday.

Over the weekend inbetween, I went to clear the car out of anything we may want while it was in the garage including the CDs. She had now sat there for a week in the bl**dy cold, but without thinking or remembering that I could just pop out the CDs, I put the keys in, "whur" goes the steering and with a little hesitation/slow cranking (as if battery is flat/failing) she starts! - No warning messages either. Took her for a drive, got back, parked her up, turned her off, removed the key. Tried her again after a couple of mins and she started again. Went for another drive and all seemed well

How come it had sat there dead as a dodo for 6 days and now wanted to play ball?

So, cancelled the tow truck and on the Tuesday drove her to work instead. Phoned PowerItalia and Roger agreed to plug her in and check for faults after work, which when I left the office she started, but the "Check Car Protection System" was back drove perfectly ok though.

PowerItalia found no errors - checked all elements on FiatECUScan/MultiECUScan

Drove home, "Check Car Protection System" on. Parked her and restarted - message gone. SDodgy Sensor? Battery??

I then had a good search and read of the forum with regards to warning messages in general and it became apparant that in many cases a battery change had rectified the related problem.

On checking mine (a UniBull 700) it was "only" an 80ah. Googling the actual model number of the battery I could find nothing other than that version being for sale in 2009.

So based on its age and the recommendations in the thread....
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma-ii/242368-battery-b-ggered.html

....i purchased a VARTA Silver Dynamic F18 (110) 85ah.

Not wanting to tempt fate, but since the VARTA was fitted (25th Feb) the messages have not only gone away and not returned, but the car has been remarkably better all round. Apart from the obvious starting being easier and more immediate, the idle is smoother, the pick-up is better and my MPG has increased without any change in driving style. Fingers crossed its sorted it.

Obviously, a new battery did not cure the same problem for the Guys whose threads I have linked to above, but I have pulled this together with those links so if anybody does get the same messaged/issues they can find a reference point in one thread. Hope that is of some help - although hope that nobody else has the same issue!

Bob

i had a very weird problem with my stilo 1.9jtd too, the battery died and i changed it for a bosch s5, bolted it in and then started up, no dash clocks, nothing dead as a dodo, left it overnight and has been fine ever since something to do with re-energising components i have read although i was a little worried, when the last battery started to fail, i had airbag failure, engine management and alarm failure, now new battery on its perfect and starts first crank and idles better too, it also turbed out my last battery was not powerful enough but now i have the correct battery onit.... amazing what a new battery can do

Hi,
I posted the second thread you listed, I mistakenly titled it "vehicle security system". I only had this VERY SIMILAR problem once and didn't have to replace battery. Coincidentally I'd also washed my car that day (lazy though through an arc car wash) but I don't think that was the problem. I ascertained after reading the manual (which is confusing) that it was to do with the anti wheel theft system, if you look up from the drivers seat to the roof (in between the front seats by the courtsey lights) there are 2 buttons with weird symbols, one is to do with the anti wheel theft system. Basically, from reading the manual, the car has a system whereby if it thinks the wheels are being stolen (really) the car won't start. If it's parked at an angle. e.g. in my instance with 1 wheel up a kerb this can cause the system to kick in. I had also applied the steering lock manually that day as I was still getting used to driving my Croma after a couple of months on crutches. I'd only had the car about a fortnight when I broke my ankle, the missus subsequently shunned her Panda for my Croma while I was disabled and she had no problems until that day I drove it!! I also manually released the steering lock with a bit of elbow grease (muscle) and not had any problems since! NB I never apply the steering lock since this problem. I'm now 6 months in to ownership and have been lucky only replacing Antil roll bar links and bushes, £21.95 off ebay and 1 hours labour by a mechanic friend. I accept it's a FIAT so is going to have odd problems but thankfully there's Fiat Forum to help us all keep our sanity!

The 2 buttons are to disable the extra alarm functions. Basically the alarm will go off if someone tries to jack up the car or smash a window. The buttons allow you to disable these functions so that, for example, you can set the alarm with a window open or if it needs to be towed somewhere.
The immobiliser works independently of these functions, but the alarm will sound if either of the above instances occur.