Technical Panda Start Stop Fix

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Technical Panda Start Stop Fix

Dunturin

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Jan 11, 2014
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The start stop on my TA Lounge has not been working for the last month or so and I was scratching my head as to a possible fix. Anyways I had a look in the handbook and noticed that there was a battery sensor fuse located inside the bonnet fusebox at position F90. So I pulled out the afore mentioned fuse to examine it only to see the fuse wire inside was still intact - bah!

However since putting the fuse back in - my start stop has started working again - quite bizarre! Anyway it might be worth you trying this fix if you have exhausted all other possibilities - good luck ?
 
The start stop on my TA Lounge has not been working for the last month or so and I was scratching my head as to a possible fix. Anyways I had a look in the handbook and noticed that there was a battery sensor fuse located inside the bonnet fusebox at position F90. So I pulled out the afore mentioned fuse to examine it only to see the fuse wire inside was still intact - bah!

However since putting the fuse back in - my start stop has started working again - quite bizarre! Anyway it might be worth you trying this fix if you have exhausted all other possibilities - good luck ?


Interesting, might have reset the SS module.
 
ever since they fitted the new battery, with just one hiccup soon after, my car has been good as gold. I'm stop-starting with the climate control on full blast, lights on and the radio playing and it is doing just what it is supposed to. My garage did say they had problems with the earth step from the battery on some cars as these can corrode and limit the current they will supply. Though i'm not quite sure why this would not interfere with normal starting as well...

anyhow, if it happens again, i will try this suggestion with the fuse as well!
 
My stop start has been a bit choosy since I got the car. I've run my 62 plate panda for 43K now. At first it was selective at best and the gear change notifications virtually never told me to shift down. Then it had a firmware update and the change notifications returned to normal. Stop start was better too. About two months ago, my clutch felt weird first thing in the morning and for a few hours driving. After getting back in the car i realised that the clutch pedal travel was shorter than usual so I lifted the pedal with my toe. After that, it returned to normal.

Two days ago, there was a crack sound when I depressed the clutch, after which the stop start didn't work at all. The next day, the yellow triangle of doom appeared, and I have no shift indicators or stop start. I hooked it up to the computer and there's a clutch switch error. The switch is showing the clutch as pressed permanently.
 
The plastic clutch sensor under the clutch pedal on my twinair looks extremely fragile and it doesn't surprise me that yours has creamed in after 40k - hopefully cos it is so cheap and nasty a replacement one will not cost much- lol
 
I've been away on holiday for the last 10 days , so during that time my panda has been at J&J motors Bridgend for diagnosis and repair of my stop start. If you don't know my car 20% of the time refuses to start on depressing the clutch after a stop situation. I then have to resort to turning the key all the way off and back on again.

I called them and it looks like they have made progress. He read the list of stuff done including replacement of a corroded voltage sensor and software update of the ecu and software update of the bcm.

These last software updates were and weren't a surprise. My car has been into the supplying dealer griffin mill around 5 times now over the last 18 months to get this problem sorted. Each time it is returned to me with the statement 'no fault found' very frustrating for me as the fault rears it's head every single day.

The last time griffin Mill had the car (around 6 weeks ago) I specifically asked if they had checked for software updates as Triumph7 (I think it was) had some success with a software update on his car. The answer was my car was at the highest software level already which I found rather strange as my car was one of the 1st 4x4's around.

I haven't collected the car yet , but am very hopeful that J&J motors have solved the problem.
If they have I'll be writing in complaint to griffin mill who have had multiple oportunities to resolve this issue.

I'll update once I've had the car back.
 
I've been away on holiday for the last 10 days , so during that time my panda has been at J&J motors Bridgend for diagnosis and repair of my stop start. If you don't know my car 20% of the time refuses to start on depressing the clutch after a stop situation. I then have to resort to turning the key all the way off and back on again.

I called them and it looks like they have made progress. He read the list of stuff done including replacement of a corroded voltage sensor and software update of the ecu and software update of the bcm.

These last software updates were and weren't a surprise. My car has been into the supplying dealer griffin mill around 5 times now over the last 18 months to get this problem sorted. Each time it is returned to me with the statement 'no fault found' very frustrating for me as the fault rears it's head every single day.

The last time griffin Mill had the car (around 6 weeks ago) I specifically asked if they had checked for software updates as Triumph7 (I think it was) had some success with a software update on his car. The answer was my car was at the highest software level already which I found rather strange as my car was one of the 1st 4x4's around.

I haven't collected the car yet , but am very hopeful that J&J motors have solved the problem.
If they have I'll be writing in complaint to griffin mill who have had multiple oportunities to resolve this issue.

I'll update once I've had the car back.


I hope you have some luck with this issue. I've not said much on here recently as I didn't want to give false hope but after all the effort I went to with my local dealer to get the dashboard rattle sorted and start stop not starting both issues seem to be more or less sorted. The dash hasn't rattled since (so that's a couple of months) and no new rattles have started (wow what a difference it makes) and they also did a firmware update and it has definitely changed the start stop behaviour. Now occasionally is it doesn't restart, we're previously I'd have then had to switch off and on again (like you) the car retries to start a 2nd time. This seems to work most of the time now and I haven't had to resort to switching the ignition off and on again.

Since these have been sorted in much happier with the car. I was like another member and ready to just P/X it for another car. It still has an exhaust rattle at times but I can live with that as it generally goes once it's warmed up and the rear has a rattle at times from behind some plastic trim.

Overall, much improved, just a shame it's about 18 months old now and took a hell of a lot of complaining to get the dealer to do what was necessary to fix it.

Fingers crossed for you.
 
I've been away on holiday for the last 10 days , so during that time my panda has been at J&J motors Bridgend for diagnosis and repair of my stop start. If you don't know my car 20% of the time refuses to start on depressing the clutch after a stop situation. I then have to resort to turning the key all the way off and back on again.

I called them and it looks like they have made progress. He read the list of stuff done including replacement of a corroded voltage sensor and software update of the ecu and software update of the bcm.

These last software updates were and weren't a surprise. My car has been into the supplying dealer griffin mill around 5 times now over the last 18 months to get this problem sorted. Each time it is returned to me with the statement 'no fault found' very frustrating for me as the fault rears it's head every single day.

The last time griffin Mill had the car (around 6 weeks ago) I specifically asked if they had checked for software updates as Triumph7 (I think it was) had some success with a software update on his car. The answer was my car was at the highest software level already which I found rather strange as my car was one of the 1st 4x4's around.

I haven't collected the car yet , but am very hopeful that J&J motors have solved the problem.
If they have I'll be writing in complaint to griffin mill who have had multiple oportunities to resolve this issue.

I'll update once I've had the car back.

Pardon my ignorance but what is bcm? Lol
Also my start/stop has been fine since it had a fix and new battery after 3 month on the road. Mind u mileage is only 7500 after 14 months....
 
My stop start has been a bit choosy since I got the car. I've run my 62 plate panda for 43K now. At first it was selective at best and the gear change notifications virtually never told me to shift down. Then it had a firmware update and the change notifications returned to normal. Stop start was better too. About two months ago, my clutch felt weird first thing in the morning and for a few hours driving. After getting back in the car i realised that the clutch pedal travel was shorter than usual so I lifted the pedal with my toe. After that, it returned to normal.

Two days ago, there was a crack sound when I depressed the clutch, after which the stop start didn't work at all. The next day, the yellow triangle of doom appeared, and I have no shift indicators or stop start. I hooked it up to the computer and there's a clutch switch error. The switch is showing the clutch as pressed permanently.

I had that funny feeling clutch once about 6 months ago and lifted it with my foot just as you describe...very odd. Wonder what it is/was....
 
I had that funny feeling clutch once about 6 months ago and lifted it with my foot just as you describe...very odd. Wonder what it is/was....
No idea. I just assumed it was air in the system or something. Lol. To answer a question from further up, a bcm is a body control module. It's just another computer to mess up and annoy you! They control various functions around the car like lights, wipers, all kinds of other goodies.
 
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Pardon my ignorance but what is bcm? Lol
Also my start/stop has been fine since it had a fix and new battery after 3 month on the road. Mind u mileage is only 7500 after 14 months....

BCM is the Biggest Club in Majorca. Magaluf baby!!!

Haha.:p

With regards to cars is Body Control Module. An ecu kind of thing that takes care of certain systems like electric windows, central locking , stop/start for instance.
 
I hope you have some luck with this issue. I've not said much on here recently as I didn't want to give false hope but after all the effort I went to with my local dealer to get the dashboard rattle sorted and start stop not starting both issues seem to be more or less sorted. The dash hasn't rattled since (so that's a couple of months) and no new rattles have started (wow what a difference it makes) and they also did a firmware update and it has definitely changed the start stop behaviour. Now occasionally is it doesn't restart, we're previously I'd have then had to switch off and on again (like you) the car retries to start a 2nd time. This seems to work most of the time now and I haven't had to resort to switching the ignition off and on again.

Since these have been sorted in much happier with the car. I was like another member and ready to just P/X it for another car. It still has an exhaust rattle at times but I can live with that as it generally goes once it's warmed up and the rear has a rattle at times from behind some plastic trim.

Overall, much improved, just a shame it's about 18 months old now and took a hell of a lot of complaining to get the dealer to do what was necessary to fix it.

Fingers crossed for you.

It's all come a little too late for me now.
I picked up my Nissan leaf on Friday. Just typing this as it gets a rapid charge in welcome break services on the M4 Bridgend.

If the car had been working perfectly over the last few months then I wouldn't have thrown my toys out of the pram with Fiat and I still would have been in the fiat this morning
 
It's all come a little too late for me now.

I picked up my Nissan leaf on Friday. Just typing this as it gets a rapid charge in welcome break services on the M4 Bridgend.



If the car had been working perfectly over the last few months then I wouldn't have thrown my toys out of the pram with Fiat and I still would have been in the fiat this morning


I don't blame you giving up. Hope the leaf works out, I don't blame you going down that path. I myself keep thinking if it would be an option as we can now charge them for free at work and I would have a 74 mile round trip each day.

At the moment I cannot really justify it though.

Hope you'll still be around the forum from time to time.
 
My concern with the electric cars is simply this. I bought a new mobile phone six months ago and it mo longer holds anywhere near its full charge. This is down to the fact that no rechargeable battery has the ability to be recharged without losing some of its capacity over time. As for my phone, I will simply spend about a tenner on a replacement battery from China. What would you do with a par that has loads of batteries built in? Imagine the cost!
 
My concern with the electric cars is simply this. I bought a new mobile phone six months ago and it mo longer holds anywhere near its full charge. This is down to the fact that no rechargeable battery has the ability to be recharged without losing some of its capacity over time. As for my phone, I will simply spend about a tenner on a replacement battery from China. What would you do with a par that has loads of batteries built in? Imagine the cost!

Yes, it's inevitable that the batteries degrade. It's not as bad as your phone though. The manufacturers are giving at least 5 years capacity warranty, some of them are giving 8 years so the worries are put aside for at least that long.


At the moment, nissan in the USA are offering replacement batteries at $5000. A few have been changed under warranty as some localities are so hot the batteries have prematurely aged. Nissan have developed their 'lizard' batteries to cope better with the heat.


I think that electric has a way to go yet to get the capacities we all want, and once we get reasonably priced cars that'll do 500 miles on a charge, then losing 25% of that after 10 years won't be so bad.
you'd be infinitely better off leasing or pcp-ing any of the available models today IMO. It's the only way to safeguard yourself against major financial losses if as yet unkown problems develop.
That's what I've done. I have zero intention of paying the gfv in 2 years time.
In fact, Nissan have ballsed right up and I reckon they'll be £3k the wrong way when the time comes, especially if the predicted 200 mile range model is out by then. Won't be my problem though. :)


To get back on topic and sorry for going so far off, I collected my panda earlier.
The word was there is a voltage sensor on the positive battery cable. The battery was tested on the bench, showing full charge and full capacity.
Testing the battery the other side of the cable was intermittently showing full charge, but only 50% capacity. The removed the offending sensor and found it corroded. Cleaned and replace, showing the same as the bench tested battery.
Updated the software as previous post mentioned.

They also replaced my leather gear knob as it was peeling after the recent hot weather.

Whilst I was there, I asked how much for my almost due 18k service, £189 all in. Bargain!

So top marks for J&J motors! :)
 
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Okay, so I can add to my earlier post. Went to my local fiat dealer to have the clutch pedal checked. There's a large switch assembly broken off the pedal. Apparently more common on the 500 , but affecting the panda too. They'll sort under warranty, but apparently it's an awkward job which requires the whole clutch pedal to be changed, an requires about 4 hands to do. I wonder if they'll look at the annoying dash rattle above the radio, and the knock on the rear end too?? Lol
 
I had a problem with my TA. Checked the battery and that was not at the specified charge—it read 12.3V, so I bought a CTEK mxs 5.0 charger. Got the charge back to a healthy 13.6V. Still no joy with the stop/start. I then tried your suggestion with the fuse and bingo! It worked—stop/start works all the time now maybe a bit too much :)

Thanks!
 
Just to update my stop/start.

It never works anymore. I too have the ctek charger, and when I do charge the battery it will work. It still performs the same as it has from new though, as in it occasionally will not start again after a stop.

I've totally given up on attempting a resolution now as the car is out of manufacturers warranty, and any diagnosis fees now apply.
A waste of money in my book.

I just don't bother charging the battery anymore and treat the car as if stop/start is not fitted.
To be honest, for my typical driving, I'd be surprised if a working system would save me £10 a year anyway?
If the only thing stop/start has done for me is to keep my car one group lower in the car tax groupings, then I'll take that and forget the rest.
 
The start stop on my TA Lounge has not been working for the last month or so and I was scratching my head as to a possible fix. Anyways I had a look in the handbook and noticed that there was a battery sensor fuse located inside the bonnet fusebox at position F90. So I pulled out the afore mentioned fuse to examine it only to see the fuse wire inside was still intact - bah!

However since putting the fuse back in - my start stop has started working again - quite bizarre! Anyway it might be worth you trying this fix if you have exhausted all other possibilities - good luck ?
Thanks for that tip! My Panda 4x4 suddenly developed an identical problem. I rarely use the stop/start but always `exercise' it at least once a month. This month no joy. I removed the F90 fuse - what a b****** to get at - removed the relay above it to make matters easier. Fuse was OK so replaced it, or rather replaced it with another as the original dropped when I was replacing it and fell into the 4x4 sump guard/under tray! Next journey out stop/start worked properly in all its phases. Many thanks for this piece of advice. Its worth trying all you good folks with stop/start problems.
 
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