Ok everyone. Now I'm well into areas in which I have no confidence. Mrs Jock just came home from her afternoons swim and a wee bit of shopping. I went to meet her and carry the bags back into the house. As she's getting out of the car (Becky, our 2010 Panda) she said "what does this light mean - Oh, it's not on any more". Of course she'd turned the ignition off. I got her to sit in and turned it back to the running (mar) position to illuminate all the warning lights and she pointed to the little padlock (about 6.35 on the clock face). Far as I know this is to do with the key chip and ECU communicating to allow the inhibitor to cancel? She tells me that it was when leaving the supermarket she noticed it. The car started normally but she noticed it was on whilst sitting behind other cars waiting to join the main road. She couldn't say if it had been on since she started the engine in the parking space.

I've been reading the manual (the car still had it's owners pack in the glovebox) and I see it says if the light won't go out to take the car to a Fiat dealer! Not if I can help it! Would my fully paid for MES allow this problem to be sorted if it recurs in the future, or is it really a main dealer job?(I've since tried starting her a few times, just on the hard standing, and the light is behaving itself at present - haven't driven it since she came home about an hour ago though). I'm hoping this may just be a "one off" glitch especially as I would imagine if there really was an inhibitor fault then she just wouldn't have fired up at all?

Mind you, I was working on the Punto right beside her on the hard standing. Maybe she's just feeling neglected and is letting me know about it?

Nervously, yours.
Jock

PS The manual also talks about a "Code Card". I don't seem to have one. I have a vague memory of reading another post, quite some time ago, which said something about security concerns meant that UK supplied cars didn't have them? Anyone know if I should have one?

Pugglt Auld Jock said:

Ok everyone. Now I'm well into areas in which I have no confidence. Mrs Jock just came home from her afternoons swim and a wee bit of shopping. I went to meet her and carry the bags back into the house. As she's getting out of the car (Becky, our 2010 Panda) she said "what does this light mean - Oh, it's not on any more". Of course she'd turned the ignition off. I got her to sit in and turned it back to the running (mar) position to illuminate all the warning lights and she pointed to the little padlock (about 6.35 on the clock face). Far as I know this is to do with the key chip and ECU communicating to allow the inhibitor to cancel? She tells me that it was when leaving the supermarket she noticed it. The car started normally but she noticed it was on whilst sitting behind other cars waiting to join the main road. She couldn't say if it had been on since she started the engine in the parking space.

I've been reading the manual (the car still had it's owners pack in the glovebox) and I see it says if the light won't go out to take the car to a Fiat dealer! Not if I can help it! Would my fully paid for MES allow this problem to be sorted if it recurs in the future, or is it really a main dealer job?(I've since tried starting her a few times, just on the hard standing, and the light is behaving itself at present - haven't driven it since she came home about an hour ago though). I'm hoping this may just be a "one off" glitch especially as I would imagine if there really was an inhibitor fault then she just wouldn't have fired up at all?

Mind you, I was working on the Punto right beside her on the hard standing. Maybe she's just feeling neglected and is letting me know about it?

Nervously, yours.
Jock

Click to expand...

Hi,
Yes it indicates a "problem" with the security system. Often this is transient caused by a slow ecu response or noise. Turnin the ignition off an on again will often clear it (The Croma has a known problem where the Alarm battery fails and causes this warning. I just cycle the key evertime I start the car).
MES will tell you what the problem is, or at what the computers think it is.
Wait to see if it comes back.

Robert G8RPI.

I had this a couple of times on my 55 and 11 plate, switched off and on again problem solved. On 55 plate Was a year or more before it did it again switched off and on no more problems.
On 11 plate only did it once in 3 years, no further problems.
Id leave alone unless it happens often, never seemed to have any impact with an odd random one.

Thanks folks. I might just plug in MES and see if there's any stored info (DTC's) but otherwise I'll just leave it alone for now.

I remember having this once on a Fiat (can't recall model)

My initial steps were:

1) OPEN A DOOR AND KEEP IT OPEN
2) Ignition cycle and then see if all returns to normal
3) If 2) does not work then get car under cover, lower AT LEAST ONE window and leave a door open
4) Disconnect the battery and leave disconnected to 15 to 20 minutes to allow all units to drain any residual stored internal charge
5) Try again

All great advice.

The CODE CARD was NOT supplied on.later cars.. as it was often left in the glovebox.. so the engine could be started with no key present

Does 'mrs Jock' wait for the self.test to finish before cranking the engine.

I seem to recall having a similar experience on an occasion when I rushed it.

Daft thing is.. if it WAS 'Immobilised' it wouldnt have started..

I suspect it was just a split second where the features of recognition..acceptance ..cranking and light being extinguushed all coincided.

I wouldnt worry.

The CARD.. might be worth enquiring from a decent dealer.. cost of provision may vary wildly though..

Jut thought I'd do a wee catch up and let you all know that the padlock has not misbehaved again. Haven't had time yet to plug in the MES - I'll let you know, when I do, if anything is logged.

As varesecrazy says, it can get upset if the car is started too quickly.
When the key is turned to ignition on, the key is read and both engine and body ECUs have to accept and agree the key code. If the key is turned quickly through ign to start, the system gets upset and lights the warning. As you found, it still runs so there can be no problem with the key chip.
Proper procedure is to turn key, wait for fuel pump to stop whirring, by which time the self-test has completed, then turn to start.
It was just upset as it does not like to be rushed.

Thanks Bill. In fact Mrs J is better at doing that than me. She used to have awful trouble getting our old Cordoba 1.9tdi to start in winter. It was the type where you had to switch on the ignition and wait for the glow plug light to go out before trying to start. She was always in a rush back in those days so would try to start it too soon - if she succeeded - often after protracted cranking! - she was rewarded by a cloud of smoke which would engulf the car! After a while I managed to get her to understand what was needed and ever since then she has paused, whether needed or not, for about 30 to 45 secs after going to the "dash lights on" position before attempting to turn the engine over. So I was a little surprised she'd experienced the padlock light, Maybe she just didn't follow her usual routine?

It's made me more aware of just pausing momentarily before starting any of the cars, so it's been a good thing really.

Thank you all for your suggestions (S130 in particular - must remember that one) but also Charlie and everyone
stay safe, kind regards
Jock