Technical 2015 500 1.2 - ESC & Hill Hold warnings & no power steering

[AC43]

Hi All, I couldn't find a way to search just this part of the forum, sorry, but I went out this morning, fired up my wife's 2015 1.2 Lounge and saw the messages that ESC & Hill Hold were unavailable. Then I found that the power steering was also kaput.

Hoping that this in some sort of simple sensor problem or a bad earth rather than a failure of the steering column/PAS.

Anyone seen this issues?

 

[porta]

Yes, daughters panda cross diesel, just on hill holder, its intermittent at the moment but not even coming up with an error code but ‘the guy in the know’ thinks it’s a sensor error, but it’s a ‘let it develop’. At the same time ECS and ABS came on for a full hour, but that’s after a lot of slip/sliding on the farm, once it cooled it’s not returned.
As for power steering, it’s nearly always a battery fault initially but can develop into replacement…I haven’t come across all faults at once

 

[jrkitching]

a bad earth

Fortunately this, and a failing battery, are the two most likely causes.

 

[AC43]

Yes, daughters panda cross diesel, just on hill holder, its intermittent at the moment but not even coming up with an error code but ‘the guy in the know’ thinks it’s a sensor error, but it’s a ‘let it develop’. At the same time ECS and ABS came on for a full hour, but that’s after a lot of slip/sliding on the farm, once it cooled it’s not returned.
As for power steering, it’s nearly always a battery fault initially but can develop into replacement…I haven’t come across all faults at once

Thanks P.

FWIW it happened when the dash temp was reading -5 (actual temp was -3).

I went out a few mins ago (it's now +3) and the error messages have gone and the PAS is working again.

 

[AC43]

Fortunately this, and a failing battery, are the two most likely causes.

Thanks JR. All back to normal now, happily. Just won't be able to rely on it over the next few mornings.

Luckily, where I am in London, it rarely gets much below freezing.

I'll have a look at the battery - can't remember if it's the one that came with the car or not.

I'll keep an eye out for a recurrence; if it is a poor earth, it'll probably deteriorate over time.

 

[porta]

If that’s the original battery that’s good going, daughters had two replacements (2010 panda cross) I’ve had one (2019 cross) wife’s had two (renegade trailhawk with 2l Fiat diesel)…it’s either all the electronics and stop start systems or batteries are getting worse (don’t buy rubbish batteries)

 

[AC43]

Took my daughter to the tube in my Merc this morning, as a precaution. Came back and fired up the 500 and it did the same thing. It's not quite as cold - around 0 - but same failure on ESC/HH/ePAS.

I might get the AA round later to run a test on the battery to see it that's the culprit.

 

[jrkitching]

If the car stll has its orignal battery (the manufacturing date will be on it somewhere), and you want peace of mind that the car will be reliable, just replace it.

 

[AC43]

If the car stll has its orignal battery (the manufacturing date will be on it somewhere), and you want peace of mind that the car will be reliable, just replace it.

Yeah I'll have a shufti.

Having had a string of Mercs with a billions of electrical systems and sensors, I'm familiar with the pain of a failing battery.

 

[John202020]

Thanks P.

FWIW it happened when the dash temp was reading -5 (actual temp was -3).

I went out a few mins ago (it's now +3) and the error messages have gone and the PAS is working again.

My dad started his car with electric pas, headlights lights on fogs on heated seats on rear screen on pas light on, went off on way home it was simply the large load when freezing and a stupidly small battery 45ah in a Honda Accord auto.

 

[AC43]

Stuck a new battery in, no joy.

Need to get it into the local garage.

 

[AC43]

.......but working fine today. In which case the problem may well have been the old one's inability to hold its charge.

Hope so because my Merc's like a chocolate teapot in the snow.

 

[AC43]

It's working! Happy days. Needed it today as my Merc is beached.

 

[AC43]

I spoke too soon. It's borked again.

Still, I managed to find a grit bin yesterday and was able to grit my own street (gee, thanks Brent council....) so my wife could get the Merc out this morning and get to the food bank where she volunteers.

Right now the little Fiat is not at all popular with me. I hate intermittent electrical faults and the time/cost needed to chase them down.

Hugely busy at work trying to close off year end business and really CBA with the hassle of a car playing up.

Probably the only time in four years when I've NEEDED a FWD car and the little ******* refuses to play.

Grr.......

 

[porta]

Has the battery gone flat or is it just not engaging starter?
It wouldn’t be the first time that a new battery is faulty
So now ‘we’ have to eliminate that the alternator is charging
That the leads are all ok, positive and Earth leads and
There’s not an ignition fault
If you haven’t the time, and it can be a ‘pita’ fault finding, then the only options are: your breakdown company; a car sparky (many are mobile); a reputable service agent; main dealer or independent Fiat specialist

 

[AC43]

Has the battery gone flat or is it just not engaging starter?
It wouldn’t be the first time that a new battery is faulty
So now ‘we’ have to eliminate that the alternator is charging
That the leads are all ok, positive and Earth leads and
There’s not an ignition fault
If you haven’t the time, and it can be a ‘pita’ fault finding, then the only options are: your breakdown company; a car sparky (many are mobile); a reputable service agent; main dealer or independent Fiat specialist

It starts but the ASR warning comes up and when that happens the (electric) power steering doesn't work.

If I can find the time I'll get the AA to come out and trailer it in to the local garage. Or I might wait until it's warmer and drive it there myself.

Right now I'm just too busy.

So I have to let my wife use my precious Merc which is not ideal in the current conditions to say the least.

Last year I got hit by a pretty huge bill to sort the dodgy clutch hydraulics, now I've got this.

I'm not used to this level of hassle on what's still quite a new car (2015) on 20k miles.

Having said that, I suspect electrical glitches are quite common on newer, more complex cars so it's not just a Fiat thing.

 

[John202020]

Has the car got a new earth strap ?

 

[chris3234]

It starts but the ASR warning comes up and when that happens the (electric) power steering doesn't work.

If I can find the time I'll get the AA to come out and trailer it in to the local garage. Or I might wait until it's warmer and drive it there myself.

Right now I'm just too busy.

So I have to let my wife use my precious Merc which is not ideal in the current conditions to say the least.

Last year I got hit by a pretty huge bill to sort the dodgy clutch hydraulics, now I've got this.

I'm not used to this level of hassle on what's still quite a new car (2015) on 20k miles.

Having said that, I suspect electrical glitches are quite common on newer, more complex cars so it's not just a Fiat thing.

To be fair 2015 really isn't that modern now it's 7 year's and and if it's only has 20k it's spent a lot of time sat around



Was was the new battery thats been fitted?

Is it the correct type and capacity and and good brand not something like Lion?

 

[AC43]

Has the car got a new earth strap ?

Nope.

 

[AC43]

To be fair 2015 really isn't that modern now it's 7 year's and and if it's only has 20k it's spent a lot of time sat around



Was was the new battery thats been fitted?

Is it the correct type and capacity and and good brand not something like Lion?

It's not a "modern" car, the design's been around for a long time but I don't think its old at all at seven years. It gets used most days and does 2k a year. I had a Clio before that lasted until it was 20 without many major issues until the very end. Similar miles pa/usage.

Anyway, the new battery is a Halfords one, higher spec than the Mopar one that was in it. Maybe they resell rubbish brands? Hope not.

Anyway, much of this is my fault for not getting a proper diagnosis in the first place.

I'll stop moaning and find the time to get it sorted.