General Calling all start 'n' stop owners!

[Tashab]

I'd only had my Fiat 500 twin air for 24 hours when the warning lights appeared. They keep going on and off. Took it to my dealer on Friday and he said it was from riding the clutch (which I know I do and am trying to stop!!).
They are aware of the problems though and are waiting to hear back from Fiat about a USB upgrade or something. That should sort the problem out apparently!!
Not impressed though!! Has anyone else been told this??
Many thanks

 

[ringspanner]

Well after having driven this car for 2 weeks now, been back to dealers to arrange getting it in to find out why "Stop & Start Unavailable", it started working this morning.
Was driving in heavy rain, so lights , rear wiper, front wiper and cd on.
So not a battery issue.
The only thing that I did different was to use some of the back roads and drive over a shed load of speed humps,,,,,maybe it knocked something back into play ????

Curious?.

 

[D4nny8oy]

You do know that Stop/Start won't be active, or will restart soon after stopping, while the battery is under a high electrical demand (eg, if the wipers are on high speed)?

 

[grimwau]

I have to say that I have been impressed by the start 'n' stop feature on the TwinAir. I thought I would probably always be selecting "off" to prevent any problems but it has been faultless.

I know D4nny8oy says that if there is a high voltage demand then it isn't available and that is the message that is shown on my display whilst engine is cold.

However, whether they have uprated the battery on the TwinAir or perhaps it doesn't need so much capacity to restart (low friction design) I have found that when I have covered a couple of miles and the engine is warm even if the headlights and music are on the stop 'n start works OK.

Perhaps I should repost this in my TwinAir thread as most of the comments I have made on there have been negative. :idea:

 

[xSianx]

I have a Punto Evo GP and have stop start on it. the last few weeks when my car has stopped I put my foot on the clutch to start it again it starts then beeps anmd flashes up ' press clutch' when my foot is already on the clutch...Do the 500's have this same problem? is it normal and ok?

 

[Snow Bengal]

I have spent most of today browsing through this enormous thread as purchased my 500c on wednesday and on saturday on a steep hill with lots of traffic the start stop deactivated with all warning lights displayed!! Fortunately I was aware of problems with start stop having browsed here before buying the car, thinking it wont happen to me!!!

Rang the dealership to be told that if you ride the clutch for longer than 10 secs on a hill this will happen and to keep driving it and the car will be fine and eventually the system will reset itself. Could anyone tell me how long I have to drive the car before the fault lights go out? Or is this a load of rubbish and I will have to take it back to garage to be reset?

 

[dutchess]

I get the same thing on my 1.2 lounge - ride the clutch too long and I get "Start Stop Unavailable" displayed on the dash and 2 of the warning lights come on.

For me the warning lights are reset immediately after I stop and start the car with the ignition key, which I normally do the next time I am stationary as the warning lights are kind of distracting.

 

[Zorrak]

Yup, same with me and always after I've reversed. Seems to defeat the object of having a start stop system if it spends most of the time disabled.

 

[mjsmke]

Yup, same with me and always after I've reversed. Seems to defeat the object of having a start stop system if it spends most of the time disabled.

If you read the manual it explains when and why it is not available at times. Parking is one example. Riding the clutch is another.

If it works while riding the clutch you might role back into another car.

Most of the posts in this thread are not problems. Its just down to the driver not reading the manual.

 

[mjsmke]

I have spent most of today browsing through this enormous thread as purchased my 500c on wednesday and on saturday on a steep hill with lots of traffic the start stop deactivated with all warning lights displayed!! Fortunately I was aware of problems with start stop having browsed here before buying the car, thinking it wont happen to me!!!

Rang the dealership to be told that if you ride the clutch for longer than 10 secs on a hill this will happen and to keep driving it and the car will be fine and eventually the system will reset itself. Could anyone tell me how long I have to drive the car before the fault lights go out? Or is this a load of rubbish and I will have to take it back to garage to be reset?

This is not a problem. On very steep hills it will not be available.

 

[rallycinq]

It is entirely possible that the software is different between Punto and 500 due to different parentage.

Cheers

D

 

[Snow Bengal]

went to garage to get reset as told that the 1.2 engine will reset itself but my 1.4 would need manual resetting!! Its been fine since. I also asked about the tray under the passenger seat as I didnt appear to have one, amazingly he pulled bottom seat cushion up and there it was. Was it just me or are there others out there who didnt know it was there?

 

[D4nny8oy]

I suspect some may have found it themselves using the helpful information found in their Owners Manual. Saves a trip to the Dealership.

 

[fifi77]

I'd been driving very happily using the Start Stop system for the past couple of weeks, then I let my other half drive the car for the first time a couple of days ago & now the system won't work at all. There have been no warning lights, it's simply stopped working. Anyone got any idea what he's done?

 

[privatepyle11]

I also have the problem the car will every now and then pop up with a warning triangle light and also the stop start light. If I stop the car and turn the ignition key to start the car again then the lights go away. What is the best way to fix this is it call the fiat number in the manual or visit my nearest fiat dealership?

 

[Elcho]

Hi All, new to the forum, I too have this problem and I was also told it is because I ride the clutch and it reset's after so many cycles etc etc.. didn't think my driving was that bad tbh, lol. Had my Fiat 500 in PINK for a year and thanks to this forum just found the hidden parcel shelf under the passenger seat. So thanks for that.

 

[jrkitching]

Had my Fiat 500 in PINK for a year and thanks to this forum just found the hidden parcel shelf under the passenger seat.

Now that you have found it, did you know that you can remove it for cleaning?

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/263882-handy-hints-underseat-storage.html

 

[grimwau]

thanks to this forum just found the hidden parcel shelf under the passenger seat. So thanks for that.

Have you found them both?

There is a hidden compartment above the parcel shelf and the hidden storage area under the passenger seat.

 

[cockerhoop]

hi had our 1.2 500 lounge for 10 days now, wife uses it mainly
she has said SS not available light is now on constantly despite only having blower on 1 setting
she is only short and sits well forward, maybe she is a clutch rider (hate to have to break it to her its her driving, no knooky for weeks would be outcome!!!)
what should i do to correct it before contacting dealer, as its a 60 country mile round trip to them

 

[TheRealCornBeef]

Our 500 is now 14mths old and they still can't get stop/start to work properly. The main dealer Arnold Clarke, Grangemouth are now blaming us saying it's the way we drive it. It is currently in the 'garage' and yesterday they called to say they found 4 faults, today it is now 'we dont use the car enough'. We know all about the 'holding on biting point' and putting clutch right down to floor. It's had an array of new sensors fitted and a new battery. We now drive around with only the radio on so as not stress the poor electrical system. I am currently trying to establish whether the correct alternator has been fitted. Fiat are being very cagey about this so I am having to phone different dealers, so that I can check our one. Our main problem is the continual 'stop start unavailable':bang: we have had it come on whilst cruising on the motorway having done 30 miles and it just popped up.Last time it was in the garage in April it didnt help that they scratched the rear quarter and chipped the drivers door. Here's a thought put a higher output alternator on to compensate. We are raging with way we are being treated over this, Fiat need to get these early cars sorted and fast and take ownership of the issues