General Calling all start 'n' stop owners!

[nytullett23]

"Update on my long standing stop start problem - car restarts after 3-10 seconds

Car went into dealership to be seen by Fiat tec,, detailed log which i made of restart times, air temp, distance travelled etc etc given in.

Fiat tech ordered new battery sensor, (this will be second one, and car is on second battery)

Car returned while awaiting new sensor to be shipped, car battery was charged while in and for two weeks car performed just as it should. After two weeks back to random restarts or random activation.
Car dropped off to day for the new sensor to be fitted.

My car had two software updates and these did not fix my problem.

I will not settle for a system that is sold as a feature and fails to work.
I am just not convinced that another sensor will fix this problem, I feel a watchdog feature coming on."

Car collected after replacement sensor fitted, car operated 100% for the last 2 weeks, then back to random restarts!!!!!! Reported to dealership who will report back to FIAT.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi,
my 2013 Punto TA , has S/S ,
but it comes on VERY seldomly,

has switched off TWICE at the end of an hour-long high-speed journey,
only switched off ONCE in traffic, and re-started after 5/ 10 seconds,

the car has less than 400 miles on the clock, is it likely to improve , as things become less tight..??

Charlie

 

[jrkitching]

Nothing to do with the engine being tight. It may settle down once the battery is fully charged & the system learns the steady state battery parameters.

 

[Andy Monty]

Re: Re: Calling all start 'n' stop owners!

Hi,
my 2013 Punto TA , has S/S ,
but it comes on VERY seldomly,

has switched off TWICE at the end of an hour-long high-speed journey,
only switched off ONCE in traffic, and re-started after 5/ 10 seconds,

the car has less than 400 miles on the clock, is it likely to improve , as things become less tight..??

Charlie

The battery needs a good charge using a smart charger to recover it and give it a slow deep charge

 

[jrkitching]

The battery needs a good charge using a smart charger to recover it and give it a slow deep charge

Exactly. Remember also to let the battery stand for a couple of hours before refitting, to dissipate the surface charge. Why the dealers don't do this before releasing the car is beyond me.

 

[UFI]

Tip: If you don't want the car to restart automatically, put it in first gear after it stops. Has the added benefit of holding the car stationary. The MFD will ask you to 'press the clutch' when it detects a restart condition, but you can ignore it. Might not be ideal for the battery, but if the battery is good and you aren't drawing a high load it's a way to work around the sensors.

FWIW mine works perfectly, although it has <1000miles on it.

 

[RobinPJ]

I wonder if you can still specify no stop and start - I recall you could for a while at least when it became standard equipment.

I know that the S&S system should be capable of operating properly over the life of the car, but given the multiple problems still being reported on here and the possibility of long term problems and additional costs (particularly in more frequent battery replacement) I would seriously consider not having it on a new car, if I had the choice.

 

[UFI]

I know it won't be as effective in the UK, but I'll be adding a small solar panel over the parcel shelf to keep the battery topped up while parked. There's space for up to 10W on the shelf, which I figure is just about enough to keep the battery happy. UFI might get a flexible solar panel on his roof but that's another story.

 

[Mercky]

Pretty sure it's standard in the 500, at least the latest software allows you to permanently disable. It's poor marketing for Fiat to fit a system as standard that is contrary and unreliable. I'd say it has put potential customers off buying one.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I know it won't be as effective in the UK, but I'll be adding a small solar panel over the parcel shelf to keep the battery topped up while parked. There's space for up to 10W on the shelf, which I figure is just about enough to keep the battery happy. UFI might get a flexible solar panel on his roof but that's another story.

Don't forget it needs to be unplugged before starting the car to prevent damaging it, and you'll need to make it very secure or remove it before driving off to stop it from killing you and other occupants in a colission.

 

[UFI]

When I got my first solar charger I immediately opened it, plugged it in, drove around for the rest of the day, later I read the manual but it still works fine. But yes, the panel would be permanently mounted to the parcel shelf or possibly the roof spoiler. The flexible panels are only 3mm thick and very light. It'd be permanently wired in with a proper isolator/ regulator.

 

[varesecrazy]

The battery needs a good charge using a smart charger to recover it and give it a slow deep charge

thanks,
is that the same thing as an "Intelligent- charger" - the sort you can leave connected over extended periods ( winter),
I've got one of these..,
but in the Punto section there is mention of a PULSE charger..!!,
this I don't understand..??,
Charlie

 

[Andy Monty]

thanks,
is that the same thing as an "Intelligent- charger" - the sort you can leave connected over extended periods ( winter),
I've got one of these..,
but in the Punto section there is mention of a PULSE charger..!!,
this I don't understand..??,
Charlie

It depends on what the manufacturer means by intelligent


some do have a Pulse charge feature in the charge cycle some dont...

Without getting too technical the charger pulses the volts and ampage at a set rate to desulphate the lead plates


see here





then followed by a ramping charge rate

the exide website recomends a charge rate of 4a

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks,
I was vaguely aware if it's pulsing feature for de-sulphication purposes,
but it's all a bit "techy" for my 1980's FIAT brain,

I could see the logic of my S/S working after 2 hours down the motorway,
but should it really be that down on volts after my 50 minute x2 daily commute..??,

I'll get the dealer to charge it properly when the paintwork is restored next week,

thanks,
Charlie

 

[Andy Monty]

Thanks,
I was vaguely aware if it's pulsing feature for de-sulphication purposes,
but it's all a bit "techy" for my 1980's FIAT brain,

I could see the logic of my S/S working after 2 hours down the motorway,
but should it really be that down on volts after my 50 minute x2 daily commute..??,

I'll get the dealer to charge it properly when the paintwork is restored next week,

thanks,
Charlie

how old is the car? could be the battery is on its way out ss is the first thing to suffer


mine never worked right until i bit the bullet and bought a new battery i gave up on the dealership

 

[jrkitching]

how old is the car?

The battery could be shot even on a brand new car, if it's been left standing for months with a flattened battery.

 

[nytullett23]

The issue with the ss on the TA punto sounds the same as my problem, I have had two new batteries, and now three battery sensors. The car has been in and out 6 time now. The dealership have been very good, but hey tell me they now have three 500s with the random restart problem and are awaiting Fiat to fix the problem which they feel s software related.
My car has already had the latest software.
The strange thing is that the car works brilliantly for two weeks after collection each time, then plays up.
Does anyone have a postal address for Fiat head bod in the uk?

 

[jrkitching]

The dealership have been very good, but hey tell me they now have three 500s with the random restart problem and are awaiting Fiat to fix the problem which they feel s software related.
My car has already had the latest software.
The strange thing is that the car works brilliantly for two weeks after collection each time, then plays up.

What I'm struggling to understand is how it can be a software issue when some of the cars out there have worked perfectly for three years or more?

 

[Andy Monty]

The battery could be shot even on a brand new car, if it's been left standing for months with a flattened battery.

I think that was my issue it was a pre reg 6 months old when i got it with 20 miles on the clock....

 

[varesecrazy]

how old is the car? could be the battery is on its way out ss is the first thing to suffer


mine never worked right until i bit the bullet and bought a new battery i gave up on the dealership

could well be ... as it's a 2012 build , but only on the road for 10 days now,

I might give it a full charge myself - or get the dealership to charge it properly when the cars in the paint shop next week.