Technical Error mesages urgent help

[jamesant]

Hi need a bit of advice my father has a 03 stilo but keeps getting error messages when he starts the car it is a list like ESP fail ABS fail and a few more it says to turn off engine and start again when he does somethimes it runs fine but somtimes it can take 4 or 5 atempts this is every day now. He took it to his local fiat a few weeks ago who said to carry on and see what happens I think this a cop out as his warrenty will run out soon and then knowing the problems i have had myself with them other my new ullysse they will fob him off. Is it a body computer on its last legs and has anyone had this problem with theirs. Hope you can help as going to book it back in and would be helpful if I could go armed with some information.
james

 

[Deckchair5]

Any bets it's the battery starting to fail? I've had the ABS warnings too when i haven't started the car for over a week ie with a weaker battery then after it's been started and the battery is charged up everything is fine.

I would guess the ASR system wants a nice fat 12 volts when it's on start up system check and with any less it goes into a sulk

People have found an uprated car battery seems to cure a lot of spurious start up warnings.

Others say pausing turning the key at the ignition setting whilst the systems checks carry out their stuff with full battery voltage before going on to start the car prevents wrong system failure warning lights which is logical but i can't verify that

Battery performance often fades after 2 years depending on use

If you only start the car now and again and only do short trips then it's death for a battery (and engine). Like your own heart, a battery needs to be fed (charged up fully) and worked every day for a long life

 

[NumanR]

There is an ecu upgrade for a similar fault, get the dealer to check service news. This is not applicable to all models so it needs to be checked.

 

[ostell]

Had this on my 03 JTD from new. Also told to wait and see what happened. No errors in log (hence don't know what to fix). Still have the problem. Have had brake problems for over a year, suspect abs/ ebd unit (and the tyre wear problem still unfixed) and other problems. Just out of 2 year warranty and garage told to come up with a plan in 3 weeks to fix all outstanding problems. Next call solicitor!!