Technical ESC and Hill Holder unavailable!!!

[george2596]

Hi all,

Currently have a 2015 500s that is throwing up ESC unavailable and Hill Holder unavailable. Car drives absolutely fine however.

Interestingly plugged into the computer at my local Indy today showed torque sensor code. BUT power steering is absolutely fine. There are no issues with the power steering or indeed lack of power steering.

Codes were cleared and then about 3 hrs later the same warnings came back up.

Any ideas as to where to go from here? Has anyone has this same experience with regard to torque sensor coming up as a fault but still maintaining the power steering? I don’t even have the little red power steering icon come up or anything so I am majorly confused!!

Thanks all!!

 

[forzaf1]

Earth strap/and or battery needs replacing.

Final one is to replace the brake sensor which is located under the passenger side part of the dashboard.

 

[sawman]

I am getting a similar issue with our 2017 1.2. I have noticed that plugging a trickle charger in for a few hours seems to clear the faults, so I figured a new battery might be in order - but having swapped the battery at the weekend, the car was just the same today. It seems to be driving ok, although it seemed a bit hesitant a couple of times driving today.
May be earth straps? where would I find it (them)

 

[z rider]

From battery minus to chassis and from there to the gearbox. Think you have to take battery and its tray out to get there.

 

[sawman]

From battery minus to chassis and from there to the gearbox. Think you have to take battery and its tray out to get there.

cheers - found a youtube clip that shows it

 

[george2596]

Hi all,

So, codes were cleared and the car did one journey without the light on. Then the light came back on... deflated.

Whilst looking online, the two common faults/causes of this issue seems to be the battery or the brake light switch/sensor.

Brake light switch/sensor goes in as is the first cheapest option before battery or further diagnostics. Very simple to change (under passenger footwell and very clear to see).

After three small journeys with the light still on probably until the car recognised that the fault was no longer there, the light has gone off and has stayed off for 5 days now!! Car has been driven around 25 miles per day for the last 5 days so decent-ish trips!

Happy days for the car, and major happy days for my wallet!

Definitely try a brake switch change before anything else, especially from the financial aspect as I think they are £9 on Amazon, or £30 direct from Fiat.

 

[sawman]

Hi all,

So, codes were cleared and the car did one journey without the light on. Then the light came back on... deflated.

Whilst looking online, the two common faults/causes of this issue seems to be the battery or the brake light switch/sensor.

Brake light switch/sensor goes in as is the first cheapest option before battery or further diagnostics. Very simple to change (under passenger footwell and very clear to see).

After three small journeys with the light still on probably until the car recognised that the fault was no longer there, the light has gone off and has stayed off for 5 days now!! Car has been driven around 25 miles per day for the last 5 days so decent-ish trips!

Happy days for the car, and major happy days for my wallet!

Definitely try a brake switch change before anything else, especially from the financial aspect as I think they are £9 on Amazon, or £30 direct from Fiat.

I will fit a new earth strap today. Have looked at the brake light switch - the plunger seem to move when brake pedal pressed and the brake lights work. is the piston in the switch supposed to remain in contact then the plate when the brake pedal it pressed? or just move about 5mm and then lose contact like mine does?

 

[z rider]

When the plunger is out the switched contact is closed, so no further contact to pedal needed.

 

[sawman]

When the plunger is out the switched contact is closed, so no further contact to pedal needed.

Ace, thanks - kinda what I thought. So far the earth strap swap seems to be successful - fingers crossed

 

[sawman]

Hi all,

So, codes were cleared and the car did one journey without the light on. Then the light came back on... deflated.

Whilst looking online, the two common faults/causes of this issue seems to be the battery or the brake light switch/sensor.

Brake light switch/sensor goes in as is the first cheapest option before battery or further diagnostics. Very simple to change (under passenger footwell and very clear to see).

After three small journeys with the light still on probably until the car recognised that the fault was no longer there, the light has gone off and has stayed off for 5 days now!! Car has been driven around 25 miles per day for the last 5 days so decent-ish trips!

Happy days for the car, and major happy days for my wallet!

Definitely try a brake switch change before anything else, especially from the financial aspect as I think they are £9 on Amazon, or £30 direct from Fiat.

is it still fixed? my earth strap replacement lasted for 3 days, before the warning lights popped up again. i have swapped over the brake light switch today so will see how that goes!

 

[george2596]

is it still fixed? my earth strap replacement lasted for 3 days, before the warning lights popped up again. i have swapped over the brake light switch today so will see how that goes!

Touch wood x100000 it is still absolutely fine and no issues at all. Saved us a good few £‘s!!

 

[500dad]

is it still fixed? my earth strap replacement lasted for 3 days, before the warning lights popped up again. i have swapped over the brake light switch today so will see how that goes!

Was the switch the fix ?

 

[manikm303]

it seems to be from his comment...

so 30 mins ago i replaced my earth strap - i thought i was onto a winner after seeing the state of the old one.

ignition on, seemed ok, 2 mins down the road it happened, it seemed to co-incide with me braking - so im now off to GSF now to collect brake light switch - £20 ...

fingers crossed.

this is the earth strap i bought:

Quality 110 AMP 300mm Battery Lead Power Strap Earth Leisure Cable Lead - 16mm² | eBay UK

Relay Holders Bases. High Quality 110 Amp Rated Battery Lead Cable 16mm² 300mm in Length. Relay Holders and Bases. Power Strap Earth Leisure Cable Leads - 16mm². Copper conductor with PVC insulation. Heat Shrink.

www.ebay.co.uk

the one pictured below, is the original (i guess) fraying one i removed, but wasnt the issue in the end.....read on

 

[manikm303]

Seems to be fixed!
Just did a series of on and off ignition, lots of brake bumping and a few short test runs...no more errors.

part number number from GSF - https://www.gsfcarparts.com/int51642 - takes 30 seconds to fit, 60 if you're not rushing. (disconnect \ twist and remove)

(goes under the passenger footwell, NOT above the brake, that is a different FACET BRAKE SWITCH whatever that is.)

 

[manikm303]

update - its deffo fixed!

so for anyone in doubt, try the brake switch first, cheap and quick fix.

 

[Carpet]

Reviving this thread as it's the most recent one.

We've had this issue on a 2015 Fiat 500C. So far we've:
- changed the brake switch
- changed the earth strap
- charged the battery with a trickle charger

Still getting the error immediately.

With the trickle charger, the ODB reader is reading a voltage of 12.3v with the ignition off. A multimeter is reading about 12.6 at the battery.

I have checked the loom for the boot. It appears all okay and I don't think the convertible has the same issues as the coupe.

I'm now thinking I am going to have to fault find the circuit. I've found the electrical diagrams online. If I find a solution I'll update you all.

 

[manikm303]

There are two brake switches . Which one did you do

 

[Carpet]

There are two brake switches . Which one did you do

I could only find one.

My car is RHD, but there is a mechanical linkage to the original location in the left foot well. That is the one I changed.

 

[Carpet]

FYI I got it sorted.

I did have to get a mobile automotive electrician out. He had a snap-on diagnostic tool, which flagged it was the front off-side wheel speed sensor.

Very easy to replace once we knew which one it was.

ODB2 won't read the ABS system so you do need a special bit of kit.

 

[georgie1286]

update - its deffo fixed!

so for anyone in doubt, try the brake switch first, cheap and quick fix.

Sorry to jump on old post, hope you read this. I have just changed the brake light switch in car and the messages are still on dash. Did I need to do anything else for them to clear? Like drive it a few miles? Or should it be an instant clear? Thanks