Technical Fiat 500, Start Stop limp mode and possible power steering issue ?

[dave512]

Hello

So I have a fiat 500 2013 model, 90,000 miles which is starting to have issues,

Randomly "start / stop unavailable" started popping up and the car went into limp mode, a few mins off then a restart and all was well, it seemed to happen when it was raining and the windscreen wipers were on. It went into the local garage who popped on an OBD tester and said there were dozens of faults, they cleared the faults but were suspicious that the main cars computer might be on the way out.

A month or two later, one rainy day the windscreen wipers packed up, and "start / stop unavailable" was there with limp mode. Back to the garage who diagnosed a burnt out windscreen wiper motor and replaced it. Also lost of codes on the OBD tester which they cleared.

And then ... its been perfect for a few months including a holiday to wales with lots of rain and miles, no issues at all, I thought it was fixed until this week ...

The old "start / stop unavailable came back, and limp mode. A restart fixed it, then yesterday it was started and the power steering was heavy and there was a symbol of a steering wheel lit up on the dash, a restart fixed it yet again. I bought a OBD reader but it keeps saying there are no fault found ???

Any ideas anyone ?

 

[jackwhoo]

Ground cable from battery to body then on to engine

 

[John202020]

I wonder what the code is that's causing limp mode?

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi @dave512 ,

Is this a 500 2 door or 500l mpv?

A good 1st point,
are the scuttle drains (Duckbills) clearing rainwater effectively

If things are NOT getting waterlogged.., a basic electrical issue is then a fair probability

So:
The Battery
The Ground Cable from the battery

Tailgate wiring (2 door especially)

 

[John202020]

Note a generic code reader won't work you need a laptop ,cable, and MES software to read the codes, some high end readers will work but not as comprehensively

 

[motornews]

Hi there same issue with evo 2014 1,3 tjet 110.000 KLM
Code P0110-11 air flow meter (change it but still).

 

[dave512]

Thank you for all your help everyone, its been in the garage and they checked the earth strap, was AOK but battery was at 40% capacity, they changed it and so far all is AOK ... but its early days