Newbie needing advice…

[Reggit]

Hi all,
Jus been collared by the mother-in-law, as her car has decided to throw some warning lights and guess who’s job it now is to fix it…

Car is a fiat 500xl on a 2014 plate - that’s the reason I popped in here ?
Anyway current issues are, outside temperature reading -24C likely just a sensor, anyone know where this hides?
More importantly she’s got a ‘city brake’ malfunction warning. The sensor is clear, so something else…

I’m used to using make specific diagnostics, eg Vida (Volvo), VCDS (VAG group) I assume there’s a Fiat specific reader available, could someone point me in the right direction. I have an ELM327 bit these are fairly useless at reading anything other than generic engine management codes in my experience.

Ta.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Gendan.co.uk

Theres much of this ilk on here. Try disconnecting the battery for an hour or two. Give it a charge in this time and see if that helps. I have had odd things like this occur and disappear for no obvious reason.

Gendan multi ecu scan is Fiat based and does a good job on a lot of systems with the correct adapters needed for differing systems. People answer the phone and are friendly and helpful. They have a useful forum too.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi all,
I’m used to using make specific diagnostics, eg Vida (Volvo), VCDS (VAG group) I assume there’s a Fiat specific reader available, could someone point me in the right direction. I have an ELM327 bit these are fairly useless at reading anything other than generic engine management codes in my experience.

Ta.

Hi

Temp sensor is probably in the door mirror


Have a look at MultiECUScan.com its €50 for a full licence.. good value.. but you need a laptop

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi and welcome. I too have a fully registered version of Multiecuscan (MES as you'll often see it referred to here) and, as long as you have a laptop, it's very hard to think of a better purchase for the price. You can download the software for free and run it in simulate mode before committing to purchase the adaptor leads. It even gives limited free functions but you really need to buy the license to get anything like full functionality. It's very user friendly with lots of on screen prompts and DTC definitions. I found it easy to download the program but I did have some difficulty getting the computer, interface (I bought the multiiplexed version of MES as I was used to how VCDS works and the multiplexed version offers similar usability) and ECUs to "speak" to each other initially. However I'm old and not very intuitive with computer tech and it was mostly down to my ignorance of com port assignment and speeds etc. Lots of people on here have it so there's lots of help if you run into problems. I bought from Gendan and find they are very helpful with ongoing support. Even if you don't end up buying from them I would encourage you to give them a ring as they are not at all pushy saleswise and freely give advice and info - good people.

 

[Reggit]

Thank you, I’ll look into multiscan.
Won’t see her again until Saturday, so I’ll see if I can have something running to scan it then….

 

[WTBFIATPanda]

Hi all,
Jus been collared by the mother-in-law, as her car has decided to throw some warning lights and guess who’s job it now is to fix it…

Car is a fiat 500xl on a 2014 plate - that’s the reason I popped in here ��
Anyway current issues are, outside temperature reading -24C likely just a sensor, anyone know where this hides?
More importantly she’s got a ‘city brake’ malfunction warning. The sensor is clear, so something else…

I’m used to using make specific diagnostics, eg Vida (Volvo), VCDS (VAG group) I assume there’s a Fiat specific reader available, could someone point me in the right direction. I have an ELM327 bit these are fairly useless at reading anything other than generic engine management codes in my experience.

Ta.

Hey Reggit, Just a Fiat thing to note. The temperature sensor, which is likely in the mirror, is tied into the ECM so screwy readings may be affecting the running of your mother-in-law's Fiat. I'm not sure if its an easy sensor replacement or not. Good luck!

 

[Reggit]

Hmm,

Got chance to look at the car today. No diagnostics available as she doesn’t want to buy it…

However, the outside temperature is either missing from the display or shows —- C, I’ll probs just change the thermistor in the mirror housing.

The city brake thing is weird - dash displays ‘city brake system unavailable’ with the general warning triangle. However the option to turn it off/on isn’t present in the car settings menu, just as though the option isn’t fitted.
Now I get fed a little more information, when she last had it serviced there was some sort of warning message (oil level I think) so she took it back to the garage (back st general garage), the owner wasn’t around and his lad plugged it into the diagnostics machine (don’t know what) and didn’t seem to know what he was doing. She drove it away with menus she didn’t understand showing on the mfd panel. They cleared on the next start up.
I’m wondering if somehow some setting has been changed by the incompetent use of a diagnostic device - don’t know if that is possible on fiat?
Told her to take it back to let those that broke it, fix it…