Technical Non ISS battery root cause...??

[boofters]

Have I been dumb putting in a non ISS battery, as now get random hill holder, stop start and esc not available errors, limp mode requiring restart most days, some days not at all.
Or am I dreaming that a new battery will resolve, clutch rebuilt 20k ago which mechanic suggests is always the issue. Just had battery test and only 396 cca out of 600.

 

[bugsymike]

As you say "dumb" but not the first plus your battery sounds scrap any way 396/600 CCA.
Most of us including mechanics, unless we read up about it in a trade journal etc. would never have come across needing a "specific " battery to start a car. Having spoken to auto electrician regarding this, the batteries , starters and alternators are more expensive than their predessors and do not last any longer, all in the name of protecting the environment, but unless you live in the city, having a car that stops at every junction is a pain in the ar*e. as far as I am concerned.
It seems the drop in battery voltage due to incorrect battery type during cranking especially in colder weather can aggravate the problem.
Many on Forum have written re this issue, but as I understand it if you have Stop/Start function etc. then you must have the correct battery, also there is a procedure when changing those batteries which if not followed can cause similar problems even with the correct battery.
I am assuming the rest of your charging system is in perfect working order, as any low battery voltage can also cause further related problems.
So basically as I understand it, the correct battery, correctly fitted, assuming charging system all good is required , however you will also need a good diagnostic tool (many here use MES with success, I have used Snap On Zeus) to delete any system error codes and then perform "proxi alignment" to tell BCM etc. what is connected to the system.
One other side issue, many have related problems due to poor earthing, so it might be wise to check that also.

 

[boofters]

Thanks for your response....after reading the many posts on the dualogic issues I'm gonna have to take the battery out of scope of cayses I guess. Mechanic instantly defaulted to clutch is buggered....but for it to come and go like it does I'm not convinced

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks for your response....after reading the many posts on the dualogic issues I'm gonna have to take the battery out of scope of cayses I guess. Mechanic instantly defaulted to clutch is buggered....but for it to come and go like it does I'm not convinced

Whilst without me driving the vehicle I cannot say if your clutch is "bu**ered" I can't see that would give all the other symptoms.
Is the mechanic prepared to put in writing that if he fits a new clutch all issues will be resolved?
20K life expectancy for a rebuilt clutch seems pretty poor to me.

 

[AndyRKett]

Most of us including mechanics, unless we read up about it in a trade journal etc. would never have come across needing a "specific " battery to start a car.

Fiats with stop start only require the right battery be fitted.

A lot of newer cars need the battery to be Coded into the cars computers so the car knows how to use it and how to protect it from getting damaged. This requires the right software to go in and add all the parameters of the battery to the cars computers.

The fiat Stop start system is terrible compared to every other car or manufacturer with stop start. Fiat did a propper hack job and added in the late 2000s as an after thought

 

[bugsymike]

I was of course talking about when they first brought out Stop/Start system before it filtered down to non dealer franchise servicing, but since I had an account with good trade parts supplier for over forty years they would have only supplied the recommended battery for that model.

 

[boofters]

So I experimented by charging the battery...still the odd issue ..like hill holder warning and limp mode, but much rarer than it was . We get ripped off here in New Zealand where the battery is approx 260 pounds equivalent circa 500 nzd

 

[boofters]

So I experimented by charging the battery...still the odd issue ..like hill holder warning and limp mode, but much rarer than it was . We get ripped off here in New Zealand where the battery is approx 260 pounds equivalent circa 500 nzd

Finally succumbed to paying 440 NZD for new as per manual Varta N60....and has made no difference . Scan points to Throttle position....just add me to the list...boo hoo. Is the sensor possible to get to with a few tools or do I suck it up and go to mechanic...any positive words appreciated

 

[bugsymike]

That's a bu**er, personally I have the use of a Snap On Zeus Diagnostic tool which is pretty good, but many on the Fiat Forum use MES which is a Windows based diagnostic program and does involve getting the full version and the correct leads to suit, there is a MES section on Forum who can give more specialised advice regarding this .
Also there is a company called Genden Automotive Products online that you can see if suits your needs.

 

[boofters]

So finally took it to Italian auto for diagnostic, had so many error codes didn't know which to fix. So they cleared them all and told me to ring when it happens again. We'll that was 12 kms later going up a hill. So rang and went back and it was the throttle body .. replaced it in 30 mins with a secondhand one they had.. 500 nzd. Without wanting to jinx it , I think we got it. The learning here is start stop / hill holder errors are canaries in the coal mine . Thanks all for your responses, appreciate it.

 

[boofters]

Well this is worth an update , 2 weeks or so later same but different issue where the panda would go into N rather than limp. Leaving it for 1+ hours and it would go again for anywhere between 1 min and 10 hours of driving. So back I go. Left it with them as it couldn't be clutch specifically. Ended up b

 

[boofters]

So throttle body fixed the limp mode issue, but that then uncover the selespeed go to neutral whilst driving issue. So back we go to mechanic whom wanted to say clutch, but that made little sense, as leaving the car for an hour or 2 would resolve until the next time. They again solved it , as the cause was fluid leak around the solenoid, drain , clean and we are now running without fault !!