Technical P00016 Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge

[jobo24]

Hello!

Our Fiat 500 has had a P00016 error code. Two garages have looked at it…both have given up on it as they think it’s the ECU as the timing seems to be fine.

The car went into limp mode and then struggled to start, so we put in a new battery as it was old and changed the camshaft sensor (RAC recommended we try this)

The last garage said it’s better to give up than get the ECU changed because of the cost but reading other forums, maybe it is the timing is out very slightly. Does anyone have any advice on what we can try next? We only bought it in August 23!

The last mechanic got the code to clear, drove it around to get it warmed up then left it to cool. The code came back on when it started after it was cold again. He said he could get no data from it. He cleared out the oil filter (we had to put 2l of oil into it when it first broke down as it was very low) When the car drives, it feels much better than when it first died but got this check engine warning light and threat of it going into limp mode! We are now stuck not knowing what to do next.

Thanks for your help!

 

[steveras57]

If you or someone else yo know has MULTI ECU SCAN software it might be worth trying the PHONIC WHEEL RELEARN procedure to see if you can get the sensors to sync up!

 

[John202020]

Has the car had a timing belt change ?
You need the codes read using the correct MES fiat software very possibly one tooth out on the cam

Our car needs a new cam belt as its now (7 years old!) makes me feel I should get Fiat to do the job as so many places get it wrong

 

[jobo24]

Has the car had a timing belt change ?
You need the codes read using the correct MES fiat software very possibly one tooth out on the cam

Our car needs a new cam belt as its now (7 years old!) makes me feel I should get Fiat to do the job as so many places get it wrong

Yes it did at about 59k and now it’s at 89k. Can it just suddenly slip out of place? The last mechanic was very good and he was adamant it wasn’t a timing issue

 

[jobo24]

If you or someone else yo know has MULTI ECU SCAN software it might be worth trying the PHONIC WHEEL RELEARN procedure to see if you can get the sensors to sync up!

Thank you! I’ll look into this.

 

[John202020]

Odd question, does/did the car drive normally round town, is it on the dual carriageway that things go wrong?

 

[jobo24]

Odd question, does/did the car drive normally round town, is it on the dual carriageway that things go wrong?

It’s been absolutely fine until it got a low battery so had to really rev it to start it, then it went into limp mode driving at about 45-50mph. We then discovered oil was low and it was very shuddery and rev’s kept going up and down on their own. Since the two garages have looked at it, this shuddering has stopped and it starts well as we changed the battery. It’s just the check engine and limp mode problem to sort out now. Thanks for your help!

 

[jobo24]

It’s been absolutely fine until it got a low battery so had to really rev it to start it, then it went into limp mode driving at about 45-50mph. We then discovered oil was low and it was very shuddery and rev’s kept going up and down on their own. Since the two garages have looked at it, this shuddering has stopped and it starts well as we changed the battery. It’s just the check engine and limp mode problem to sort out now. Thanks for your help!

It drove very well until this happened.

 

[steveras57]

It drove very well until this happened.

Also have you checked the main battery earthing strap!

 

[jrkitching]

I doubt this is an ECU problem.

We only bought it in August 23

How many miles has it done since then?

And how often have you checked the oil on the dipstick since you bought it?

He cleared out the oil filter (we had to put 2l of oil into it when it first broke down as it was very low)

I think this may be pointing toward what's wrong.

If you've put 2l of oil in to bring the level up to the top of the dipstick, there was no more than 0.7l in there before it was added.

That's serious neglect; unless it happened quickly (in which case, you've got another problem, like a leaky sump), it's been running with dangerously low oil for a long time. And what was left may have been little better than sludge.

The 1.2 FIRE is a tough old bird - this would have killed a lot of engines way before it got this low, but there are limits.

You may simply have goosed the engine, but it's possible that replacing, rather than just cleaning, the variator and running any appropriate software relearn procedure might just resolve this, in which case you've been lucky.