Technical Stop / Start System Weirdness....

[FiatFleetFamily]

As JR pointed out the SS battery is more expensive like this one
https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/varta-d52.html
However check it will fit in the tray as it maybe too wide height and depth should be OK

I was looking at the Varta D53 battery as the D52 is not recommended to be fitted in a engine bay as they do not like heat as they tend to be fitted in a cars boot, where the EFB D53 can handle heat in the engine bay.....

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

If you have a 500 that you can switch the S/S off permanently, that's fine, but ours won't. You have to switch it off each and every time you start the car.

As for buying a new battery, what do you do with the old one? It is more than likely a perfect battery for "normal" cars and should be used and not disposed of.

Regards,
Mick.

Mick.


Yes it can be permanently enabled of disabled on the centre console.


I could always re-use a S/S battery on my 20VT, no stop start, just power..

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

jrkitching. Many thanks for your input.


I have read that S/S thread well.


This evening I will be disconnecting the battery for at least 1 hour, while disconnected I will see if it needs a top up charge.


Then will reconnect when battery fully recharged. As no residual current will be circulating the S/S will no doubt be re-learning and time will tell if the amber light comes back on.


If it does straight away, will be investing in a Varta or Exide EFB battery. If not then will still get the battery till the time comes around when the amber light revisits.

Further to my post above, last night followed up.


Disconnected the battery monitoring connection.
Checked the voltage : 12.45v.
Disconnected battery.
Charged battery in-situ for 2 hours.
My battery charger before charging advised 88% charged at 12.45v.
After a 2 hour charge and 97% charge at 12.97v.
Reconnected all leads.
Obviously had to do date / time etc again.
Car started and went for a drive with S/S enabled and no warning icons.
Did same test with S/S Disabled and no warning icons.


Looks all good, only time will tell if the Battery is performing till the next warning.

 

[Mercky]

Further to my post above, last night followed up.


Disconnected the battery monitoring connection.
Checked the voltage : 12.45v.
Disconnected battery.
Charged battery in-situ for 2 hours.
My battery charger before charging advised 88% charged at 12.45v.
After a 2 hour charge and 97% charge at 12.97v.
Reconnected all leads.
Obviously had to do date / time etc again.
Car started and went for a drive with S/S enabled and no warning icons.
Did same test with S/S Disabled and no warning icons.

Looks all good, only time will tell if the Battery is performing till the next warning.

well at least you know it's a battery issue and not something else which is good news

 

[Mick F]

Mick.
Yes it can be permanently enabled of disabled on the centre console.

It can on yours maybe, but not on ours.

Ours doesn't have that menu option at all. It doesn't exist.
Software update?
Could be, but I ain't going to Fiat with a car going on six years old. I'd rather have a good fully charged S/S battery and have S/S working as it should.

Cheers,
Mick.

 

[typecastboy]

I switch it off every time I drive it. I hate Stop start!

 

[cotswoldtony]

Hi All,
I posted a thread regarding batteries on modern cars that sounds crazy because it is, cars are very voltage sensitive these days. Ask any qualified technician and they will tell you a really good battery is a must for your car to operate correctly especially on s/s models.
In my opinion the only make of battery you can depend on is a Varta which is the make fitted to most new cars regardless of the label stating the car makers name.
If you have a voltage tester I can tell you from cold your battery needs to read 12.9 to 12.75 to be fully charged and a good battery. Voltage down to 12.45 will still start your car but drop voltage to low voltage components that operate via onboard computer control modules. It may sound crazy but rechargeable batteries deteriorate from day one so after one year are only 90-95% as good as a new one and with low mileage use even lower.

 

[John202020]

Err no...


On my display. I have a bulb out icon on the dashboard.

It may depend on the age of the car and type of dash fitted our old 09 just has the generic triangle

 

[John202020]

Hi All,
I posted a thread regarding batteries on modern cars that sounds crazy because it is, cars are very voltage sensitive these days. Ask any qualified technician and they will tell you a really good battery is a must for your car to operate correctly especially on s/s models.
In my opinion the only make of battery you can depend on is a Varta which is the make fitted to most new cars regardless of the label stating the car makers name.
If you have a voltage tester I can tell you from cold your battery needs to read 12.9 to 12.75 to be fully charged and a good battery. Voltage down to 12.45 will still start your car but drop voltage to low voltage components that operate via onboard computer control modules. It may sound crazy but rechargeable batteries deteriorate from day one so after one year are only 90-95% as good as a new one and with low mileage use even lower.

I can vouch for Varta I have one in my Mazda which is also very battery fickle always replace the battery way before its goosed too many people wait more than a year before it totally gives up.

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Just got weirder, hence this update.

That warning in the triangle came up after approx 50 metres of driving. So I took the advice and purchased a Varta D52 AGM battery. Double checked the voltage after taking delivery this morning, 13.10volts.

Removed the Alfa, Fiat, Lancia one and fitted the Varta one.

Started car went for a drive and guess what.......

Yes that dam amber triangle is up again, so me thinks it's not a battery issue, what else should I be doing / checking considering I am £98 lighter in the pocket following posts and threads in the forum for a new battery...

 

[Mercky]

Hmm that's annoying, I'd suggest some diagnostics at this stage, at least when you get it sorted you'll have a good battery which should last a couple of years hassle free so not a complete waste

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Hmm that's annoying, I'd suggest some diagnostics at this stage, at least when you get it sorted you'll have a good battery which should last a couple of years hassle free so not a complete waste

Yep that is the plan, even if something just needs resetting with the Fiat Examiner.

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Got it booked in next week on Tuesday for full diagnostics and sensors check. That's according to the Fiat Dealer. He stated you may need the latest firmware / ECU update from June 2016. All under warranty so should be ok. I will revert with findings / results.

 

[Thefox]

When you fitted the battery did you use a diagnostic computer to tell the battery management system that the battery has been replaced.?
This a common procedure on cars with stop start.

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

When you fitted the battery did you use a diagnostic computer to tell the battery management system that the battery has been replaced.?
This a common procedure on cars with stop start.

Thefox.


Thanks for the reply.


No I did not as I do not possess Fiat Examiner, though suspect this is what the dealer may be resetting / programming next week.

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Just a wee update.

Visited dealers today.

The battery management program was reset as i had replaced the battery. My software is up to date. They cleared the triangle amber warning light, but suspect it will return as my twin brake and clutch sensor switch has a intermittent fault. Have to return back to the dealer after Crimbo as part needs to be ordered in before fitted. All done on the warranty.

They even gave my car a internal and external valet plus a full healthcheck inspection...all good. Very impressed with the New Arnold Clark customer service.

 

[alexGS]

When the Stop/Start in a 500 is working properly, can you choose whether to stop the engine by pressing lightly or firmly on the brake pedal?

This would be useful when you stop and you know it will be for two seconds (light press; engine stays running), or two minutes (heavy press; engine stops).

I learned this is the case with Mazda's iStop system (so well-known now, everyone here calls the S/S system "iStop" in any car; I guess names beginning with "i" will always catch on, and Mazda 3/6 are top-selling cars here).

I suspect the only reason to turn S/S off is the prospect of unwanted one-second engine stops when driving in town; which the brake pressure technique avoids.

Some S/S systems try to explain what's happening. In my Golf 7, there's a green warning light (the same one that glows red for the handbrake being on). When the green light comes on after stopping, releasing the brake pedal will hold the brakes on and keep the engine running (Auto Hold must also be on). Pressing more firmly on the brake pedal after the light comes on will stop the engine, as long as the steering angle is less than a certain amount and the temperature inside the car is close to the chosen temperature. The engine will restart when the temperature differential becomes too great. If you navigate through a few menus and buttons, the 'stereo' touchscreen will even display the excuse for restarting or not stopping!

I've never seen a S/S-equipped 500 so I wondered whether there is some graphic on the LCD that shows, like the green light in my Golf, whether the engine is about to stop if the brake pedal is pressed harder.

-Alex

 

[Mick F]

Brake pedal has no effect at all with our 500TA.

The engine stops when the car stops in neutral and with the driver's seatbelt fastened plus the driver's door closed.

Come to a stop, brakes on, clutch in, select neutral, clutch up, engine stops.
The engine needs to be warm.
The engine restarts when you depress the clutch.

The engine will remain stopped for at least 3mins even with lights on and wipers running, but you need a good, fully charged battery. Ours performs perfectly even though the battery has just had its second birthday.

Best wishes,
Mick.

 

[jrkitching]

When the Stop/Start in a 500 is working properly, can you choose whether to stop the engine by pressing lightly or firmly on the brake pedal?

In a word, no.

The system is crude by modern car design standards, and generally stops working properly after a relatively small amount of battery wear, so many folks end up replacing the battery long before it reaches the point where it won't start the car reliably.

 

[John202020]

Can anyone say how much fuel they've saved by using the stop start? On the Mazda forum(I'm a member of) the car can state how long the car has stopped for and estimates the fuel saving, results are rather small in general?