Technical Suspected Battery Trouble

[Joe777]

Hi there people, just looking for a bit of advice really.

Bought a Fiat 500 a couple of days ago, a 61 plate, that had done a lowly 200 miles as it had been garaged its whole life. I picked it up from a good hour and a half drive away and all was fine and dandy and it drove perfectly. However yesterday I was stopped waiting to pick up a friend, car wouldn't start again. Got it jump started and off it went, running perfectly again I accounted it to being the little use it had in recent times but really I am thinking the battery should have been charged after me putting a good 100 miles on it already. Today as I made to take off I stalled the car, and the start/stop kicked in and told me to press the clutch. However doing this then seemed to kill the battery again and i couldn't get anywhere.

On hindsight, I was thinking I was doing something wrong as I couldn't get the start/stop to work in general, and at lights etc it would just stay running. However I am beginning to wonder if this is a bigger issue? I've got the car battery sitting on charge right now and will be straight on the phone to the dealer tomorrow morning (It is also still under fiat warranty) to see what they say but I was just wondering if you guys had any ideas/knowledge/suggestions or anything! It is a little disconcerting to say the least to have your car cut out twice when you've only had the wee thing 4 days

Thanks

 

[306maxi]

What charger do you have?

 

[ahmett]

Hi there people, just looking for a bit of advice really.

Bought a Fiat 500 a couple of days ago, a 61 plate, that had done a lowly 200 miles as it had been garaged its whole life. I picked it up from a good hour and a half drive away and all was fine and dandy and it drove perfectly. However yesterday I was stopped waiting to pick up a friend, car wouldn't start again. Got it jump started and off it went, running perfectly again I accounted it to being the little use it had in recent times but really I am thinking the battery should have been charged after me putting a good 100 miles on it already. Today as I made to take off I stalled the car, and the start/stop kicked in and told me to press the clutch. However doing this then seemed to kill the battery again and i couldn't get anywhere.

On hindsight, I was thinking I was doing something wrong as I couldn't get the start/stop to work in general, and at lights etc it would just stay running. However I am beginning to wonder if this is a bigger issue? I've got the car battery sitting on charge right now and will be straight on the phone to the dealer tomorrow morning (It is also still under fiat warranty) to see what they say but I was just wondering if you guys had any ideas/knowledge/suggestions or anything! It is a little disconcerting to say the least to have your car cut out twice when you've only had the wee thing 4 days

Thanks

Today is the third anniversary I picked up my car = ).
It is on its third battery, and this time I put an uprated Bosch battery with 52ah instead of the standard 42. To be honest, I get the feeling that the stock battery of the Fiat 500 just doesnt cut the mustard if the car is used everyday in the town with the lights on.
You said you did 100 miles but i remember maxi saying that the car's alternator isn't the best in the business and doesn't charge the battery too well especially if the battery is very low on charge or is not working to full capacity.
Let us know what the dealer does about it!

 

[Joe777]

Thanks for your quick replies guys.

It was my Dad who took the car to charge the battery, all I know is he checked the battery and it was still getting 12V, then 14v when running so its not the alternator.

When I tried to start the car all I got was a rattle from the solenoid so sounds like it could just be the battery is a bit 'naff and it needs a new one (and like you're saying, a better one!) Lot of strain on them from the start/stop I imagine so will just need to say what's said tomorrow now

 

[T14086]

61 plate, that had done a lowly 200 miles as it had been garaged its whole life

when you've only had the wee thing 4 days

I think you have answered your own question! Anyway if it has stop start you need a pulse charger to charge the battery also a midtronics tester is the best way to test the battery.

Anyway it's under warranty, let them sort it (probably need car over night for reconditioning charge before it can be correctly tested)

 

[306maxi]

I think you have answered your own question! Anyway if it has stop start you need a pulse charger to charge the battery also a midtronics tester is the best way to test the battery.

Anyway it's under warranty, let them sort it (probably need car over night for reconditioning charge before it can be correctly tested)

Yup, get a decent charger and it'll be fine, I've got a Ctek MXS5 and it does a good job of charging batteries which appear to be dead.

 

[Joe777]

Hey guys just an update on what happened! Car wouldn't start again this morning Dealer said to take it down the garage so had to push start it to get it there. The power streering was gone completely so it was not an easy drive down!

Guy in the garage couldn't have spent more than 5 minutes actually with the car. Disconected and reconnected the battery and fuses? And was able to start it up. Told me to keep the engine on for at least half an hour in order to let the battery charge so did as told and drove around for roughly an hour. Parked, stopped, put back on, perfect.

But then again when tried to drive about an hour later there was no joy. The car goes on now but is definitely something not right. It seems like it is really struggling to go on, the display etc go off whilst it is trying to do and sounds like it is really dragging/cranking aand doesn't sound healthy at all. Drove it about abit in the hope that it would charge up or something to that effect and work again but staying the same

Looks like its back again tomorrow!

 

[jrkitching]

Guy in the garage couldn't have spent more than 5 minutes actually with the car. Disconected and reconnected the battery and fuses? And was able to start it up. Told me to keep the engine on for at least half an hour in order to let the battery charge so did as told and drove around for roughly an hour.

The car's own electrical system is not capable of reviving a discharged S/S battery and what the guy in the garage was trying to do will not work.

As others have said, the battery needs to be put on a pulse conditioning charger overnight, stood down for a couple of hours to let the surface charge dissipate, and then refitted.

This may, or may not, be sufficient to revive it but the only way to find out is to try. If it does not, a new battery will be required.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Told me to keep the engine on for at least half an hour in order to let the battery charge

Bloody Moron, this isn't going to charge a dead / knackered battery.

Insist on a new replacement (and make sure its the correct battery).

 

[306maxi]

The car's own electrical system is not capable of reviving a discharged S/S battery and what the guy in the garage was trying to do will not work.

As others have said, the battery needs to be put on a pulse conditioning charger overnight, stood down for a couple of hours to let the surface charge dissipate, and then refitted.

This may, or may not, be sufficient to revive it but the only way to find out is to try. If it does not, a new battery will be required.

Why why why does no one believe that their batteries need charging? I think we need a sticky for this. Care to do the honours?

 

[Andy Monty]

Is this a Fiat dealer?

 

[Joe777]

Why why why does no one believe that their batteries need charging? I think we need a sticky for this. Care to do the honours?

Hi there, Sorry it is not a case that I don't believe you or ignored your advice but as has been said I need a pulse charger to do it so did not want to make things worse rather than better. I was just told what the garage had done and I will be more stringent in this tomorrow.

It was bought from a local dealer than an actual fiat garage, but is still within fiat warranty so if the garage comes to no avail it'll go to fiat itself!

 

[jrkitching]

but is still within fiat warranty so if the garage comes to no avail it'll go to fiat itself!

If the battery is knackered because it's been left standing for 2 years in a discharged state, you can hardly expect that kind of abuse to be covered by the manufacturers warranty. No lead acid battery of any type is capable of tolerating that kind of treatment.

I'd say you'd be better advised to seek recourse from the supplying dealer, and as MEP says, make sure you are given the correct specification of battery if it proves to need replacing. S/S batteries are expensive & the dealer may try to fob you off with a cheaper alternative.

 

[jrkitching]

Why why why does no one believe that their batteries need charging?

And why oh why do folks believe they can store lead acid batteries for extended periods in a discharged state and then expect them to be replaced under warranty when the inevitable premature failure occurs?

It's a bit like buying a pint of milk, keeping it in a warm room for a week, and expecting a free replacement when it's gone sour on the last day of its shelf life. :bang:

And suggesting the car's charging system will revive a deeply discharged battery is a bit like putting milk in a fridge after it's gone sour and expecting it to be drinkable in the morning.

 

[T14086]

It was bought from a local dealer than an actual fiat garage, but is still within fiat warranty so if the garage comes to no avail it'll go to fiat itself!

Stop messing about and tell them to take t to the nearest Fiat dealership, bit cheeky of them making you push start the car you paid for in the first place!

 

[Joe777]

Right guys thanks for your help! I got a hold of them today and they have had another look and agreed that the current battery in the car is not sufficient for the start/stop thing and that they are going to replace it with a new battery this afternoon and they have gone for they said a gel battery as they had called around and that was what was needed? (There was a bit of a grump in there about it being more expensive ) Hoping that's the right thing! The guy from the garage reckoned that the battery was replaced not long ago, but that he didnt thinkt hey had known it was start/stop and put the wrong thing in! So that explains the whole charging/discharging dilemma too.

Also I wasn't suggesting that Fiat would give me a whole new battery or whatever free of charge I just meant that they could have a look for me and tell me what actually needed done rather than all this passing back and forward. Sorry if I have annoyed you guys! Was just trying to get to the route of the problem so I can get back to enjoying the new car. Sucks a bit of the fun out of it yaknow!

But thanks again for the advice.

 

[jrkitching]

Thanks for the update Joe.

Yes, the S/S technology requires a more technically advanced battery and they are not cheap. Putting in the wrong battery is a known source of trouble & I'm sure your car will be fine once they've changed it.

When it's done, come back and post the make, type & part number of the new battery and we'll tell you if it's up to the job.

 

[306maxi]

Being a gel battery it should be fairly decent.

 

[Joe777]

Got the battery fitted in today and it seems to be working perfectly now. start/stop working no bother and starting perfectly.

The details on the battery are
Part Number 027AGM
Alt Number: 560 901 068
680 CCA Amps
60 Capacity Ah

Yuasa make?

Hoping this is the end of any issues!

 

[ahmett]

Got the battery fitted in today and it seems to be working perfectly now. start/stop working no bother and starting perfectly.

The details on the battery are
Part Number 027AGM
Alt Number: 560 901 068
680 CCA Amps
60 Capacity Ah

Yuasa make?

Hoping this is the end of any issues!

That sounds good to me! The stock non ss battery is 42ah and thats barely enough for the non ss let alone the full deal!