Technical Warning lights on dashboard, now battery dead

[Purpleshadow1975]

Hello,

I am new here and was hoping someone could advise if the two issues are related perhaps. I have a Fiat 500, 2013. A few weeks ago, the Start/Stop, Hill Start and ESP messages and lights came up, usually all at the same time. Didn't think much of it, since I never use Stop Start, who needs Hill Start help and I have no idea what ESP is (please ignore my ignorance). Now this afternoon, I wanted to pick up my daughter from school the car didn't start. Completely black, nothing, the key made a clicking sound once (I almost though I had broken the key) but nothing was happening. Couldn't even lock the car with the fob. I looked under the hood, not that I have much of an idea what I am looking for but found the battery, which is at least 6 years old, because we never changed it. All the cables looked like they were were they belong and nothing seemed chewed on or broken. A little later I tried starting the car again and this time the dashboard came on briefly, I heard a few clicking sounds and then it was dead again. After some googling it seems I need to replace the battery.

Now my question is, could the few weeks the Stop/Start, ESP and Hill Start warnings have been an indication of a battery problem or is it more likely a separate issue altogether? I am hoping they are linked because then I won't have the extra cost of fixing those. Also, I saw 3 or 4 screws where I think the battery is attached, is it just unscrewing those, take the battery out and put the new one back in? I haven't googled yet on how to replace a battery but thought I might as well give it a shot.

Many thanks, and sorry if it is a bit longwinded.
PurpleShadow

 

[ZaphodB]

How old is the battery ?

Look for a 4 digit (month/year) date code on the casing.

If you have a multimeter check and report back with terminal voltage with engine running , and then with engine stopped (after leaving it for 30 minutes)
Report back with results.

Also , main engine earth strap is very common on any older car to rot away (it's copper) and the connections of the same and will cause voltage drop , your sig says 2009 but you're saying its 2013 ?

 

[Purpleshadow1975]

Hiya, thanks for responding so quickly, it is 2013. Don't know why I had 2009 in mind. I don't have any tools for car problems, except a few light bulbs. I did not see any copper coloured cables, they were all in black casing.

 

[ZaphodB]

It's copper inside any cable sheaths is what I meant, it will slowly corrode/oxidise over time rotting away the copper.

Engine earth straps are absolutely crucial , and are often just bare braided which make them rot away even quicker than sheathed ones.
First symptoms of a corroded engine earth strap is poor starting and/or charging but can manifest in many many (seemingly random) symptoms.

You can pick up a cheap multimeter for way less than a tenner , and it will give you a basic idea of battery and alternator health.

Example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176654426038

We can wallk you through how to use it

 

[Purpleshadow1975]

Many thanks. I will have a look at this.

 

[John202020]

New battery, a socket set required to remove 1 nut

B36 Varta Blue Dynamic Car Battery 12V 44Ah (544401042) (002L 202)

B36 VARTA Blue Dynamic Car Battery <i>Innovation with Purpose, Premium Experience, Powerful History</i> VARTA was founded in 1887 Germany, and was established fully in 1904 by delivering the first electric vehicle battery, famously driven by Thomas Edison. Soon after, VARTA delivers the first...

www.tayna.co.uk

And new engine earth strap I'd guess, this is a "much" more complicated to replace given your lack of tools and experience? Though the part is only £5

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

New battery, a socket set required to remove 1 nut

B36 Varta Blue Dynamic Car Battery 12V 44Ah (544401042) (002L 202)

B36 VARTA Blue Dynamic Car Battery <i>Innovation with Purpose, Premium Experience, Powerful History</i> VARTA was founded in 1887 Germany, and was established fully in 1904 by delivering the first electric vehicle battery, famously driven by Thomas Edison. Soon after, VARTA delivers the first...

www.tayna.co.uk

Note that the above is not a Stop/Start battery. My 2013 500C requires an EFB 'Stop/Start' type which was larger and considerably more expensive. Nonetheless the S/S may still work for a while, mine had an ordinary battery fitted for three years and the car ran perfectly happily. Being a 2013 car you may be able to leave the S/S switched off of course, as long as you don't mind the orange warning light glowing in the corner of the speedo! You get used to it... The S/S effect on fuel consumption and emissions is marginal at best and mine is turned off pretty much permanently, reducing wear and tear on the battery and starter.

 

[Purpleshadow1975]

Thank you for your replies. I have called up the garage as MOT and Service were due anyways. They said they will come and either jump start or replace battery first and then take it to the garage next week. Luckily school is out so there is no rush to having this replaced. Also, I didn't even know that the car had a start stop function, only when the orange light came on the dashboard and I read the message did I realise this was an option. I will let you know when its all fixed and what they say.

 

[John202020]

Note that the above is not a Stop/Start battery. My 2013 500C requires an EFB 'Stop/Start' type which was larger and considerably more expensive. Nonetheless the S/S may still work for a while, mine had an ordinary battery fitted for three years and the car ran perfectly happily. Being a 2013 car you may be able to leave the S/S switched off of course, as long as you don't mind the orange warning light glowing in the corner of the speedo! You get used to it... The S/S effect on fuel consumption and emissions is marginal at best and mine is turned off pretty much permanently, reducing wear and tear on the battery and starter.

I've noticed they put two different years for the car in the original post, my mistake

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Thank you for your replies. I have called up the garage as MOT and Service were due anyways. They said they will come and either jump start or replace battery first and then take it to the garage next week. Luckily school is out so there is no rush to having this replaced. Also, I didn't even know that the car had a start stop function, only when the orange light came on the dashboard and I read the message did I realise this was an option. I will let you know when its all fixed and what they say.

If you didn't even know you had Stop/Start you're not really going to miss it so I'd suggest switching it off (there should be a button with the S/S icon at the bottom of your heater control panel, bottom left;

(This grubby example is not mine!) That should bring up the message on the display "Stop Start Disconnected" and light up the S/S lamp on the speedo, top right;

S/S demands that your battery be 100% (or better!) so your old battery has probably been deteriorating for some time and perhaps the earth strap too.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Normal battery failing behaviour Im afraid. Make sure the main earth to gearbox is sound while the battery is out of the car as a standard precaution.