Hi - This is my first post!
Hi inherited a L reg cinquecento, which apart from having great difficulty in getting into reverse each time, has a weird intermittent electrical problem.
First time it happened, driving at night normally, when all this lights went out, click just like that - engine kept running normally! Only thing that worked, which probably saved my life in heavy traffic was the hazards. Stopped at garage, wriggled all the wires I could think of, WD'ed any connections including the relay and fuse box under the bonnet. - started engine - lights came on fine, after running it for a while and waggling everything again, drove home normally ( 2 hours) without any problems.
Took it to garage, mechanic couldn't find anything wrong.
2nd time it happened, battery light came on dimly, turned on indicators to pull off road - indicator green light very dim on dash, when applied brakes, battery light, indicator and water light all came on brightly.
Stopped - tried to start again, 3 red lights, clunk from starter motor.
Did the same again, waggled all connectors, WDed. still clunk. Waited an hour - battery had then kicked back a bit and started up, drove home normally, mechanic tested could find nothing wrong.
Third time, at night in rain ( had noticed for a while headlights dim), radio which was on, kept cutting out with a click click click ( display on radio went dark each time), then wipers started to go real slow, engine stuttered a bit ( like it picking up dirt from tank) as I pulled off the road, engine then stalled . Attempted to restart, clunk of starter ( battery flat?)
Waited 2 hours, engine then started, drove on about 15 minutes, same thing started happening again, so stopped again ( without stalling) and waited until dawn and for it to stop raining to try and move again - figured to lessen load on electrical system- again wriggled and WDed.
Mechanic couldn't find anything wrong. I now don't go out in the dark or if its raining ( or use the radio or heater) as I want to tax the electrics as little as possible.
The HAYES manual pictures of the electrics only look a bit like mine - the wiring loom for instance does not have the big connection block near the front of the engine near the radiator.- early model?
So completely perplexed, thought it might be a relay or the alternator - but thought if was the alternator the battery light would come on permanently if it was not charging ? - fan belt OK and tight.
Sorry to start off my first post with a problem but as mechanic can't find anything wrong, thought I would try here !!
Hi inherited a L reg cinquecento, which apart from having great difficulty in getting into reverse each time, has a weird intermittent electrical problem.
First time it happened, driving at night normally, when all this lights went out, click just like that - engine kept running normally! Only thing that worked, which probably saved my life in heavy traffic was the hazards. Stopped at garage, wriggled all the wires I could think of, WD'ed any connections including the relay and fuse box under the bonnet. - started engine - lights came on fine, after running it for a while and waggling everything again, drove home normally ( 2 hours) without any problems.
Took it to garage, mechanic couldn't find anything wrong.
2nd time it happened, battery light came on dimly, turned on indicators to pull off road - indicator green light very dim on dash, when applied brakes, battery light, indicator and water light all came on brightly.
Stopped - tried to start again, 3 red lights, clunk from starter motor.
Did the same again, waggled all connectors, WDed. still clunk. Waited an hour - battery had then kicked back a bit and started up, drove home normally, mechanic tested could find nothing wrong.
Third time, at night in rain ( had noticed for a while headlights dim), radio which was on, kept cutting out with a click click click ( display on radio went dark each time), then wipers started to go real slow, engine stuttered a bit ( like it picking up dirt from tank) as I pulled off the road, engine then stalled . Attempted to restart, clunk of starter ( battery flat?)
Waited 2 hours, engine then started, drove on about 15 minutes, same thing started happening again, so stopped again ( without stalling) and waited until dawn and for it to stop raining to try and move again - figured to lessen load on electrical system- again wriggled and WDed.
Mechanic couldn't find anything wrong. I now don't go out in the dark or if its raining ( or use the radio or heater) as I want to tax the electrics as little as possible.
The HAYES manual pictures of the electrics only look a bit like mine - the wiring loom for instance does not have the big connection block near the front of the engine near the radiator.- early model?
So completely perplexed, thought it might be a relay or the alternator - but thought if was the alternator the battery light would come on permanently if it was not charging ? - fan belt OK and tight.
Sorry to start off my first post with a problem but as mechanic can't find anything wrong, thought I would try here !!
