Technical 2013 Fiat 500 Pop Battery drain - No flashing mileage, No Bluetooth.

[pelermon]

I bought a 2013 Fiat 500 pop 39k miles. New battery drains in 2 days. Mileage is NOT blinking /
None of the phone buttons work on the steering wheel / Media on the radio says - "no source available" -
The alternator is good, there are no OBD faults
How can I tell if it is the Blue & Me Module? Does the odometer have to be flashing for it to be bad?
Anyway to disconnect it under the dash?
I gather the Module is inside the rear passenger side panel on American models?

 

[A3jeroen]

I THINK on a RHD it is behind the glovecompartment. LHD is different AFAIK.

gr J

 

[pelermon]

I THINK on a RHD it is behind the glovecompartment. LHD is different AFAIK.

gr J

Yes - I did see that is probably where it might be too, after further research. I wonder if there is a way to verify that without taking apart the entire dash? At this point, I would not replace the problematic Blue & Me Module. I would unplug it and go without and verify that is the source of the battery drain. Seems like you should be able to just cut the power to the Module. The confusing thing is, I do not have a flashing odometer. It seems like that is the tell tail.

 

[jrkitching]

The confusing thing is, I do not have a flashing odometer. It seems like that is the tell tail.

Was Blue&Me working when you bought the car?

I'm thinking that the previous owner, knowing the Blue&Me module had failed, did a proxi reset to fix the flashing mileage, but didn't physically disconnect the module. That would leave you with no bluetooth, no flashing mileage and a battery drain.

 

[pelermon]

Was Blue&Me working when you bought the car?

I'm thinking that the previous owner, knowing the Blue&Me module had failed, did a proxi reset to fix the flashing mileage, but didn't physically disconnect the module. That would leave you with no bluetooth, no flashing mileage and a battery drain.

THANK YOU -- That might be the problem.
No the Bluetooth was not working when I bought it.
They knew of the problem, when I went to look at it, the car was running for some reason. Now I know why, they were charging the battery back up. (Bastards)
I want to do a parasite drain test. What fuses would control the Blue & Me Module? F36 & F51?

 

[jrkitching]

I want to do a parasite drain test. What fuses would control the Blue & Me Module? F36 & F51?

IIRC there is no way of stopping the battery drain by removing fuses; you have to physically disconnect the power connector on the B&M module itself.

Pulling that connector should see an end to this problem.

 

[Derbyfella]

The 2 pops I have had didn’t have blue and me.

 

[jrkitching]

The 2 pops I have had didn’t have blue and me.

The OP is in the USA; US market specs are very likely not directly comparable

 

[pelermon]

IIRC there is no way of stopping the battery drain by removing fuses; you have to physically disconnect the power connector on the B&M module itself.

Pulling that connector should see an end to this problem.

I did a parasite drain test. It was a 10A fuse "(F36) Diagnostic Socket, Car Radio, Climate Control System" ---
That tells me that is almost 100% the Blue & Me module.
I could leave that fuse out but I would not have a radio (I don't care)
and it affects some other diagnostic stuff, tire pressure for one.
So I guess I need to tear into the dash to disconnect that troublesome POS.
I sure hope it is behind the glove box.
There is probably a wire I could cut to it, but I have no idea which one.

 

[pelermon]

Took the dash apart today. Much easier than I thought (so happy it was not in the back seat!) . There it was behind the glove box. Thought I could just unplug it without removing it, NO WAY. Just one nut holds the mount. I broke that plug latch, I am not going to put that POC back in anyway. Everything works normal after I put it back together. Now we will see if there is a drain after sitting for a day or two. I am sure it is FIXED - Is there a market for the Blue & Me modules? Or do I just throw the damn thing away?