Technical 2014 fiat 500s 1.2 can’t do motorway driving ????

[h4rrymurphy]

Hi, firstly i don’t know if this is the correct thread for this so please tell me if it’s not lol

but i’ve been having an issue with my 2014 500s.
I’ve had this car for about a year, but i passed my test in november so it’s only been driven regularly for about 9 or so months.

Recently, whenever i go on the motorway for more than like 5 minutes, the stop/start light, triangle warning light, and engine light all come on and the car starts shaking and goes into a sort of limp mode where there’s like no power to the engine. It doesn’t cut out but if i come to a stop i won’t be able to pull off again without stalling because, again, there’s no power to the engine.

the first time it happened, the car wouldn’t turn back on once it stalled and the garage we went to said it was a battery fault because the engine wasn’t turning over when i tried to start it - and they put a new (correct) battery in the car
but it happened again yesterday, the car turned back on immediately once i turned the key but it’s clearly something more than the battery that’s cutting the power to the engine. took it back to the garage and they basically said there was nothing they could do at that point…

i’ve seen a few people with this issue but the main response they get is it’s a cambelt issue, but the cambelt was changed when we first got the car a year ago, so surely if it was that then it would’ve started playing up a long time ago???

i’m kind of at a loss here i really do not know what else to do

 

[jrkitching]

Hello and a very warm welcome to the forum.

i’ve seen a few people with this issue but the main response they get is it’s a cambelt issue

And that's my response too. The symptoms and belt change history point to a mistimed engine.

but the cambelt was changed when we first got the car a year ago, so surely if it was that then it would’ve started playing up a long time ago

Not necessarily. If the car is driven gently and not taken above 3000rpm, you might never see the warning lights or limp mode and might think the engine was working correctly.

It's only when you exceed around 3000rpm that it's likely to go into limp mode.

Who did the cambelt change? If it wasn't a franchised dealer or Fiat specialist garage, then it's even more likely that this is the cause.

We see many, many reports of running issues after cambelt changes on the forum.

 

[John202020]

Cam belt timing.

 

[vexorg]

Stupid stupid design if it really is the timing.
In days of old, the timing out just wrecked the engine or ran bad, now it's a random bag of nonsense.

 

[steveras57]

If you have not been using the cars complete rev-range and not venturing above 3.000 rpm ( which if you have just been driving gently around town you may not have) then this would mask the symptoms you are now experiencing, they are classic for a mis-timed engine when cam belt changed,it is likely one tooth out of phase! which causes lack of power and warning lights!.
The best course of action now since its been so long since the belt was changed ,is to take it to a FIAT DEALER workshop to be checked and re adjusted ! also make sure to ask them to check the diagnostics and re set the E.CU by performing the Phonic wheel re-learn procedure as well to be sure!.
It wont be cheap but needs to be done properly!.

 

[jrkitching]

is to take it to a FIAT DEALER workshop to be checked and re adjusted

My understanding is that the tensioning process can only be used on a new belt and will set the belt correctly only if the belt is unstretched.

If the belt has been in service for any appreciable length of time and it is necessary for any reason to reset the timing, the belt should be replaced.

If it's been used for a year, and the timing is not correct, the belt should be changed, though there should be no need to do the water pump in this case.

 

[John202020]

Cam belt change, this is possibly the only job the forum recommends you go to a Fiat main dealer given the issues that many posters post when not using them?

 

[vexorg]

Cam belt change, this is possibly the only job the forum recommends you go to a Fiat main dealer

I wouldn't go to a dealer for anything unless under warranty.

 

[Ralf S.]

The car only struggles when it is asked to deliver a high fuel flow for a sustained period.... so my analogue deduction is that this is a fuelling issue.
Either the fuel pump is getting moody, or there's a pressure regulator problem.

At a pinch, it could be the car needs a phonic wheel re-learn, since a fuel problem might occur if the timing was in the correct place.
The EML light and triangle must be accompanied by an error code stored in the ECU, so the first step is to read the error codes and see what the car is complaining about.


Ralf S.

 

[vexorg]

Fuel filter?

 

[h4rrymurphy]

Hi, firstly i don’t know if this is the correct thread for this so please tell me if it’s not lol

but i’ve been having an issue with my 2014 500s.
I’ve had this car for about a year, but i passed my test in november so it’s only been driven regularly for about 9 or so months.

Recently, whenever i go on the motorway for more than like 5 minutes, the stop/start light, triangle warning light, and engine light all come on and the car starts shaking and goes into a sort of limp mode where there’s like no power to the engine. It doesn’t cut out but if i come to a stop i won’t be able to pull off again without stalling because, again, there’s no power to the engine.

the first time it happened, the car wouldn’t turn back on once it stalled and the garage we went to said it was a battery fault because the engine wasn’t turning over when i tried to start it - and they put a new (correct) battery in the car
but it happened again yesterday, the car turned back on immediately once i turned the key but it’s clearly something more than the battery that’s cutting the power to the engine. took it back to the garage and they basically said there was nothing they could do at that point…

i’ve seen a few people with this issue but the main response they get is it’s a cambelt issue, but the cambelt was changed when we first got the car a year ago, so surely if it was that then it would’ve started playing up a long time ago???

i’m kind of at a loss here i really do not know what else to do

okay update haha
i was away last week so my parents took my car back to the garage and he kept it for the week just to see if he could do anything, when i got back i was told that he was certain it wasn’t a mechanical fault but instead something to do with the software which would mean taking it to a fiat dealer to see what they could do

but considering this man at the garage didn’t notice that the car had the wrong battery for ages until we said we thought it was wrong… i’m a bit hesitant to trust his opinion - but we’ll see what the fiat garage says

 

[John202020]

okay update haha
i was away last week so my parents took my car back to the garage and he kept it for the week just to see if he could do anything, when i got back i was told that he was certain it wasn’t a mechanical fault but instead something to do with the software which would mean taking it to a fiat dealer to see what they could do

but considering this man at the garage didn’t notice that the car had the wrong battery for ages until we said we thought it was wrong… i’m a bit hesitant to trust his opinion - but we’ll see what the fiat garage says

Take it to Fiat explain what's gone on it will come back fixed just not sure how much, my guess £300