Technical Fiat 500 Could it be a flat battery? Display of failure symbols on dashboard

[Fiat568]

Hi,

Been a while since I've been on here which shows my Fiat has been ding very well, living it up!

However, a few weeks ago a noticed my mileometer flashing - just left it - and the car has been driving as per normal. Earlier this week I parked up and had not used my car all week and when I got in today there was zero ignition -nothing - no spark nothing - but the dashboard displayed a carousel of lovely coloured warnings symbols - very much in the pretty Fiat style as expected! Warnings displayed included:

ESC unavailable check handbook
Hill holder unavailable
Have power steering checked
Trye pressure
Air bag failure
Ebd failure

It seems like it could be the battery especially given the prior flashing mileometer but wanted to ask the forum?

I have read in a forum post that battery failure can lead to a weird display of lights on the digi system.....

Not sure if a portable pack would even start it up!...

Thank you!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Flashing odometer is symptom of proxi misalignment. Ie CAN bus doesnt see what it expects. Often blue tooth module fault can be a rooot cause.

Liights mean flat bettery but blue tooth module may be the problem.

Charge up the battery and if it settles to 12.6v plus its possibly not the cause. Search blutooth module in the 500 forum for lots ofdetail on that. Also check wiring from body to hatch tailgate is all sound.
Good luck.

 

[Fiat568]

Flashing odometer is symptom of proxi misalignment. Ie CAN bus doesnt see what it expects. Often blue tooth module fault can be a rooot cause.

Liights mean flat bettery but blue tooth module may be the problem.

Charge up the battery and if it settles to 12.6v plus its possibly not the cause. Search blutooth module in the 500 forum for lots ofdetail on that. Also check wiring from body to hatch tailgate is all sound.
Good luck.

Thank you Panda Nut - if it's a flat battery that needs recharging I guess it's jump starting with donor car and or a portable charger kit? Not sure of these portable kits work on fiats with stop/start engine...the blueetooth symptom sounds too complicated for me!

 

[Fiat568]

Thank you Panda Nut - if it's a flat battery that needs recharging I guess it's jump starting with donor car and or a portable charger kit? Not sure of these portable kits work on fiats with stop/start engine...the blueetooth symptom sounds too complicated for me!

..also read on the forum that blue tooth module fault can drain battery!

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi,

Been a while since I've been on here which shows my Fiat has been ding very well, living it up!

However, a few weeks ago a noticed my mileometer flashing - just left it - and the car has been driving as per normal. Earlier this week I parked up and had not used my car all week and when I got in today there was zero ignition -nothing - no spark nothing - but the dashboard displayed a carousel of lovely coloured warnings symbols - very much in the pretty Fiat style as expected! Warnings displayed included:

ESC unavailable check handbook
Hill holder unavailable
Have power steering checked
Trye pressure
Air bag failure
Ebd failure

It seems like it could be the battery especially given the prior flashing mileometer but wanted to ask the forum?

I have read in a forum post that battery failure can lead to a weird display of lights on the digi system.....

Not sure if a portable pack would even start it up!...

Thank you!

Hi,

Blue tooth module failing to shut down will flatten the battery.?

Often accompanied by a flashing mileage display.. As the car notices a Network is now incomplete

You can Unplug the module,

But repairs are available

 

[Fiat568]

Hi,

Blue tooth module failing to shut down will flatten the battery.?

Often accompanied by a flashing mileage display.. As the car notices a Network is now incomplete

You can Unplug the module,

But repairs are available

Thank you! Should i first kickstart the battery then deal with module or is it the other way around? Ans is this a job I can do myself?!

 

[varesecrazy]

Thank you! Should i first kickstart the battery then deal with module or is it the other way around? Ans is this a job I can do myself?!

Access is around the back seat,

Removing a panel

Just unplugging should be relatively simple

SEARCH on here should find good info

 

[Fiat568]

Access is around the back seat,

Removing a panel

Just unplugging should be relatively simple

SEARCH on here should find good info

Thank you - I've looked on the forum and there is some good info on this - but not sure if the unplugging the module and removing the panel is beyond me! And just to check (but know there is no guarantee), if i disconnect module the battery would suddenly come backOR would this also need to be recharged? Question - if i just had the battery replaced would all be well with the module?...

 

[varesecrazy]

The battery is currently "flat",

In its discharged state it will deteriorate so wants to be charged,

A New battery will go flat again..

You need to isolate the power to the B+M (I don't know I'd there is a Fuse you can remove to have a similar effect)

 

[Fiat568]

If the B&M module is disconnected should it then be reconnected? Slightly confused about the module failure but understand that it can cause battery drain!

The battery is currently "flat",

In its discharged state it will deteriorate so wants to be charged,

A New battery will go flat again..

You need to isolate the power to the B+M (I don't know I'd there is a Fuse you can remove to have a similar effect)

Thank you varesecrazy - this is very useful - i am not very confident with cars - but it does sound like it's the B&M module - so i need to disconnect this (taking the panelling off behind passenger seat) THEN need to recharge battery? Then reconnect? Or do I need a completely new module?

 

[varesecrazy]

If the B&M module is disconnected should it then be reconnected? Slightly confused about the module failure but understand that it can cause battery drain!

Thank you varesecrazy - this is very useful - i am not very confident with cars - but it does sound like it's the B&M module - so i need to disconnect this (taking the panelling off behind passenger seat) THEN need to recharge battery? Then reconnect? Or do I need a completely new module?

Your module is Faulty

So disconnecting it stop the battery draining

You could replace it.. New or Used part

Or repair it with a specialist via post

Your battery may be ok if you recharge it..

 

[Fiat568]

Flashing odometer is symptom of proxi misalignment. Ie CAN bus doesnt see what it expects. Often blue tooth module fault can be a rooot cause.

Liights mean flat bettery but blue tooth module may be the problem.

Charge up the battery and if it settles to 12.6v plus its possibly not the cause. Search blutooth module in the 500 forum for lots ofdetail on that. Also check wiring from body to hatch tailgate is all sound.
Good luck.

Have checked my battery and it's 12 V - it says that a portable charger cannot be used on stop/start battery...
so I guess my only options are jump leads and donor car or a trickle battery charger -
Has anyone had experience charging a Fiat 500 12 V battery with a trickle charger battery? Would this give it enough life to get it going to drive it to garage to have the module sorted which it sounds like could be the issue that has drained the battery?
The radio is also not working, sadly!

 

[Fiat568]

Have checked my battery and it's 12 V - it says that a portable charger cannot be used on stop/start battery...
so I guess my only options are jump leads and donor car or a trickle battery charger -
Has anyone had experience charging a Fiat 500 12 V battery with a trickle charger battery? Would this give it enough life to get it going to drive it to garage to have the module sorted which it sounds like could be the issue that has drained the battery?
The radio is also not working, sadly!

Picture of my battery:

 

[The Panda Nut]

Battery should chagre to 14v and, at rest for a few hours after its normally 12.9v. 12 is still low. If the Blutooth is faulty it need disconnecting. and then a Proxi alignment is required which allows the car to relearn what is and is not attached and working. After this is done the flashing odometer should stop. It is likely the blutooth has flattened an already aging battery. (it is the original I think) Give it at least 10 hours on charge and then hopefully it will go. A faulty blutooth unit will flatten it again though so disconnect it if the odometer is flashing. If It goes flat while disconnected you know the battery is also a problem. Its one of those problems where it could be either or both needing attention. Varesecrazy is the person to follow on this as has direct experience to share.

P.S., I have had batteries showing 12v that were completely dead.

 

[Fiat568]

Battery should chagre to 14v and at rest for a few hours after its normally 12.9v. 12 is still low. If the Blutooth is faulty it need disconnecting. and then a Proxi alignment is required which allows the car to relearn what is and is not attached and working. AFter this is done the flashing odometer should stop. It is likely the blutooth has flattened an already aging battery. Give it at least 10 hours on charge and then hopefully it will go. A faulty blutooth unit will flatten it again though so disconnect it if the odometer is flashing. If It goes flat while disconnected you know the battery is also a problem. Its one of those problems where it could be either or both needing attention. Varesecrazy is the person to follow on this as has direct experience to share.

Thank you! Varescrazy has helped me with this and i've read their advice in posts on the forum - s I'm not very confident with cars I'm reluctant to start pulling off the paneling to disconnect the modular - that said, if I can get some power to the battery and charge it, i would drive to mechanic to sort out the module so my focus now is charging the battery just to get the car to a mechanic! I have looked trickle chargers and think one could work but some say that they may not work on a totally discharged battery which I think mine is! If I can't charge the battery will have to call out a mobile mechanic or have car towed!

 

[varesecrazy]

Thank you! Varescrazy has helped me with this and i've read their advice in posts on the forum - s I'm not very confident with cars I'm reluctant to start pulling off the paneling to disconnect the modular - that said, if I can get some power to the battery and charge it, i would drive to mechanic to sort out the module so my focus now is charging the battery just to get the car to a mechanic! I have looked trickle chargers and think one could work but some say that they may not work on a totally discharged battery which I think mine is! If I can't charge the battery will have to call out a mobile mechanic or have car towed!

Simplest solution:

Organise where you are taking the car

Swap in a Good battery (from another car..) ,

Drive there, swap battery back to working car

You won't flatten the good battery, and your car will drive reliably


The garage should be perfectly capable of recharging your battery
(Note: that looks like the battery the car was built with in Poland)

It may be worthwhile replacing it anyway..

Look on Tayna batteries website

A good battery, at a good price, delivered to your door

 

[Fiat568]

Simplest solution:

Organise where you are taking the car

Swap in a Good battery (from another car..) ,

Drive there, swap battery back to working car

You won't flatten the good battery, and your car will drive reliably


The garage should be perfectly capable of recharging your battery
(Note: that looks like the battery the car was built with in Poland)

It may be worthwhile replacing it anyway..

Look on Tayna batteries website

A good battery, at a good price, delivered to your door

Amazing - thank you varescrazy - i'm a girl with no idea about cars so I doubt I could take out a battery and put in a new one even temporarily - like your thinking though - think will have to go with trickle battery as that requires no removing of battery and hope it works - just to get it to garage! Your solution is first class though and thanks you for suggesting it! Didn't realise the car battery was built in Poland!

 

[varesecrazy]

Amazing - thank you varescrazy - i'm a girl with no idea about cars so I doubt I could take out a battery and put in a new one even temporarily - like your thinking though

It's not too complex

Didn't realise the car battery was built in Poland!

The 500 and Panda cars were built in Poland (same as the Ford Ka) .

 

[Fiat568]

Thank you all for your amazing suggestions -have decided that though costly a mobile fitting battery is best for me as I'm not confident enough to remove and replace battery or fiddle around with the module i will see what happens when the new battery is fitted and take it from their - grateful for all of your advice!

 

[Fiat568]

Brand new battery fitted today! BUT...the mileometer is still flashing!....Guess it's back to the B&M issue!.. asked local indie garage for quote and it was more than the battery replacement!....could it be a loose wire? How long would a new battery stay alive with this faulty module? I've had a crazy quote in the hundreds (well over five) for the part and well over 200 for the labour!! Yikes!