Technical Fiat 500 wiring issue

[decappottabile]

I agree, £300 is crazy. But it could be related.
On hybrid cars, the BCM messures the 12v circuit. If voltage drops below 11,99 Volts the system will deactivate the start stop regen braking, hybrid battery charging & also hybrid acceleration assistance.

 

[Delapsd]

The car has two batteries. The 2nd is the hybrid one, under the seat I believe. Ask them which one? I am sure you can get a decent battery elsewhere for about 50% less. I think the Fiat MOPAR ones are Exide but you can get an Exide one elsewhere too. Do they think they fixed the original fault?

I’m assuming they mean the stop start battery as they said £298. The problem is I won’t be able to get the car home unless I get them to change the battery as I would need my 18 year newly qualified daughter to drive it back so don’t have much choice but to pay their prices. The battery was absolutely fine before it went in to them and health checked twice. They’ve said lights have gone out but they don’t give me much confidence.

 

[Delapsd]

We too have a mild hybrid 1.0 Fiat 500. When I enter the registration in to Tayna Batteries online (who I have used numerous times before and therefore can recommend) there is an Exide battery MUCH cheaper than £300.

Given your troubles, together with the liklihood 6 weeks' standing has contributed to the battery failing, I would hope the garage would at least fit a new battery at cost...£300 is ridiculous!

I would be ok if it was cost price but no they want the £300 on top of the £600 to replace the wiring. I definitely think it’s failed because they’ve left it standing for so long.

 

[Delapsd]

I agree, £300 is crazy. But it could be related.
On hybrid cars, the BCM messures the 12v circuit. If voltage drops below 11,99 Volts the system will deactivate the start stop regen braking, hybrid battery charging & also hybrid acceleration assistance.

I had the battery health checked twice and was all ok. Would it not have shown that there was a problem?

 

[jrkitching]

I definitely think it’s failed because they’ve left it standing for so long.

I'm inclined to agree.

Modern batteries should never be left completely discharged; doing so even once can permanently ruin them.

 

[Tropicalmike]

If it is the hybrid battery under the seat I think it is a Li-ion type(That is used for start stop too) You could ask them will the car run with it disconnected ? I think it should but with a warning light. TBH I would not have been suprised if the hybrid battery to have been more expensive than £300.
The conventional battery is used to start the engine from the key. With out the hybrid battery you just dont get the power boost when you accelerate or the start stop system. I think it would be difficult to do a test on the hybrid battery from under the bonnet due to how it is all connected especially as most auto battery testers are for lead acid types not Li-on. You are in a nightmare situation with this garage. Did you get anywhere with Fiat as the original fault was reported before the warranty expired?

 

[Tropicalmike]

I was on ebay for something else this evening and just searched on the 500 hybrid battery . You can get a used one 2-4 years old from £150 - £460 so that may suggest the garage asking £298 for the battery isnt too bad , however they may be asking £298 for the conventional one !

 

[jrkitching]

they may be asking £298 for the conventional one !

That sounds to me the most likely explanation. I find it hard to believe that a main dealer hybrid battery replacement would be less than four figures.

I also find it hard to believe that the car's systems would ever allow the hybrid battery to become completely discharged (unless there's a major fault) - and unlike the conventional battery, I'd also expect the hybrid battery to be covered by the vehicle warranty.

AIUI in general terms, hybrid vehicle batteries have an anticipated life of c.100k miles, and replacement cost is in the order of £1500-£4000.

 

[Delapsd]

I was on ebay for something else this evening and just searched on the 500 hybrid battery . You can get a used one 2-4 years old from £150 - £460 so that may suggest the garage asking £298 for the battery isnt too bad , however they may be asking £298 for the conventional one !

I think they are saying it’s the normal battery that is not holding the charge. I still waiting for Fiat to make a decision of a contribution for the original fault with the wiring but now I have the battery issue.

 

[Delapsd]

Does anyone know if the fiat 500’s should be plugged in when serviced? I’ve ready on fiats website that electronic diagnostics are done with every service but fiat dealer I used said they have never done this.

 

[steveras57]

To be honest if you read all the issues with Fiats customer service, and service departments you would wonder why anybody buys anything off them these days?.
I love my 500 but if(when?) it F**Ks up I wont be buying another!.

If you want reliability and half decent service then buy Japanese!- character is all very well, but if the cost is heartache & expense then its worth nothing!!! and Fiats doing very little to deserve customer loyalty!.

 

[John202020]

If you want reliability and half decent service then buy Japanese!

Ideally, built in Japan too, can't fault my elderly Mazda

 

[Tropicalmike]

They should

Does anyone know if the fiat 500’s should be plugged in when serviced? I’ve ready on fiats website that electronic diagnostics are done with every service but fiat dealer I used said they have never done this.

They should as they need to connect to reset the service interval clock.

 

[Tropicalmike]

I think they are saying it’s the normal battery that is not holding the charge. I still waiting for Fiat to make a decision of a contribution for the original fault with the wiring but now I have the battery issue.

Considering the young age of the battery that they let go flat. Ask if they have used an intelligent battery charger to try to bring it back to life. Alternatively, you supply a replacment battery . I bought an Exide one from Tayna for a 500 for £90.

 

[The Panda Nut]

To be honest if you read all the issues with Fiats customer service, and service departments you would wonder why anybody buys anything off them these days?.
I love my 500 but if(when?) it F**Ks up I wont be buying another!.

If you want reliability and half decent service then buy Japanese!- character is all very well, but if the cost is heartache & expense then its worth nothing!!! and Fiats doing very little to deserve customer loyalty!.

I agree. And as you get older reliablity and cheapto run is all thatmatters, oh and easy to get in and our which is where Panda 4x4is so good. Ive badly upset a verylong term back injury and I would be stuck with most other cars.

 

[jrkitching]

I think they are saying it’s the normal battery that is not holding the charge. I still waiting for Fiat to make a decision of a contribution for the original fault with the wiring but now I have the battery issue.

I suspect your normal battery has failed prematurely because they allowed it to stand around whilst fully discharged.

£298 is beyond ridiculous and pragmatically, if they fix everything else under warranty, I'd just take the vehicle back as it is and go buy another normal battery elsewhere; expect to pay around £100 or so for a decent one. Even if they offer you a 50% contribution for the battery replacement, you'd still be better off turning the offer down and sourcing a new replacement from somewhere else.

 

[Delapsd]

I agree. And as you get older reliablity and cheapto run is all thatmatters, oh and easy to get in and our which is where Panda 4x4is so good. Ive badly upset a verylong term back injury and I would be stuck with most other cars.

I’ll probably look to get rid of mine when I eventually get it back. Too unreliable for a 3 year old car, customer service has not been great and so drawn and and long winded and hardly any dealership around willing to take on warranty work.