500 Fiat 500

[TCaires]

New here,
Hi,
I started out just doing oil changes and quickly fell in love with the trade. I call it being a “doctor for cars”! It’s saved me a fortune—especially on my Land Rover, haha.

I’ve even started buying cars, fixing them up, and selling them. It’s going well, though as you know, things don’t always go according to plan!

Now I’ve run into a big problem. I have a Fiat 500 that I took to my local garage because of a noise. They told me it was the clutch, so I paid £500 to have it done—turns out, nope, the problem’s still there. Now they’re telling me it’s the gearbox.

This is exactly why I started learning the trade—because of situations like this where people get ripped off.

So here’s my question: after changing the gearbox, the car’s immobilizer is on and I’m getting a “fuel cut off” message. Any idea how I can sort this?

Appreciate any help! Worst case, it's a write-off, but I’m hoping not.

 

[A3jeroen]

Earthcable 100% and connected right?

gr J

 

[steveras57]

As stated above when changing the gearbox the only electrical item the is touched DIRECTLY is the earth cable -you could do the jump lead test by connecting a lead between the negative terminal and another good earth point and seeing if the messages go away! Id disconnect the battery for 30 mins first to clear any stored codes then try it!
you could try resetting the fuel cut off as well.
If i doesn't work then any one of the other electrical connecters might have been knocked or disturbed during the gearbox change! i would check the main ECU connections first and then as many others i could reach hopefully one if these will prove the culprit or more detective work will be needed!
As the garage you paid £500 to for the clutch miss-diagnosed the problem hopefully your in discussion with them about reimbursement for unneeded work?.

 

[TCaires]

thanks, guys for the support will crack on with it this weekend and come back with updates

 

[TCaires]

I’m having an issue where all the messages have now disappeared, and the car still won’t start. The battery is fine, but no matter what I try, it seems like something else might be wrong.


Here’s a summary of what I’ve done so far:

1. Disconnected the battery for 30 minutes to clear any stored codes.
2. Double-checked the earth cable to ensure it's securely reconnected.
3. Performed the jump lead test, connecting the negative terminal to a good earth point, but the problem persists.
4. Reset the fuel cut-off.
5. Checked the ECU connections and all other accessible electrical connectors near the gearbox.

Do you have any other suggestions or things I should check? It’s like the car just won’t start no matter what I do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks again,
Tomas

 

[steveras57]

Just to clarify- when you say it wont start !-do you mean that its cranking and turning over but just not firing? or is Nothing happening at all? and not even turning over!.

 

[TCaires]

a cracking click-click sound, click-click, not the sound when the battery is gone.

 

[Derbyfella]

a cracking click-click sound, click-click, not the sound when the battery is gone.

Can I ask how exactly you got the error messages to stop showing…..and has the immobiliser light now gone?

 

[TCaires]

the car’s immobilizer and “fuel cut off” message. GONE. its was Earthcable 100% and connected right.

 

[steveras57]

the car’s immobilizer and “fuel cut off” message. GONE. its was Earthcable 100% and connected right.

A clicking noise thats rhythmic and cycles, is often the sign of either a flat battery or a failed starter motor solenoid!- id swap the battery for a KNOWN good one and try again , if that fails then the next quickest and cheapest thing to do is swap out the starter motor assembly, need to get it turning before you can see of it fires up!. or if you live near a big hill you could try an ol fashioned bump start( as long as you have a buddy to tow you back up if it fails!) good luck!

 

[John202020]

Will it push start?

 

[TCaires]

DIDNT PUSH START , HAVE USE CABLE, MY OTHER CAR ETC AND NOTHING DONT WANT TO TAKE TO THE ROAD AND CANNOT BRING IT BACK AS ITS UP A HILL

 

[TCaires]

A clicking noise thats rhythmic and cycles, is often the sign of either a flat battery or a failed starter motor solenoid!- id swap the battery for a KNOWN good one and try again , if that fails then the next quickest and cheapest thing to do is swap out the starter motor assembly, need to get it turning before you can see of it fires up!. or if you live near a big hill you could try an ol fashioned bump start( as long as you have a buddy to tow you back up if it fails!) good luck!

MAYBE I WILL DO IT AT NIGHT, BUSY ROAD, THNKS FOR THE HELP YOU ALL, AMAZING TIPS, WILL CHECK SOLENOID
FIRTS

 

[John202020]

Try this first, "jump start lead" from battery NEGATIVE to a good clean part of the engine, how does it crank if at all?
Next try either a known good battery OR a good known battery via jump start cables, positive to positive on battery negative from good known battery to good point on engine does it crank well?

 

[TCaires]

Try this first, "jump start lead" from battery NEGATIVE to a good clean part of the engine, how does it crank if at all?
Next try either a known good battery OR a good known battery via jump start cables, positive to positive on battery negative from good known battery to good point on engine does it crank well?

this is driving me crazy, i have use my portable jumper, I have use my other car to jamp it and nothing, during the removal of the gear box I probably Fu888888888888ed something up I just don't know what