Technical Fiat 500x 2015 check engine light, drive mode unavailable, stop/start unavailable

[Meganrose]

Hi all,

My 2015 fiat 500x check engine light came on a couple of weeks ago, struggles to start a little bit and judders when standing still, but after 15 minutes or so of driving it’s absolutely fine. Check engine light remains on though.
It comes up saying drive mode unavailable and stop/start unavailable.
After a few days this went off and all issues were gone! But then after about 2 weeks it has came on again, same issues.
I took it for diagnostics and they’ve said nothing had came up, battery is at 70% so they can’t see what the issue is, and that I should take it to the main dealer.
I wondered if anyone else had this same issue and I don’t fancy taking it to a main dealer to pay a fortune when I don’t have to!

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Battery is at 70% of charge, or 70% of health?

If the check engine light is on and nothing came out during the test I assume they couldn't connect to anything...

Which engine and gearbox do you have on that 500x?

 

[Meganrose]

Hello,

It’s at 70% charge, I have had a look about since and have found that if your battery is at 70% or less it’s about time for a new one as it’s common for stop/start etc to stop working as a result of this.
The gearbox is 6 gears, and it’s a 1.6L diesel

 

[DGPunto]

Have you tried charging the battery off the car with a battery charger so it's 100% charged?

 

[the green vanper]

No idea if the 500x main earth strap is the same as in the 500, if so, that could be the problem.

In the 500 it's located under the battery. Cleaning the battery terminals and checking all over the earth cables / ground is also a job to do on a 10 years old FIAT.

As for the battery, before buying a new one, I'd go to a battery shop to check the one on the car with a LOAD tester (not the fancy electronic one).