Technical Intermittent starting issue

[Mikefraser93]

Hello, can anyone please help me.

My wife's 2009 fiat 500 1.2 pur02. Starts fine 99% of the time but couple of times it's like the battery is completely dead, no lights won't unlock won't even try to start. Leave it a bit and it will.

I don't know if it's a relay that's sticking or if it's the ecu itself. But my wife is a community midwife and relies on that car everyday

 

[steveras57]

Hello, can anyone please help me.

My wife's 2009 fiat 500 1.2 pur02. Starts fine 99% of the time but couple of times it's like the battery is completely dead, no lights won't unlock won't even try to start. Leave it a bit and it will.

I don't know if it's a relay that's sticking or if it's the ecu itself. But my wife is a community midwife and relies on that car everyday

first thing to check is the main earth cable under the battery tray its a well know as a problem area! .

To give yourself an idea if this might be the problem try connecting a battery jump starter lead between the battery negative terminal and a good earthing point in the engine bay and run it like this for a few days to see if the problem is gone if so then replace the main earth lead!.

ALSO test the battery and charging system to see if it is working properly battery first thing in the morning before starting the car should be about 12.6 volts !
then with the engine running at idle you should see between 13.7 and 14.2 volts -if you rev it a bit maybe as high as 15.0 volts then put the headlights on you should still get similar values maybe .5 volts lower for each check!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Our Panda did this a few times then the battery just failed completely.

 

[Mikefraser93]

I've already changed that earth strap when I was trying to fix a previous problem, also the battery is good I've had that tested and it has a new alternator. I thought it could be immobiliser fault maybe? Have to leave it for a bit then it's like it resets and everything comes back.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hello, can anyone please help me.

My wife's 2009 fiat 500 1.2 pur02. Starts fine 99% of the time but couple of times it's like the battery is completely dead, no lights won't unlock won't even try to start.

Hi

So the RCL doesn't function.. And you have to use the CarKey to unlock the drivers door

The Immobiliser just cuts fuel and sparks, and I doubt it has an alarm

It sounds like a fundamental power circuit issue ( my 2013 panda is edging towards your issue..)

Tell us more

 

[Mikefraser93]

That'd why I think it might be ignition relay. Just don't know where it is. My old twingi did something similar but that fixed itself

 

[varesecrazy]

That'd why I think it might be ignition relay. Just don't know where it is. My old twingi did something similar but that fixed itself

But can you explain
"The locks don't work"

 

[Mikefraser93]

Locks don't work on the key. Like the cars no power at all

 

[varesecrazy]

Locks don't work on the key. Like the cars no power at all

Exactly my point

It's a fundamental power issue

Nothing to do with the immobiliser

Personally I would swap batteries and go from there

You will get a good deal at Tayna if you want a new one delivered

As I said - my Panda is starting to get Fussy when 1st attempting to start

Sounds like battery is low, then works all of a sudden..

Battery then Earth cable will be my 1st moves

 

[AnthonyH]

Have to leave it for a bit then it's like it resets and everything comes back.

Failing battery behaviour.

 

[varesecrazy]

Failing battery behaviour.

A new S.S. Battery with a 4 year warranty is £64 and could be there on tuesday

Thats small change compared to a Garage diagnostic.. Or further work

 

[GettinBetter]

I had this while in europe last summer, I didn't worry because I had a compact jump starter in my toolkit, but why it started 30 seconds later baffles me.

An additional earth cable...

Another Earth Cable Option | FIAT 500 (2007+)

Here's a few pics of my additional earth cable. I fitted this, after a simple test proved it to be a solution to a no charging problem. At first the battery was replaced with a new one, with no attention paid to type or capacity (I'd only just bought the car), and yes, it worked for a couple...

www.fiatforum.com

Could solve many of those questionable electrical problems, it has for me.

IMO, the manufacturers system is poor. The addition of another cable is a cheap, but solid fix.