I bought a 2016 Fiat 500X Lounge less than a month ago. It has a keyless entry. Last week, the engine light came on, so I took it in to the Chrysler shop for service. They replaced the thermostat. They performed a 27 point inspection and solved the engine light and thermostat problem. The next morning, I had trouble starting my car. I had not had problems starting it before. I called the mechanic and he told me to let him know if the problem returned, since the car was running okay afterward. Three days later, I had trouble starting it again and returned to the shop. They could not find a problem, so they kept it overnight last night. They said it’s not a battery problem. What could the problem be?
Wait until they diagnose the problem…this car is under warranty.
They looked it over several times and also did a software update and a 27 point inspection. They couldn’t find anything wrong with it.
Describe exactly what happens when you turn the key, and it has the problem. Long crank? 3 seconds? 10 seconds? Multiple tries to start?
I’m sorry. I meant to say that the car has keyless entry and keyless (push-button) start. To start it, I have to press the break pedal, then push the start button. I hold the button in, while keeping my foot on the pedal. I don’t release the button or my foot until the engine starts, but at those times when I had trouble starting it, I pressed the pedal and start button for about 4 - 5 seconds. I didn’t want to hold it any longer because I didn’t want to damage the starter. The car would sound like it was trying to crank up. I would try for a second time, and it still wouldn’t start. Then I’d wait about 20-30 seconds before trying again. It would start the 3rd time, but only after about 3 seconds instead of starting immediately. While it would try to start, the normal displays on the dashboard would flicker. There were no errors displayed.
Could be a 12 volt battery or ground connection problem. How many times a week do you have this problem? You might have to leave it with the dealer.
I bought the car on December 26th and have had this problem a total of 3 times. I noticed that the problem happened when the weather was very cold outside and the car had been sitting in the garage for at least 12 hours. The mechanics said they checked the battery, alternator and starter, but couldn’t find a problem. I haven’t had a reoccurrence of the problem since January 11th. I don’t know why the mechanics couldn’t figure out the problem. Thank you so much for your response!
When a dealership’s service department is baffled and unwilling/unable to fix a problem on a car that is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, it is time for the customer to contact the vehicle manufacturer. If the OP takes some time browsing through the Owner’s Manual, he/she should be able to find the contact information for the manufacturer. A phone call can initiate your complaint, but I would suggest following-up the phone call with a letter summarizing the situation.
If you complain in the appropriately polite–yet firm–manner, you should be able to convince the folks at FCA to send the manufacturer’s regional service supervisor to the dealership in order to take a look at your car.
MAybe, just MAybe that is WHY a 1 1/2 year old car was on the used car lot for you to buy. Un-fixable problems… which is pretty much the description of Fiat cars.
The symptoms sound like a fuel pump check valve problem to me. Ask your shop to do a fuel rail pressure hold test. I expect your fuel pressure is dropping over time when the engine is off. So it takes some cranking time to build the fuel pressure back up. Try just turning the key to “on”, then back to “off”, but not cranking a few times. If that helps, it confirms the fuel pressure idea.
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This car is still under warranty. If the OP requests a specific test, and that test fails to lead to a repair that is covered under the warranty, then the cost of that fruitless test will have to be paid by the OP. That is why I recommended kicking this matter up to the next level with the manufacturer.
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Thank you.
I don’t disagree. But that’s not what the OP asked.
OP: “What could the problem be?”
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Thank you.