Check engine start stop unavailable

[DerekDethleff]

Hi All. Am in south of France and while driving this morning my Fiat Ducato 2.3 unit declared a “check engine start stop unavailable”. There is no loss of power. No Mis firing. All ok. Spoke to fiat assist. Told me they had seen the issue before but that as light was amber ok to drive and they would get dealer to look next week. Driven 120km today and no problems. Except light still on. Anyone got any ideas. Thanks

 

[Happy Jim]

Total SWAG, but, Clutch pedal switch gone dead (or equiv if comfortmatic)/gear indicator sensor dead, marginally low battery health etc etc
But could be almost anything I guess!

Jim

 

[Phill D]

Many motors switch off the stop start function and give warning if the battery drops below a certain voltage due to frequent stop starting. It's likely to be a sensor.

 

[rwg]

We have the same thing - engine light and no stop/start at the moment - for us the error code is one that suggests the DPF sensor is playing up. Going in for a proper check in a week or so, but apparently the replacement sensors are in very short supply

Robin

 

[Winger]

Don’t you just love computers controlling your journey.
My bet is your battery is not as good as it used to be but still serviceable so carry on!

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[rwg]

Hi, the Ducato does not bother warning you if the battery is a bit low for stop/start, it just doesn't do the stop/start in that case. Certainly not an engine warning light for it...

A bit annoying to be honest - my VW will tell me if it is not doing stop/start due to poor battery state, just started the engine, cabin temperature, etc, which is much more helpful.

cheers,

Robin

 

[poppycamper]

Ok not a moho and not even a Ducato... But still a Fiat.
Mrs Poppycamper's Panda 4x4 does that regularily.
Had it from new and Fiat could not get to the bottom of it. So we now just ignore it.
It will appear every now and then... stay for a few days then disappear just as quickly..
Only to reappear quite a few months later. Does not impact in any way the drivabilty of car so we ignore.
To reiterate we get exact same message
"Check engine, start/stop unavailable" which comes with the "Check Engine" Amber warning light.

 

[pappajohn]

If you have dash Aircon on try turning it off for a while.
Stop start doesn't like Aircon if it's made a few stop starts in a short distance.
Aircon puts a quite heavy load on the battery.

 

[poppycamper]

If you have dash Aircon on try turning it off for a while.
Stop start doesn't like Aircon if it's made a few stop starts in a short distance.
Aircon puts a quite heavy load on the battery.

pappajohn you are indeed quite right... but in that scenario the stop/start would just not work I.e. would not stop engine.... However It would not bring up a stop/start fault alarm and check engine alarm.!

 

[Keep Right On]

see

Hi All. Am in south of France and while driving this morning my Fiat Ducato 2.3 unit declared a “check engine start stop unavailable”. There is no loss of power. No Mis firing. All ok. Spoke to fiat assist. Told me they had seen the issue before but that as light was amber ok to drive and they would get dealer to look next week. Driven 120km today and no problems. Except light still on. Anyone got any ideas. Thanks

see my thread on particulate matter sensors - lots going on Fiats at the moment usually around 2000 miles. Worldwide shortage of replacements..........

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[Keep Right On]

see

see my thread on particulate matter sensors - lots going on Fiats at the moment usually around 2000 miles. Worldwide shortage of replacements..........

Its this one https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fiat-ducato-particulate-matter-sensor.265463/unread

 

[activecampers]

The stop/start message is secondary
The check-engine is the important one, the stop start will disable as a precaution.

Need to get it plugged in and codes read - anything else is speculation - it could be *anything*.

(I carry interface and laptop with MultiECUScan on at all times! Though, to be fair, not needed)

Just come back from South France - sorry! Just clocked 10,000 miles and no issues so far - though massive improvement after 1st service and ECU updates.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Its this one https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fiat-ducato-particulate-matter-sensor.265463/unread

It makes you wonder if this kind of sensor problem might be partly due to the biofuel content of UK diesel, currently supposed to be 5%.

 

[Bobbydaisy]

See my thread too, it’s probably the Particulate Matter Sensor gone faulty, comes up on dash as Stop/Start error , photo below of what I got when I checked with my cheap OBD reader, can still drive the van ok ( for us that was about 160 miles from error occurring to getting home) . Been into dealership to diagnose and part ordered but there is a major shortage of these , so far we’ve been waiting from 4th July.

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Hers my thread , just update this morning for Funsters info

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/stop-start-error.263951/post-5118310

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[Keep Right On]

See my thread too, it’s probably the Particulate Matter Sensor gone faulty, comes up on dash as Stop/Start error , photo below of what I got when I checked with my cheap OBD reader, can still drive the van ok ( for us that was about 160 miles from error occurring to getting home) . Been into dealership to diagnose and part ordered but there is a major shortage of these , so far we’ve been waiting from 4th July. View attachment 635463

How did you get a picture of my OBD reader - ordered from amazon last night arrived today. Very simple to use once I found the docking port. Confirmed its the particulate matter sensor

 

[Bobbydaisy]

How did you get a picture of my OBD reader - ordered from amazon last night arrived today. Very simple to use once I found the docking port. Confirmed its the particulate matter sensor

 

[DerekDethleff]

HI Everyone
Just thought I would update everyone re the original post and the engine management light been on for 1200 miles and Start/stop not available. Well the van went to Fiat today and the result........ software update has "fixed' the problem. Not sure what else to say. Went for service 6 weeks ago when I assume the software update would have been done??? The light is off now!!

But the other issue of a whistle at 2000 from nearside engine bay is another mystery. Fiat checked and said nothing wrong with turbo. Took in today as I say and asked them to check again - under load it whistles - suggested to them a leaking hose

They cannot find it without stripping it down - and warranty expires next week. They have checked all hoses they can see. Said they could not hear the noise. I heard it this morning, but it has disappeared on coming home. They even said the software update may have cured it. This update is a wonder. It appears to do everything. Maybe it will cure the stiff sky light blind as well. Will check.

Sceptical.

 

[poppycamper]

Thanks for update... too many on here fix and forget to update Funsters.

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Thanks for update... too many on here fix and forget to update Funsters.

Totally agree good to see the final outcome , too many unfinished threads

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[Happy Jim]

Listening for a whistle with your ear next to a clattering Diesel engine isn’t likely to pinpoint anything, leaky vacuum hoses are pretty common and do produce a lovely whistle! Smoke generator puffing down the inlet is the easiest way to diagnose it.

Jim

 

[Keep Right On]

Its this one https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fiat-ducato-particulate-matter-sensor.265463/unread

Update - From a position of every Fiat garage in the UK quoting "months" to get the particulate matter sensor, I contacted Fiat customer service in Milan. Within a couple of days, I was told the estimate is 3 weeks. 2.5 weeks later, a call from Milan to tell me my sensor was on the way to Portsmouth and estimated to arrive 6 July. I asked whether there would be enough to go round given there were back orders and was told it was my sensor with my vin no. against it. Adams Morey called me 6 July to say the part was in and the van was booked in the next day while I waited (or took a short walk). An hour later, they called me to say the van was ready, sanitised, windows open for ventilation and ready for contactless collection.
Brilliant, brilliant service Fiat & Adams Morey

 

[rwg]

I also had a call this morning from Fiat saying that a PM sensor had been assigned to me and would be on its way from Italy to the UK shortly. With a little luck apparently it might make it here by the end of next week. Fingers crossed...

cheers,

Robin

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Update - From a position of every Fiat garage in the UK quoting "months" to get the particulate matter sensor, I contacted Fiat customer service in Milan. Within a couple of days, I was told the estimate is 3 weeks. 2.5 weeks later, a call from Milan to tell me my sensor was on the way to Portsmouth and estimated to arrive 6 July. I asked whether there would be enough to go round given there were back orders and was told it was my sensor with my vin no. against it. Adams Morey called me 6 July to say the part was in and the van was booked in the next day while I waited (or took a short walk). An hour later, they called me to say the van was ready, sanitised, windows open for ventilation and ready for contactless collection.
Brilliant, brilliant service Fiat & Adams Morey

Mine was diagnosed 10 June at dealership, fitted and fixed 6th July , would agree great customer care and communication via Fiat and my local dealership ,Ian Greive Fiat Commercial dealership in Falkirk,

https://www.iangrieve.co.uk/fiat-professional/

Would highly recommend.