Fiat Coupe won't start

[pompei]

Looking for help please...

 

It's a 20v turbo. The battery had run flat so I charged it up. Each time I went near the car, the alarm went off and the fob wouldn't stop it. The battery wasn't "full" so I tried jumping it from the Saab. Engine spinning freely, nothing but alarm.

 

I disconnected the battery - alarm still sounding , zapped the fob, reconnected the battery, no alarm, GR8! Engine still spins but won't start.

 

It's never failed to start before, even with jump leads. It's in for MoT tomorrow so rang the garage, they said disconnect for at least an hour and see what happens.

 

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Volksy]

Probably and Immobiliser issue, given the alarm probs, but you could try the fuel cut off switch, IIRC they are located in the side of one of the footwells, press the top of it and see if it will then start.

[Volksy]

Should look like this:

[dollywobbler]

Is this one of those 'you need the red key' issues? I'm only guessing but there must be a reason why they came with a red key.

[Volksy]

I can't remember from my days at Fiat what the system was to recode the fobs/keys. Fiat scrapped the red keys after a few years there's normally a marking on the newer keys which shows if they shouldn't need a red key.

 

if the key you have has ((<>2 marked on one side, it's 'code 2', so shouldn't need a red key. IIRC with these the immobilisor/keycode setting button is a tiny (almost clock type) button next to the interior light. Maybe google will tell you how to recode the key, but I think you need at least one original key to reset it all. I WOULDN'T mess about with it withough knowing what you're doing though, as you can wipe the system.

 

Maybe an PM to FiatDaft may yeald some anwers, and NBickle has fleet of these coupes also I think.

[nigel bickle]

Yup -but never had this prob.

 

Common sense suggests the alarm -esp since it was still live with the battery disconnected. It'll have an on/off on it someplace- I'd be actively looking for that.

 

None of mine have alarms.

[Guest]

 

None of mine have alarms.

 

No disrespect here Nigel, but due to your spectacularly bad luck with people in general, is this really a good idea? Seriously - no offence intended.

[Volksy]

It'll have an on/off on it someplace- I'd be actively looking for that.

 

They came with a Siren Key, (tiny black one) but this only disabled the siren not the system. The alarm is linked into the ecu system. From the little research I've done, if you disconnect the battery, and pull the INJ & EFI fuses from under the bonnet, leave for 15 mins, then plug the fuses in and reattach a charged battery (or your weak one with jumper cables to a charged one) it should reset the system, and you should be able to start it.

 

Come to think of it, when we had a few new 20v Turbos sat around in the compound, they were a bugger to start once the battery had gone flat.

 

This may also help...

 

http://www.gliffy.com/publish/2204269/

[Barry Cade]

If its anything like the alfa GTv, which had the same security system and alarm, it's not unusual. Disconnect the battery and remove the yellow code box from the fusebox for half an hour, reconnect everything and retry.

[pompei]

Update: took the battery off again and charged it up overnight. Put it back on the car, shut doors and bonnet, zapped the zapper a few times, pressed the button and BINGO, we have lift off!

 

Spent yesterday evening reading the coupe forum, farting around with connectors and fuses etc. Thanks for the references and suggestions .Even Murray came to help...

 

So took it for its test, and BINGO AGAIN, straight through, no advisories. Shit Tuesday turns into Happy Wednesday

[Guest]

I feggin hate immobilisers. They can knack yer car when there's nothing wrong with it. They stop everyone from driving the car except the bloke who's come over to steal it. Arse.

[pompei]

I had the alarm/immobiliser disconnected from my CRX. Before that, some thieving sods jacked it up in the street and nicked all four wheels and it never made a murmur.

 

I don't know how easy it would be to disable the thing on the Coupe ...

[Guest]

The immobiliser on my Lotus Excel was zapped by, guess what, the lighting at a Shell garage on a French autoroute. I had to be towed clear of the garage, and then the immobiliser could be disengaged and the car started.