SPProduction02 which is an Exide... They used to use Magnetti Marelli batteries and in my experience they lasted longer and held their charge better too.
statesidesupercars agree, many friends have owned a Fist Abarth and they are rubbish and breakdown. No kiddding, the door handle will just fall off after two years
My missus had one there terrible for things falling off, The first year the glovebox catch fell off and couldn't get it to shut back in properly and the pull handle for the bonnet snapped off, She did 5k miles in it and got rid before the warranty run out and would start costing to put things right.
Sam G do you get mad at anyone who states their opinion even though Fiats are notorious for issues? you can deny it all you want but in Canada, the Fiat 500 is classed as THE WORST new car you can buy. not one of the worst, but the one that gets the gold trophy for being shit.
Stepi0087 look it up for yourself. It's judged as the worst car you can buy new. It's not my opinion. I dont care. Hell i actually like the Fiat 500 but it's reputation is it's own
So you cant tell where your statements came from! I think i know your kind! I can bring proofs: here! www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/leserwahl-best-cars-2017-kategorie-a-minicars-ergebnisse-10142808.html Sorry for deutsche! Just a random prize abarth/Fiat 500 won. Awarded by a german magazine: not the most kind people to Fiat.
timeold75 nope people who like fiats usually buy shitty car like peugeots and Citroen because they know nothing about cars. Fiat USED to be good now a days they are just shite and unreliable, hence why in the car mechanics world it stands for "Fix It Again Tomorrow/Toni"
timeold75 wtf are you on about, German cars are the most reliable cars on the market, fiat however are dog shit, I've experienced it first hand for the past 3 years, they used to be good but they got lazy and now they are known for their unreliability these days, even the companies the own like Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Jeep are known for their unreliability.
I only know that too well after putting up with a New Beattle 2000 year and now owning a Fiat 500 Sport 2012 year. I would never own another VW even if it was give to me yet I would consider trading my 2012 Fiat in for the latest 2018 Turbo.
My first ever car was a fiat, and it changed my life forever.Firstly it gave me some freedom to go where I wanted, but secondly it broke on a regular basis, so I learned how to mend it myself. 22 years later I am still earning my living repairing vehicles, thanks to that charming little fiat uno.
It's the battery, you have to remember it's also been sitting at the factory for a while. Have it replaced by the dealer. Had a similar problem with my Abarth, it's a common issue with the original battery. Have it checked out. No problems post replacement.
SuperWeeksey True. It's heavy use with not enough time to recharge to full 'health' - you gradually drain it until one day it doesn't have enough juice to operate anything... and modern cars need a lot of juice it seems!
Nice report Sam. Fellow Abarth owner here. Really enjoy your little reports on your Bi posto. Great you still enjoy your little Abarth. They are so much fun. You have to own one to understand. ;-) All the best, and look forward to the next report.
WERF_64 Making good quality content about cars which was well made and very entertaining, to making forgettable vlogs with click bait titles where its mostly just them driving round making unfunny, childish jokes and talking about fast food.
Daniel Sadjadian yeah im a bit puzzled myself, He would have been better getting the little electric bmw for nipping around town. might not be as fast but ut has more toys an is obv cheaper to run.
One day out of nowhere my Abarth was dead and didn't start - so I called roadside. My car too had sat in the showroom for months before I bought it, problem was when I picked up the car they failed to tighten the positive battery connection (they pull it off on showroom cars) All we did was tighten it and it fired up. Glad it happened then and not down the highway!
Fantastic videos mate! Only found your channel last week! Awesome!! Like the way you show how the audio system works! Not many people show things like that!
As a former emergency towtruck driver i can say that batteries on newer cars today suck! I helped soo many people with flat batteries its ridiculous. And most of the batteries were just a few months old. A few years ago you could abuse the hell out of a battery then just charge it and it would be fine, not any more...
If you can park near a power source, your best bet is to get an Optimate battery maintainer. Those units fully analyze the battery and can even desulfate some "dead" batteries. Also, batteries sometimes act up when the outdoor temperature passes through the freezing point (either direction), which probably has to do with loss of connection between the battery posts and the cable ends. If you clean (wire brush tool) the clamps and posts and then apply something like Corrosion-X, you will eliminate that problem.
I have the same Kenwood headunit and the coolingfan can sometimes still be on when the car is off and drain the battery, because it still gets enough power to run when it should not run to keep its memory. Its quiet enough not to be heard. Even when the "face" of it is removed it can drain the battery with this problem. Hope this helps
So, just to summarise, after have fitted a car as an Abarth 695 Biposto (that it is not supposed to have a sound system at all) with a third party "customised" one we are complaining about Italian engineering?
Thanks, I am astonished people with decent cars are not aware of these things and to jump start a modern car like Sam did in the video is not good for the battery or the car electronics.
Alert64 while I agree (infact my lightly used qashqai uses one on the drive) it needs mains power,so if the 695 is road parked it's going to be hard to get mains power to it
in many cases the lighter socket is used to source the remote wire for your amplifier, and I've found that some usb chargers return a current down the socket that can keep the amplifier live and in turn flattening your battery.
It didn't die Sam, you killed it lol. By not using the car so much while you have been using mostly the McLaren... and when you have been using it, you have probably had the heated rear window and heater blower on, wipers also... these three things alone will drain the battery quickly and by not using the car regularly doesn't give the battery a chance to recharge. Then you left it for four or five days with the alarm armed...
My battery died after 2 1/2 years. I stopped to refuel and then it wouldn't restart. Under warranty, roadside service jumped it and I drove it to Advance Auto parts store and replaced it. A lot of things can happen. Batteries are 3 year batteries and they sell you one as new car to get you off the lot and down the road. It's not a warranty item, although roadside assistance is provided. They won't bring you a battery and sell it to you as roadside assistance, but I think that should be an option expecially when you have to call Fiat for roadside assistance to be dispatched to you. Anyway, maintenance free batteries still dehydrate the acid & water in the battery. The plates and cells can become damaged by sulfating, cracking and overheating. They'd have to take the battery apart to determine that. I sat in gridlock traffic a lot. So it could be lack of rpms to really charge the battery with the alternator. Winter days are shorter, so commuting is done both in the dark for AM & PM commutes. That with excessive idling in stop & go traffic will kill a car. That has more to do with big city overpopulation, too many school zones & kids and so forth. End of the day, that battery may work, may have been saved, add distilled water to it and see how long it lasts ? But if you want piece of mind, for about $ 150, you can just replace it. Make sure the alternator belt is adjusted properly too. Mt radar detector has a car voltage meter, Cobra is pretty good, it's an iPhone/Android app that indicates the voltage. That may or may not be indicating the alternator is putting out the right level of amps to charge it ? But in general, a healthy Fiat electical should be indicating 14.2 V for a 12 V system while running, The battery itself should also be around 12.8 V with the car not running.
If it stayed 9 months and the dealer didn't take care for the battery it might be dying. 12V plug is powered off when keys are removed so even worst charger shouldn't be a problem. I think it was a combination of less than normal charge (short trips) and weather. PS: nice audio setup.
My sister's Fiat 500 had the same problem, cost her over £200 to get everything checked over/diagnosed as well as a new battery. You got off lucky Sam.
I had a 500 (a regular one) for 3 years from brand new and during that time the bluetooth microphone needed replacing, the washer jets kept popping out of their mountings and the front right DRL kept failing. A friend's 500 had the door handle snap off in her hand, the bluetooth mic replaced, the washer jets destroyed themselves, she had issues with the gearbox and had a major flaw in the boot where the wiring would rub on the hinge and would fail constantly. She had it repaired 3 times by Fiat and in the end went to an independent electrician who had to re-enforce the wiring. During the same time frame my wife had a Toyota Aygo that went 3 years without a single problem, followed by a Kia Picanto that again did 3 years without a single problem. Now we're driving a Citroen that, after 2 years, hasn't had any issues either (although I'm waiting for the dreaded electrical faults). I definitely wouldn't buy another Fiat, not even an Abarth.
Had the same problem. Turned out to be the charging cable. It won't register as a drain until you connect a device to it, but when you disconnect the device and leave the cable connected, it still draws current until you disconnect the csble from the socket
Could be that: -the fluid needs to be topped up in the battery and then fully recharged with a battery charger (if it is not a maintenance-free battery) -the battery is dying and needs to be replaced with a good quality one (before it dies completely). -or the connections on the battery don't have good contact, I get very rough sand paper and sand the terminals and the inside of the terminal clamps until I see shiny metal. I keep a 10mm wrench (your car might use a different size) in my car to loosen and tighten the terminal clamp and sandpaper just in case it becomes too corroded to start the car one day.
It's the cold weather. Killed mine too. It would jump start but wouldn't hold any charge after being left a week. Just bought a new battery off eBay for £35, popped it in, and it's all sorted.
Funnily enough had a similar problem with my Ducati Scrambler, just two years old and battery not retaining charge, probably due to the previous owner not riding it enough. Just replaced the battery and have a battery tender connection fitted. The other thing you BiPosto and my Scrambler have in common is that in many ways they are utterly ludicrous, but are also just Sooooo much fun! Ciao
The issue is more likely battery not being full charge as you have a sound system in that car that drawing a lot of current when on and alternator may not able to keep up with the demand. Then the battery being small doesn't help ether.
Your built in 'security' system is a small drain. This system is enabled when you lock the car using your remote. If the battery was weak before leaving, the drain from this might be the problem. Additionally, if your car has an alternator, this could be failing and would cause a battery failure. Good luck amigo.
I still think something must have drained it. It wasn't just a dead battery, it was completely empty to an extent where you couldn't even open the door anymore. In just 4 days. If the battery has a dead cell or something I think it would be noticeable due to slower cranking. I'd definately go back to Fiat and have them sort it out! Best of luck! Keep up the great video's!
I remember when I was driving Punto HGT, battery went dead couple of times while I was away for holidays and left the car in garage. It turned out that the factory built-in Blaupunkt sound system was pulling lot of power even when turned out. It was replaced and it never happened again.
it IS the charger! I have the same one. Gave the same readings when battery was tested. but when I stopped using it, car stopped dying. Actually even looks like the same brand.
Same thing happened to my Micra; no ignition lights, no digital read out. Turned out 2 fuses had gone. One: My main fuse controlling power, and two: my subwoofer fuse. Now the car is perfectly fine Try a trickle charger if you are to be leaving it the same time again?
I've always just put a battery isolator under the bonnet if I have a problem with a car. Also an extra security measure on old cars! I suppose you don't have an alarm this way, but all alarms do is annoy people.
Ben Smith fun little town car as a daily?!?!? The things an unreliable POS, you could get much better things for £30k, for example, you can get a BMW 125i M sport, which has a 2.0l engine, more than 2 seats, a big boot, all the gadgets you need, a much smoother ride quality, better looks and best of all German engineering for around £8,000
C´mon guys, its just dead battery, easy fix, not a fiat engineering problem.. BTW every supercar has battery problem time to time..so this means, this FIAT is a SUPERCAR!
Do you have a alarm system on it?? Could some one been settings the alarm off which would drain the battery. Also if you pull the door handle does it turn the interior lights on??
TheDiamondHusky191x You need to calm down, i saw you having a go at someone else! Did you make that joke up, no... and also I just posted that comment to him. i am not trying to get a attention like you, you 5 year old. Get the fuck off youtube, man.
I have 2004 fiat Siena and last battery ran well for 5 years and 6 months. it has a 1.6 petrol engine. maybe it's the extreme cold weather of UK which kills the battery way sooner
Rikhav Shah I think it's modern batteries and all the electronics. I had a Fiat with an old Magnetti Marelli battery that lasted 9 years, no issues. Since then I've had two Fiats with Exides - 5 years battery life for those.
Higginz1220 which country are you from? i always thought Exide is an Indian company for me exides work least so i always prefer tata green batteries. we don't get MM batteries but 9 years is just too good
Rikhav Shah I don't think MM do batteries anymore. I've not seen one in over 16 years. They still do other electronics though. I have MM components in my Skoda and Fiat.
I bought a Mitsubishi that had been sitting in a holding yard for 6-7 months. I also had my battery randomly die on me about a month after buying it. My dealer replaced the battery (under warranty) and all was well. Talk to your Fiat dealer, hopefully they'll do the right thing.
Small car = small battery and tiny alternator. Slightly colder weather, no long trips to fully charge the battery = dead battery. If you don't use your car for longer trips and only do short trips in city traffic then I suggest buying a battery charger and charging your car at least in every two weeks. There are very small charger available these days that can be a permanently fitted to the car and you only have to plug the cord in. They are also capable of analyzing your battery health. Search ebay for "CTEK Multi MXS 5.0" for one good example.
great video more old Sam stg style, I was discussing the other day with a mate how your videos have lost something since owning the maclaren the build up was great and the other reviews you've done are always top notch for both quality and how down to earth you are, just don't turn into some poncy prick with a supercar, loving the work rob
My 500L has just done the same... Washington DC here, summer 2018 and I don’t use my car that much now, used it last weekend and now is completely dead...
often amp readings can show 0 even if a small trickle of power is being pulled, i.e. chargers that display a light on them or whatever can still read as pulling no amps even though they are pulling a minute amount to keep a light on or so. The charger may have been pulling a tiny amount of power that wasn't detectable.
It's not a mystery. It went flat due to the combination of the 500 having a tiny battery, lack of use, and cold weather. Your car still uses power even when turned off, for things like immobiliser [and/or alarm], radio, clock etc. And in cold weather batteries lose stored energy quicker compared to more temperate weather.
My battery died, but you'll know that. Was driving, stopped for gasoline and went to restart it and it wouldn't turn over. What was scary about it, the dashboard was doing all kinds of crazy things with all that's going on with the single display. Anyway, May 2013 purchase of the car, battery died summer-ish of 2015. So driving it was only on the plus side of 2 years on the OEM battery. Not sure if the car had sat at the dealership in inventory & for how long. New battery from Advance Auto Parts and it's almost mid August 2017, so I fear the battery may have a similar lifespan and is due to die again shortly ? I figure the first one died being an OEM, they don't last more than a 36 month lease or powertrain warranty on any car lasts. But it could've been low/dehydrated cells for acid & water in a maintenance free battery. That or the plates were damaged from abuse, eventually enough potholes and vibrations kills a battery from all the jolts the car takes. There's always sulfated plates in the battery too, but you're going to see corrosion on the terminals if the battery is degrading from corrosion. I recall the new battery was about $ 150. I've even seen batteries that appeared to be restored, eventually still burn up, I've seen one even explode. But that's because no more fluid was added to the cells and the battery got too hot. This is in FL, so it's tropical here, cold weather extremes aren't really a problem.
12V auxiliary power outlet is wired as a part of the accessory system (e.g. with the lights) so it runs off the battery when the ignition isn't on. Most aftermarket 12v USB adapters have lights on them which is a bloody big clue that they're still on after the car is turned off. Rookie mistake Sam.
I used to have a certain make of tracker on my van which used to cause the battery to go flat every time I had a weeks holiday, the tracker was changed and it never happened again.
You have to make sure you charge up your jump starter every now and again. If they are left uncharged for long periods they are ruined and have to be binned.
I have those small lithium ion jump start packs in all our vehicles for that very reason. Small enough to not bother you, and security in case of a no start. Especially on a daily. And, while I love Abarth's, they are known for being... uniquely Italian.
Ferraris do this shit a lot, on 'new' cars (aka sitting in a place for a long time without beeing driven), do kill their batteries, so it might be normal. But, another thing that happens a lot that makes this, is the Bluetooth paired with the car and leave the car and the phone close, like 10 meters of the phone, and given that, you traveled, and assuming you left your UK phone home, could be the culprit too.
Most likely the battery is not performing as well as it used to be plus the cold or bad weather might have affected it. Regardless check the battery and if it has issues just replace it.
The same Exide battery I had in my Abarth. I replace it after 6 years. I put again an Exide battery but the premium series. It's a good idea to put a voltmeter in your car. In my previous car my battery dies many times from the sound system..
It is most likely that the battery is dead, they don't like sitting around not being used or cold weather. A battery that is a bit weak will die fast in cold weather. If stored they should ideally be put somewhere at room temperature and put on a trickle charger. Just a few days or so it should be fine so I doubt it was anything you done, it was likely weakened when at the dealership not being used or charged.
![I Bought Another Abarth! [Project Biposto]](/img/n.gif)
Here comes the italian cars stereotype comments
when it's only the battery...
SPProduction02 which is an Exide... They used to use Magnetti Marelli batteries and in my experience they lasted longer and held their charge better too.
LA of LA just a bunch of 13yo sitting on their fathers car passenger seat
LA of LA all cars are as reliable there is very little difference nowdays
Jason Genova but you dont know nothing about cars how are you commenting bro just shut the fuck up you 12 year old
Because its Italian 🙊
statesidesupercars you're fanny smells like fanny
statesidesupercars agree, many friends have owned a Fist Abarth and they are rubbish and breakdown. No kiddding, the door handle will just fall off after two years
FixItAgainTony
Such a creative opinion!!!
My missus had one there terrible for things falling off, The first year the glovebox catch fell off and couldn't get it to shut back in properly and the pull handle for the bonnet snapped off, She did 5k miles in it and got rid before the warranty run out and would start costing to put things right.
Why did your hair die?
lo0l
lmfao
Savage af
ROFL Creased me
it died ... cause it is a fiat ...
relax. I'd buy this car in a heard beat. Love it.
Fix It Again Tomorrow = Fiat
Such a creative opinion!
abarth*
So is a laferrari
All of the comments are just people saying its a fiat or its Italian
Oliver Sheeple!
Oliver what you to talk about ? Lol that's the main subject of the video
Oliver well they are correct then.
Everybody here is a mechanic...
Callum Penman you are a dumb!
Because it's a fiat?
Sam G do you get mad at anyone who states their opinion even though Fiats are notorious for issues? you can deny it all you want but in Canada, the Fiat 500 is classed as THE WORST new car you can buy. not one of the worst, but the one that gets the gold trophy for being shit.
Patrick Pelletier Show proofs of your statement! Otherwise its just an opinion
Stepi0087 look it up for yourself. It's judged as the worst car you can buy new. It's not my opinion. I dont care. Hell i actually like the Fiat 500 but it's reputation is it's own
Stepi0087 why do people like you automatically demand for proof. If you dont believe me it's up to you to find out.
So you cant tell where your statements came from! I think i know your kind!
I can bring proofs: here! www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/leserwahl-best-cars-2017-kategorie-a-minicars-ergebnisse-10142808.html
Sorry for deutsche! Just a random prize abarth/Fiat 500 won. Awarded by a german magazine: not the most kind people to Fiat.
Only stupid people underestimate FIAT. It is one of the most honest and coolest brands.
let them talk...these kind of people usually drive Peugeot 106 with Body-Kit and Flap on the car's roof!:-D
timeold75 nope people who like fiats usually buy shitty car like peugeots and Citroen because they know nothing about cars. Fiat USED to be good now a days they are just shite and unreliable, hence why in the car mechanics world it stands for "Fix It Again Tomorrow/Toni"
Callum Penman and why the car mechanics world it also stands for BMW "Broken Motor Weekly/Wolfgang" we can talk forever about this bullshit!
Callum Penman isn't it great to base our opinions on stereotypes, generalisations and anecdotal based prejudice? I guess it is...
timeold75 wtf are you on about, German cars are the most reliable cars on the market, fiat however are dog shit, I've experienced it first hand for the past 3 years, they used to be good but they got lazy and now they are known for their unreliability these days, even the companies the own like Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Jeep are known for their unreliability.
Come on everyone, a Fiat is more reliable than a VW let's be honest........
TheInterceptor111 people just base their life on stereotypes
I only know that too well after putting up with a New Beattle 2000 year and now owning a Fiat 500 Sport 2012 year. I would never own another VW even if it was give to me yet I would consider trading my 2012 Fiat in for the latest 2018 Turbo.
See comment below, thanks.
My first ever car was a fiat, and it changed my life forever.Firstly it gave me some freedom to go where I wanted, but secondly it broke on a regular basis, so I learned how to mend it myself. 22 years later I am still earning my living repairing vehicles, thanks to that charming little fiat uno.
It's the battery, you have to remember it's also been sitting at the factory for a while. Have it replaced by the dealer. Had a similar problem with my Abarth, it's a common issue with the original battery. Have it checked out. No problems post replacement.
Over the last 2 weeks my battery has been doing the same in my 135i, as soon as it warmed up everything back to normal. So not just the Italians.
SuperWeeksey True. It's heavy use with not enough time to recharge to full 'health' - you gradually drain it until one day it doesn't have enough juice to operate anything... and modern cars need a lot of juice it seems!
love the 135i
Nice report Sam. Fellow Abarth owner here. Really enjoy your little reports on your Bi posto. Great you still enjoy your little Abarth. They are so much fun. You have to own one to understand. ;-) All the best, and look forward to the next report.
You left the volume on 27, an odd number! This is not acceptable 😤😁
I love your editing Sam, the effort really shows in your video's
Always love your content. Im glad you haven't fallen into the same trap Salomondrin has fallen into.
what trap did salomondrin fall into?
WERF_64 Making good quality content about cars which was well made and very entertaining, to making forgettable vlogs with click bait titles where its mostly just them driving round making unfunny, childish jokes and talking about fast food.
ok then slowly walks away unnoticed by w james having a mental breakdown
WERF_64 I was just being honest.
W-James succinct and accurate too. The sad thing is - we know he can do a lot better - we have the old content to prove it!
I still can't fathom why you would spend 30+ k on this car.
Supercar passion with city car convenience
He didn't
Daniel Sadjadian yeah im a bit puzzled myself, He would have been better getting the little electric bmw for nipping around town. might not be as fast but ut has more toys an is obv cheaper to run.
Daniel Sadjadian he said in a video he didn't pay 30k for it he got them to lower the price
Jason Genova you should not comment m8 you know nothing about cars bro
"Italian engineering at its finest" ya right buddy, more like normal car issues
Moreno No not really, things like this seem to happen more often with cars like Fiats or Ferraris etc
One day out of nowhere my Abarth was dead and didn't start - so I called roadside. My car too had sat in the showroom for months before I bought it, problem was when I picked up the car they failed to tighten the positive battery connection (they pull it off on showroom cars) All we did was tighten it and it fired up. Glad it happened then and not down the highway!
Hmm thats odd. Ive left my abarth for a week and its not had any issues. Maybe a dodgy battery. Nice update on the stereo sam 👍🏼
Fantastic videos mate! Only found your channel last week! Awesome!! Like the way you show how the audio system works! Not many people show things like that!
Dude, the music you use in your videos is so on point. Put together a play list?
As a former emergency towtruck driver i can say that batteries on newer cars today suck! I helped soo many people with flat batteries its ridiculous. And most of the batteries were just a few months old.
A few years ago you could abuse the hell out of a battery then just charge it and it would be fine, not any more...
Sam you've been doing such a great job on your videos recently! Keep up the great work 👍🏻👍🏻
If you can park near a power source, your best bet is to get an Optimate battery maintainer. Those units fully analyze the battery and can even desulfate some "dead" batteries. Also, batteries sometimes act up when the outdoor temperature passes through the freezing point (either direction), which probably has to do with loss of connection between the battery posts and the cable ends. If you clean (wire brush tool) the clamps and posts and then apply something like Corrosion-X, you will eliminate that problem.
I have the same Kenwood headunit and the coolingfan can sometimes still be on when the car is off and drain the battery, because it still gets enough power to run when it should not run to keep its memory. Its quiet enough not to be heard.
Even when the "face" of it is removed it can drain the battery with this problem. Hope this helps
So, just to summarise, after have fitted a car as an Abarth 695 Biposto (that it is not supposed to have a sound system at all) with a third party "customised" one we are complaining about Italian engineering?
Do yourself a favour and get a CTEK multi-stage battery charger, it will recondition the battery and charge it properly.
Alert64 congratulations on having the only sensible and intelligent comment I've read so far on this video.
Thanks, I am astonished people with decent cars are not aware of these things and to jump start a modern car like Sam did in the video is not good for the battery or the car electronics.
Alert64
while I agree (infact my lightly used qashqai uses one on the drive)
it needs mains power,so if the 695 is road parked it's going to be hard to get mains power to it
Alert64 Is it like a hair conditioner?
Alert64 or buy a new car that won't have any problems
Fix it again tomorrow?
thedownshiftchannel DONT COPY MY COMMENT
TheDiamondHusky191x sorry didn't see your comment all the way down at the bottom...
thedownshiftchannel haven't heard that one before! Got your old joke book out of the attic?
Higginz1220 you got me...
You lost a chance to shut up and look smarter than you are
in many cases the lighter socket is used to source the remote wire for your amplifier, and I've found that some usb chargers return a current down the socket that can keep the amplifier live and in turn flattening your battery.
It didn't die Sam, you killed it lol. By not using the car so much while you have been using mostly the McLaren... and when you have been using it, you have probably had the heated rear window and heater blower on, wipers also... these three things alone will drain the battery quickly and by not using the car regularly doesn't give the battery a chance to recharge. Then you left it for four or five days with the alarm armed...
Shut up woman and bring Timothy back.
Timothy's sister | Poor Tim, what did you do to him??
Miroslav Milan Caught him using my makeup and going through my underwear drawer, so I slapped the biatch.
My battery died after 2 1/2 years. I stopped to refuel and then it wouldn't restart. Under warranty, roadside service jumped it and I drove it to Advance Auto parts store and replaced it. A lot of things can happen. Batteries are 3 year batteries and they sell you one as new car to get you off the lot and down the road. It's not a warranty item, although roadside assistance is provided. They won't bring you a battery and sell it to you as roadside assistance, but I think that should be an option expecially when you have to call Fiat for roadside assistance to be dispatched to you.
Anyway, maintenance free batteries still dehydrate the acid & water in the battery. The plates and cells can become damaged by sulfating, cracking and overheating. They'd have to take the battery apart to determine that. I sat in gridlock traffic a lot. So it could be lack of rpms to really charge the battery with the alternator. Winter days are shorter, so commuting is done both in the dark for AM & PM commutes. That with excessive idling in stop & go traffic will kill a car. That has more to do with big city overpopulation, too many school zones & kids and so forth. End of the day, that battery may work, may have been saved, add distilled water to it and see how long it lasts ? But if you want piece of mind, for about $ 150, you can just replace it. Make sure the alternator belt is adjusted properly too. Mt radar detector has a car voltage meter, Cobra is pretty good, it's an iPhone/Android app that indicates the voltage. That may or may not be indicating the alternator is putting out the right level of amps to charge it ? But in general, a healthy Fiat electical should be indicating 14.2 V for a 12 V system while running, The battery itself should also be around 12.8 V with the car not running.
If it stayed 9 months and the dealer didn't take care for the battery it might be dying. 12V plug is powered off when keys are removed so even worst charger shouldn't be a problem. I think it was a combination of less than normal charge (short trips) and weather. PS: nice audio setup.
That music transition was the smoothest I've ever seen. Nice job!
Why didnt you just push start it? It is a manual right? Doesn't weigh much, give it a good push and pop the clutch.
My sister's Fiat 500 had the same problem, cost her over £200 to get everything checked over/diagnosed as well as a new battery. You got off lucky Sam.
Do you have an OBD bluetooth reader? Some of those draw power when idle.
Plus a battery sitting that long can easily go bad.
I had a 500 (a regular one) for 3 years from brand new and during that time the bluetooth microphone needed replacing, the washer jets kept popping out of their mountings and the front right DRL kept failing. A friend's 500 had the door handle snap off in her hand, the bluetooth mic replaced, the washer jets destroyed themselves, she had issues with the gearbox and had a major flaw in the boot where the wiring would rub on the hinge and would fail constantly. She had it repaired 3 times by Fiat and in the end went to an independent electrician who had to re-enforce the wiring.
During the same time frame my wife had a Toyota Aygo that went 3 years without a single problem, followed by a Kia Picanto that again did 3 years without a single problem. Now we're driving a Citroen that, after 2 years, hasn't had any issues either (although I'm waiting for the dreaded electrical faults).
I definitely wouldn't buy another Fiat, not even an Abarth.
I love the smooth turnover from the stereo in your car to the background song at 2:00 :D
Had the same problem. Turned out to be the charging cable. It won't register as a drain until you connect a device to it, but when you disconnect the device and leave the cable connected, it still draws current until you disconnect the csble from the socket
Could be that:
-the fluid needs to be topped up in the battery and then fully recharged with a battery charger (if it is not a maintenance-free battery)
-the battery is dying and needs to be replaced with a good quality one (before it dies completely).
-or the connections on the battery don't have good contact, I get very rough sand paper and sand the terminals and the inside of the terminal clamps until I see shiny metal.
I keep a 10mm wrench (your car might use a different size) in my car to loosen and tighten the terminal clamp and sandpaper just in case it becomes too corroded to start the car one day.
You are filling up my playlist and it is a pleasure to watch your videos ,keep going xD.
It's the cold weather. Killed mine too. It would jump start but wouldn't hold any charge after being left a week. Just bought a new battery off eBay for £35, popped it in, and it's all sorted.
Funnily enough had a similar problem with my Ducati Scrambler, just two years old and battery not retaining charge, probably due to the previous owner not riding it enough. Just replaced the battery and have a battery tender connection fitted. The other thing you BiPosto and my Scrambler have in common is that in many ways they are utterly ludicrous, but are also just Sooooo much fun! Ciao
The issue is more likely battery not being full charge as you have a sound system in that car that drawing a lot of current when on and alternator may not able to keep up with the demand. Then the battery being small doesn't help ether.
Your built in 'security' system is a small drain. This system is enabled when you lock the car using your remote. If the battery was weak before leaving, the drain from this might be the problem. Additionally, if your car has an alternator, this could be failing and would cause a battery failure. Good luck amigo.
The head unit can still drain with the front panel off.. Did they use a loom or custom wire
The problem is with the battery, but, of course, we have to deal with haters who have Fiestas and Clios...
I still think something must have drained it. It wasn't just a dead battery, it was completely empty to an extent where you couldn't even open the door anymore. In just 4 days. If the battery has a dead cell or something I think it would be noticeable due to slower cranking. I'd definately go back to Fiat and have them sort it out!
Best of luck! Keep up the great video's!
I remember when I was driving Punto HGT, battery went dead couple of times while I was away for holidays and left the car in garage. It turned out that the factory built-in Blaupunkt sound system was pulling lot of power even when turned out. It was replaced and it never happened again.
it IS the charger! I have the same one. Gave the same readings when battery was tested. but when I stopped using it, car stopped dying. Actually even looks like the same brand.
Same thing happened to my Micra; no ignition lights, no digital read out.
Turned out 2 fuses had gone. One: My main fuse controlling power, and two: my subwoofer fuse.
Now the car is perfectly fine
Try a trickle charger if you are to be leaving it the same time again?
I've always just put a battery isolator under the bonnet if I have a problem with a car. Also an extra security measure on old cars! I suppose you don't have an alarm this way, but all alarms do is annoy people.
The 540c is much saucier anyways why do u need that piece of shit?
Love this car.
You hate Abarth until the day you truly drive one ;)
CrustyTheElf as a daily car he can't use the McLaren all the time, so he brought one of the most fun little town cars out there.
540c isnt a daily driver
Ben Smith fun little town car as a daily?!?!? The things an unreliable POS, you could get much better things for £30k, for example, you can get a BMW 125i M sport, which has a 2.0l engine, more than 2 seats, a big boot, all the gadgets you need, a much smoother ride quality, better looks and best of all German engineering for around £8,000
C´mon guys, its just dead battery, easy fix, not a fiat engineering problem.. BTW every supercar has battery problem time to time..so this means, this FIAT is a SUPERCAR!
Did you switch the loudness on . i have the kenwood also and it makes a huge difference. When the battery is disconnected it turns the loudness off.
didn't realise you were in battersea too...
watch out for the black and white Abarth 124 around there... It's me....
great channel, keep it up.. P.
Do you have a alarm system on it?? Could some one been settings the alarm off which would drain the battery. Also if you pull the door handle does it turn the interior lights on??
Where did you get your iPhone car dock/dash holder??? Looks like one of the best ones I've seen
I wouldn't be surprised in the ciold snap theory. My usually first time starter of a Honda Jazz is feeling a little sluggish this winter.
Sam, what holder do you use for your phone? Looks like one of those magnetic jobbies?
You've got to love the Italians - they can design a very pretty car but it won't always run perfectly!
I share your taste in music, it´s great! And your editing is top notch.
FIAT = Fix It Again Tony!
Fix
It
Again
Tomorrow
AmanPlayz DONT COPY MY COMMENT
TheDiamondHusky191x You need to calm down, i saw you having a go at someone else! Did you make that joke up, no... and also I just posted that comment to him. i am not trying to get a attention like you, you 5 year old. Get the fuck off youtube, man.
AmanPlayz IM NOT A 5 YEAR OLD YOU ARE I POSTED THAT COMMENT 50 MINUTES AGO AND PEOPLE ARE COPYING MY COMMENT TO GET LIKES
TheDiamondHusky191x is it illegal to someone comment again? and i ain't 5 years old, my grammar way better than yours. Deary me, these kids!
I have 2004 fiat Siena and last battery ran well for 5 years and 6 months. it has a 1.6 petrol engine. maybe it's the extreme cold weather of UK which kills the battery way sooner
Rikhav Shah I think it's modern batteries and all the electronics. I had a Fiat with an old Magnetti Marelli battery that lasted 9 years, no issues. Since then I've had two Fiats with Exides - 5 years battery life for those.
Higginz1220 which country are you from? i always thought Exide is an Indian company
for me exides work least so i always prefer tata green batteries. we don't get MM batteries but 9 years is just too good
Rikhav Shah UK.
Rikhav Shah I don't think MM do batteries anymore. I've not seen one in over 16 years. They still do other electronics though. I have MM components in my Skoda and Fiat.
You have a bad battery!? What don't you understand?
Did anyone else cringe when Sam turned the volume up to 27? EVEN NUMBERS PLEASE ARGHHHHH hahahahaha
I bought a Mitsubishi that had been sitting in a holding yard for 6-7 months. I also had my battery randomly die on me about a month after buying it. My dealer replaced the battery (under warranty) and all was well. Talk to your Fiat dealer, hopefully they'll do the right thing.
Small car = small battery and tiny alternator. Slightly colder weather, no long trips to fully charge the battery = dead battery.
If you don't use your car for longer trips and only do short trips in city traffic then I suggest buying a battery charger and charging your car at least in every two weeks. There are very small charger available these days that can be a permanently fitted to the car and you only have to plug the cord in. They are also capable of analyzing your battery health. Search ebay for "CTEK Multi MXS 5.0" for one good example.
I've been having issues with my Battery think the cold weather does affect them
This daily is so unnecessairy, I love it. I think that car is so freaking cool, it's different and that makes it way more fun.
seeing as the car sat at the showroom for months, wouldn't fiat replace it for you under warranty?
great video more old Sam stg style, I was discussing the other day with a mate how your videos have lost something since owning the maclaren the build up was great and the other reviews you've done are always top notch for both quality and how down to earth you are, just don't turn into some poncy prick with a supercar, loving the work
rob
Can you let me know what your phone hands free holder is , I've tried loads all all rubbish ?
My 500L has just done the same... Washington DC here, summer 2018 and I don’t use my car that much now, used it last weekend and now is completely dead...
often amp readings can show 0 even if a small trickle of power is being pulled, i.e. chargers that display a light on them or whatever can still read as pulling no amps even though they are pulling a minute amount to keep a light on or so. The charger may have been pulling a tiny amount of power that wasn't detectable.
That audio transfer was amazing
It's not a mystery. It went flat due to the combination of the 500 having a tiny battery, lack of use, and cold weather. Your car still uses power even when turned off, for things like immobiliser [and/or alarm], radio, clock etc. And in cold weather batteries lose stored energy quicker compared to more temperate weather.
My battery died, but you'll know that. Was driving, stopped for gasoline and went to restart it and it wouldn't turn over. What was scary about it, the dashboard was doing all kinds of crazy things with all that's going on with the single display. Anyway, May 2013 purchase of the car, battery died summer-ish of 2015. So driving it was only on the plus side of 2 years on the OEM battery. Not sure if the car had sat at the dealership in inventory & for how long. New battery from Advance Auto Parts and it's almost mid August 2017, so I fear the battery may have a similar lifespan and is due to die again shortly ? I figure the first one died being an OEM, they don't last more than a 36 month lease or powertrain warranty on any car lasts. But it could've been low/dehydrated cells for acid & water in a maintenance free battery. That or the plates were damaged from abuse, eventually enough potholes and vibrations kills a battery from all the jolts the car takes. There's always sulfated plates in the battery too, but you're going to see corrosion on the terminals if the battery is degrading from corrosion. I recall the new battery was about $ 150. I've even seen batteries that appeared to be restored, eventually still burn up, I've seen one even explode. But that's because no more fluid was added to the cells and the battery got too hot. This is in FL, so it's tropical here, cold weather extremes aren't really a problem.
12V auxiliary power outlet is wired as a part of the accessory system (e.g. with the lights) so it runs off the battery when the ignition isn't on. Most aftermarket 12v USB adapters have lights on them which is a bloody big clue that they're still on after the car is turned off. Rookie mistake Sam.
Hope it doesn't break again! Such a cool car.
I used to have a certain make of tracker on my van which used to cause the battery to go flat every time I had a weeks holiday, the tracker was changed and it never happened again.
Have you guys checked the new Head unit you installed?
You have to make sure you charge up your jump starter every now and again. If they are left uncharged for long periods they are ruined and have to be binned.
I have those small lithium ion jump start packs in all our vehicles for that very reason. Small enough to not bother you, and security in case of a no start. Especially on a daily.
And, while I love Abarth's, they are known for being... uniquely Italian.
Nicely done with the audio! Also with editing it ;-)
Brah!!! TG-DALLAS, TX. Just a quick comment on how I love your taste in music. Love the beats you use! peace!
Why you didn't remove the négatif plug before you left it that easy and verry effectif! !!
are you can replace it with a new battery that's heavy duty battery if it does process
"My battery is flat and I upload a video about it"... What a waste of time.
Are "hissy fits" covered under the manufacturers warranty?
Ferraris do this shit a lot, on 'new' cars (aka sitting in a place for a long time without beeing driven), do kill their batteries, so it might be normal. But, another thing that happens a lot that makes this, is the Bluetooth paired with the car and leave the car and the phone close, like 10 meters of the phone, and given that, you traveled, and assuming you left your UK phone home, could be the culprit too.
In the USA, we say that FIAT stands for Fit It Again Tomorrow.
Most likely the battery is not performing as well as it used to be plus the cold or bad weather might have affected it. Regardless check the battery and if it has issues just replace it.
The same Exide battery I had in my Abarth. I replace it after 6 years. I put again an Exide battery but the premium series. It's a good idea to put a voltmeter in your car. In my previous car my battery dies many times from the sound system..
"So I jumped into my sisters mini" ... You naughty boy.
It is most likely that the battery is dead, they don't like sitting around not being used or cold weather. A battery that is a bit weak will die fast in cold weather. If stored they should ideally be put somewhere at room temperature and put on a trickle charger. Just a few days or so it should be fine so I doubt it was anything you done, it was likely weakened when at the dealership not being used or charged.
Can you give us an idea on the cost of the entire Audio system and fitting?
Try turning off start-stop Sam, that killed the battery in my car!
He i am getting a Twingo RS. I heard and saw that the abath and the RS are comparable in performance?.
Those power things are always alert and waiting for something to be plugged into it