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HELP!!!
I got up today to go to work. Start the car, warnings galore... Power steering error, hill assisy error, vdc error.. tried to move and yes power steering not working. Small heart attack settling in. Switched it off. Back on again and it was back to normal.

What the hell was that all about? An incidental thing or an omen of terrible things to come?????
I had this once on my old car, I think the comments above about low battery voltage are pretty to close the reason.
I also thought it could be a communication fault on the CAN bus, caused by a device starting up slowly.

In either case, check battery voltage, and if the problem doesn't repeat, just ignore.
If it repeats 3 time (my rule of thumb), then hand the car back and leave the seller to solve the issue.
 
I had this once on my old car, I think the comments above about low battery voltage are pretty to close the reason.
I also thought it could be a communication fault on the CAN bus, caused by a device starting up slowly.

In either case, check battery voltage, and if the problem doesn't repeat, just ignore.
If it repeats 3 time (my rule of thumb), then hand the car back and leave the seller to solve the issue.
I've had my car for 6 years and I would bet my house on your car needs a new battery. My battery literally went from working to the errors you've had in one day. The car just manged to start and I got home, but it wouldn't start again in the morning. Did the car stop start much now the weather is warmer?
 
Discussion starter · #44 ·
I've had my car for 6 years and I would bet my house on your car needs a new battery. My battery literally went from working to the errors you've had in one day. The car just manged to start and I got home, but it wouldn't start again in the morning. Did the car stop start much now the weather is warmer?
Barely on my daily commute in the morning (around 9 miles, mixed cycle) never starts/stops. On my evening coming back will start/stop close to the end of my commute around 0-2 times.
 
Discussion starter · #45 ·
Ok, since I got the car I was probably gonna drive for the first time during the night to go to a supermarket. I got in the car and it gave me an alarm unavailable error. Wasn't sure if it was relevant because prior to that I was testing a new replacement casing I was using for the remote and I ended up long-distance lock and unlocking all the time so I thought that maybe I de-activated it by accident. Turned it on then off again and the warning didn't come up.
Started driving, noticed something was off. Went to check, left headlight doesn't turn on. I had checked all of them a few days ago and it was working fine. This is starting to get ridiculous.
 
From my 10000 hours of research into the stop/start issue on the Giulietta (Joking haha)!!! Ive come to the conclusion its very hit and miss. My 2014 is on the original battery, is 100% perfect and within voltage but stop/start has not worked since I bought the car. Its a very poor system if you ask me. Mine is a diesel so not sure if the petrol suffers the same.

A bad ground could cause the issue, check for a loose negative on the battery terminal, could be corroded or on its way out. Maybe try a multimeter and check the voltage and again when cranking if you can, maybe a dud battery.
Yep, my old Multiair almost never had the auto stop/start working. I ended up turning it off from the menu. The battery needed to be fully charged for it to work anyway. Thankfully the Veloce 1750 dispenses with this annoying technology.
 
Barely on my daily commute in the morning (around 9 miles, mixed cycle) never starts/stops. On my evening coming back will start/stop close to the end of my commute around 0-2 times.
I haven’t read the entire thread, but if you haven’t yet, chuck the battery and get a good quality replacement. Mine (the original battery) failed at about the 2 year mark and was replaced under warranty. Deactivate the auto stop-start for the sake of your sanity. You’ve been warned... :rofl:
Don’t know about the headlight ...always been good, but I ditched using stop/start early on.
 
Discussion starter · #48 · (Edited)
On my daily morning commute today s/s worked like 4-5 times. I don't really care much about that to be honest, just mentioning it in any case it gives any information about the battery's state. Also this morning got the alarm unavailable again. And also weirdly the back wiper started going on as soon as i turned on the car (everything was disabled relating to that) and didn't stop until a full minute or 2. Was that due to a particular reason? I am starting to understand why the car was sold cheap.
 
Discussion starter · #50 ·
By the way what I thought might be normal but reading more about it i realize it might not. When you turn the back wipers off are they supposed to park themselves and stop "soon"? Mine keep going for maybe like 5-6 times and then randomly stop, sometimes in the middle of the screen so you have to "time" it as not to block your view.
 
My rear wiper motor doesn’t like getting wet, which is inconvenient. A little water leaks around the seal on the rear window -I can see it in the recess where the boot lock closes - and that makes it act up. Usually ok when the motor is dry though. I must get round to sealing it up.

Before going looking at control modules etc isn’t the cheapest option to put a battery on it and see what happens?
 
Discussion starter · #56 · (Edited)
Today it did start/stop like a lot... would that indicate a decent battery? didn't get any more warnings or weird **** again but of course that doesn't mean the battery is decent.. Back where I come from I have multi-meters and several things to test and do on my own, but unfortunately here in the UK I am a bit... stripped.. My plan is to take it to an AC (+other) specialist over the weekend but the more I think about it the more inclined I am to just sending it back. I am a scientist and not superstitious at all but I honestly believe some cars are cursed. And if already within a week all these things keep popping up god knows what else will be in a few months down the line. I think of taking a risk and re-rolling a die and trying my luck at a different one.

EDIT: It could be that majority of these problems is just a re-gas and a battery change which is quite menial. The problem however if it is not, then it could end up in a very difficult hunt to find what each is and the fact that it was "cheaper" to buy at first might be come very expensive very fast down the line... I ll think about it and see
 
Sounds like you have made up your mind. I would if its possible to return the car and get something different it definitely sounds like a lemon, just dont tamper with anything if thats what your planning to do. It may give the dealer an excuse to refuse the car back.
 
Discussion starter · #58 ·
I've been checking online some other alfa's and I came across one that looks interesting but in the last MOT it had this warning:
"Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated"
I am not a car guy as obviously most of you might have figured out by now. :)
How important (and costly) is a warning like that?
 
Rear wiper is most likely the BCM at fault and probably as a result of broken tailgate wiring. Mine was the same it would park where it wanted at times and others just work when not switched on. Hatch wiring repaired and dealer replaced BCM.
As for other issues could be battery dying and or poor earths as already mentioned plus a regal required.
The CV boot is unrelated but will need changing at some point.
Take it back to dealer and either get all problems resolved or money back
 
“I am not a car guy as obviously most of you might have figured out by now. ”

Would I right in gathering that both you and the dealer knew the car was priced low and might need a bit of sorting by a “car guy” and it would be OK ?
If not and it was sold in good faith I’d suggest you ask for a refund and look for another Giulietta.
 
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