[feichter]

So, yearly mot was due. Took it to a mechanic that was highly recommended. Failed mot on worn lower ball joint (which I knew).
However, the mechanic left the car in neutral with the key in the ignition for a full day whilst he was waiting for parts. As a result the battery went flat.

Having completed the work, mot passed and battery fully charged again, now we have the three lights on: abs, esp and tracktion control.

He phoned the local jeep garage and they said to drive the car for 100miles and it should reset itself. If not, to book it in and my mechanic will pick up the bill.

😭

 

[harry2022]

Removal and replacement of battery will result in these warning lights. Should extinguish after a short drive. One shot windows operation will need reset and also radio code. All explained in Owners Manual.

 

[feichter]

Removal and replacement of battery will result in these warning lights. Should extinguish after a short drive. One shot windows operation will need reset and also radio code. All explained in Owners Manual.

I'm afraid it didn't. Radio, windows and cruise control all working normally. Don't know if the mechanic reset the radio and windows. Something else must have gone wrong. Will hopefully find out once it's at the jeep garage.

 

[feichter]

Does anyone know a garage/dealership with chrysler diagnostic software in the Kent area?
Getting desperate now....
😪

 

[devilmaycare]

Doesn't Jeep have the software?

 

[feichter]

Doesn't Jeep have the software?

Apparently not... but I will call them myself tomorrow to check.

 

[Curious Joe]

Is the Jeep brand the last Mopar related outlet in the UK?

 

[devilmaycare]

There are also Fiat dealers and they should have the appropriate diagnostic gear, but maybe not the motivation.
I was unable to persuade a Jeep/Fiat dealer to carry out my airbag recalls, but had excellent service from a Jeep/Aston Martin dealer.

 

[feichter]

Well...

I have now phoned a number of mercedes, fiat and jeep garages and none seem to have the diagnostic software for a Chrysler 300C 2007. A Fiat garage said they cover models from 2011 onwards.

Anyone any ideas?

 

[devilmaycare]

It looks as if your only option is to buy your own diagnostic software.

DiagFCA and AlfaOBD have comprehensive features which may be of help.

I have DiagFCA installed on a Dell Win10 laptop, although so far I haven't needed to use it much. AlfaOBD can be installed on an Android smartphone and I am currently trying to evaluate their Demo version.
Both apps require a Bluetooth adaptor; I use OBDLinkLX - not cheap, but more likely to work than some of the cheaper offerings to be found on the Web. OBDLinkLX also comes with its own app and the firmware can be updated with later versions..

 

[feichter]

It looks as if your only option is to buy your own diagnostic software.

DiagFCA and AlfaOBD have comprehensive features which may be of help.

I have DiagFCA installed on a Dell Win10 laptop, although so far I haven't needed to use it much. AlfaOBD can be installed on an Android smartphone and I am currently trying to evaluate their Demo version.
Both apps require a Bluetooth adaptor; I use OBDLinkLX - not cheap, but more likely to work than some of the cheaper offerings to be found on the Web. OBDLinkLX also comes with its own app and the firmware can be updated with later versions..

Many thanks! Very helpful!

 

[devilmaycare]

I forgot to add that both apps sell for a modest $49, so a good investment for any owner doing their own servicing, or at least knowing what the problem is before taking it elsewhere.

 

[Curious Joe]

It looks as if your only option is to buy your own diagnostic software.

DiagFCA and AlfaOBD have comprehensive features which may be of help.

I have DiagFCA installed on a Dell Win10 laptop, although so far I haven't needed to use it much. AlfaOBD can be installed on an Android smartphone and I am currently trying to evaluate their Demo version.
Both apps require a Bluetooth adaptor; I use OBDLinkLX - not cheap, but more likely to work than some of the cheaper offerings to be found on the Web. OBDLinkLX also comes with its own app and the firmware can be updated with later versions..

Someone in the UK can surely fix the car - trying to find them is the test. Surely there are some UK based discussion boards that would be helpful....

 

[Rockin' Rebel]

Try A1 Chrysler in Higham, Rochester Kent ME3 7JA . Phone 07437 583782
He's an ex Chrysler mechanic with his own workshop and has diagnostic gear.
I've used him to change transmission fluid and filter on my previous 2006 300c and a friend has used him many times on both his 300c and PT Cruiser. We've both been happy with his work.

 

[devilmaycare]

A Fiat garage said they cover models from 2011 onwards.

This doesn't bode well for owners of earlier models, so does that mean FiatChrysler are happy to abandon us?
If serviceable vehicles more than 12 yrs old are destined to be scrapped, that's hardly helping the planet.
I wonder how much life we can expect from a new model bought today?

 

[feichter]

Try A1 Chrysler in Higham, Rochester Kent ME3 7JA . Phone 07437 583782
He's an ex Chrysler mechanic with his own workshop and has diagnostic gear.
I've used him to change transmission fluid and filter on my previous 2006 300c and a friend has used him many times on both his 300c and PT Cruiser. We've both been happy with his work.

Thank you very much for this!

Having now spent many, many hours researching the subject of the three warning lights (ABS, ESP/BAS and Traction control) being on on the dashboard, I think I have found out the following:

- if the car goes into limp mode and the above lights are on, then the problem is very likely to be down to either a broken tone ring (proper name Reluctor Ring) or broken ABS sensor. In this case the cruise control will also not work.
The tone ring replacement is a fiddly job invoving a few hours work for a part that cost around £10!
The ABS sensor, that incedently, also controls the traction and electronic stability of the car, is relatively easy to replace and are around £15 each.
The guy in this video, shows you that the three lights are on AND that the car is also in limp mode YouTube video.

- if, however, as in my case the car drives completely normally, then it could be a simple matter of the wheel alignment being far out of kilt. Because of this mis alignment the computer is not able to match the angle of the steering wheel with the speed of the wheels, and therefore triggers a steering angle fault.

Incedently, ever since my last tracking was done some 8-9 years ago, the steering wheel was never straight. I didn't bother taking it back to the garage at the time since the car was driving in a perfect line. But, maybe, with the lower ball joints having been replaced last week as well, the tracking is now so far out that it has caused the lights to come on.

So, as a first attempt to rectify the problem, I have booked the car in to have the wheels aligned (and the steering wheel set to straight!!). If this was the cause, then I would expect the lights to go out on my way home.

Let's see what happens tomorrow afternoon and finger (and toes) crossed!

Any comments always gratefully received!

You can see the steering wheel is not straight in this picture:

 

[feichter]

This doesn't bode well for owners of earlier models, so does that mean FiatChrysler are happy to abandon us?
If serviceable vehicles more than 12 yrs old are destined to be scrapped, that's hardly helping the planet.
I wonder how much life we can expect from a new model bought today?

Indeed !

 

[devilmaycare]

Have a look at this post: Stuck in limp mode... in Germany! Ray's details needed

 

[Largecrease]

Hi. I had the same symptoms on my car that you are having with yours. After much head scratching, it turned out that I had accidently disconnected the abs sensor wire - at the point where it goes into the wheel arch area from the engine bay around the air filter area. It doesn't take much force to pull it out of the connector. Check your wheel arch area, follow the sensor wire from the wheel hub area into the arch. If any work was done in the wheel arch area, it doesn't take much force for it to be accidently unclipped.

 

[DGO]

Usually if there's a wheel sensor problem that will throw a Chrysler specific code that the right OBD reader can pick up and tell you which wheel is having the problem