ESC and Hill Assist unavailable lights!!! HELP!!!

120880 Views 51 Replies 33 Participants Last post by Brookes500, 7 d ago

FirstCarFiat

Discussion Starter · Oct 3, 2014 (Edited by Moderator)

So just wired my car back up after putting in new speakers and an amp.
Had been running the car throughout the installation to check components. Everything was working fine.
Then routed some small power cables behind the dash, put the terminals on the battery and when I started the car I got a message saying "ESC unavailable and Hill Assist unavailable". Did I blow a fuse, or is something more serious wrong???

HELP!!!!

21 - 40 of 52 Posts

FiatCares

· #21 · Sep 3, 2019

Golota said:
I am having same problem ESC light came on and car is pulling to the right so BAD!
But the problem is that I haven't touched tires or changed them. IT fills like it's a flat tire or just right breaks are pulled... Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance

Hi Golota,
If you are unable to rectify this yourself and decide to visit your dealer, please feel free to send our team a private message and we'd be happy to add additional assistance throughout that process!
Laura
Fiat Social Care Specialist

Merlin2015

· #22 · Dec 29, 2019

I have a Fiat 500 Pop. On Christmas day I had a lot of things happen at once.
While stopped at a light the engine began to run rough, acceleration was poor. The ESC light came on and the display read "Hill start unavailable ". The transmission warning light came on. When I shifted from Park to Reverse the engine torqued really hard.
If anyone has any ideas where to look next I would appreciate it. I have replaced the spark plugs already.

Picotheabarth

· #23 · Mar 19, 2020

My abarth struggled pulling from the lights then the esc light came on and advised hill start unavailable, I've only had the car a week it's an 18 plate any help is welcomed

Exel

· #24 · Mar 23, 2020

Picotheabarth said:
My abarth struggled pulling from the lights then the esc light came on and advised hill start unavailable, I've only had the car a week it's an 18 plate any help is welcomed

I had an intermittent issue where my ESC Light and Hill Start Unavailable came on.

The solution was to replace the Brake Light / Stop Light Switch.

FIAT 500 Switch Stop Lamp (68073610AA)

Replacement is a little challenging due to the location. It is located right above the brake pedal.

I actually found a video of someone doing it:

Reactions: 1

Tashy.7

· #25 · Jul 25, 2020

I haven't changed my tires or done anything. I was just driving and all of a sudden ESC and hill start indicator came on. I am a female and don't know anything about cars. Lol. Is there anyway that I can reset the light? Sometimes I can start the car and drive everywhere and it doesn't come on. But sometimes I can start the car and it'll come on when I'm driving. Can someone please help me. Also when I start the car it jerks like it dying or like it's running out of gas,but after a second it straightens out and does completely fine. It's also a 5 speed and it's a 2012 if those details can help someone to help me figure out what's wrong. Thanks. Is there anyway I can reset the light so it doesn't come on?

Fabio13

· #26 · Jul 25, 2020

Have you load tested the battery? How old is it? What part of the country are you in? You might need to clean the terminal connections UNDER the battery tray and check the starter bolts/ground.

Modern cars are very sensitive to proper voltage.

VermontFarmer

· #27 · Aug 26, 2020

Exel said:
I had an intermittent issue where my ESC Light and Hill Start Unavailable came on.

The solution was to replace the Brake Light / Stop Light Switch.

FIAT 500 Switch Stop Lamp (68073610AA)

Replacement is a little challenging due to the location. It is located right above the brake pedal.

I actually found a video of someone doing it:

Replacing this switch solved my ESC light and hill start issue. Took 10 min. to install it ! - Thanks

ibby

· #28 · Aug 29, 2020

Merlin2015 said:
I have a Fiat 500 Pop. On Christmas day I had a lot of things happen at once.
While stopped at a light the engine began to run rough, acceleration was poor. The ESC light came on and the display read "Hill start unavailable ". The transmission warning light came on. When I shifted from Park to Reverse the engine torqued really hard.
If anyone has any ideas where to look next I would appreciate it. I have replaced the spark plugs already.

Hey @Merlin2015, did you ever figure out what this issue was? I'm seeing the exact same thing with my car.

bnez

· #29 · Nov 24, 2020

2012 fiat 500c here...when doing a somewhat tight turn (like an on/off ramp of a highway) esc/hill start alert will go off and car wont shift up until I am able to stop car, turn off, and then restart. simply put, the esc/hill start sensor is sensitive to steering in normal driving conditions...

so far have checked fuses, wire brushed ground points underneath battery tray, and esc light warning/shifting issue persists. if any yall have any input, it is welcome!

Fabio13

· #30 · Nov 25, 2020

Load test the battery. How old is it and what part of the country are you in?

lim

· #31 · Mar 2, 2021

4

Hi, I'm from Malaysia. I just bought Abarth Fiat 595 Turismo 2014 from the workshop. Just drive for the few days the ESC light come out and the car is pulling. Did anyone know how to solve this problem?

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Scottperry710

· #32 · Mar 12, 2021 (Edited)

I was told id need a whole new steering console but bring it to the dealership for there opinion

Scottperry710

· #33 · Mar 12, 2021

lim said:
Hi, I'm from Malaysia. I just bought Abarth Fiat 595 Turismo 2014 from the workshop. Just drive for the few days the ESC light come out and the car is pulling. Did anyone know how to solve this problem?

View attachment 109729 View attachment 109726

lim said:
Hi, I'm from Malaysia. I just bought Abarth Fiat 595 Turismo 2014 from the workshop. Just drive for the few days the ESC light come out and the car is pulling. Did anyone know how to solve this problem?

View attachment 109729 View attachment 109726
View attachment 109727 View attachment 109728

Ive been having the same problem have your yaw sensor (eps position sensor/ torque position sensor) looked at

lim

· #34 · Mar 27, 2021

Scottperry710 said:
Ive been having the same problem have your yaw sensor (eps position sensor/ torque position sensor) looked at

Thanks. I have checked my sensor but the esc light still coming out. Now they say is panel got problem needed to change new one

Israel2020

· #35 · Mar 27, 2021

I have a 2013 Fiat 500 Pop with 50k miles on it and just earlier today had the ESC light come on. It turned off after I turned the car off and back on, but returned when I was heading home.
With the grounds, where would each ground be located at?

Fabio13

· #36 · Mar 28, 2021

Israel2020 said:
I have a 2013 Fiat 500 Pop with 50k miles on it and just earlier today had the ESC light come on. It turned off after I turned the car off and back on, but returned when I was heading home.
With the grounds, where would each ground be located at?

Under the battery tray and at the starter.

Nazdak69

· #37 · Apr 10, 2021

2

Curteous1 said:
Does anybody have a more specific description of where the "bad ground that controls the ABS & ESC module" is located? I'm getting the intermittent "hill start assist, ABS & ESC unavailable" warning messages as well.

I did the ground under battery also the brake light switch. I went to a shop and found a code for a bad back up light switch . It's in front of the transmission manual case .
You need a professional obd2 code reader.
It's deep in computer. Note that your reverse may not be working also which will give you this code of ESC .autozone have it for $68 I have a 2013 fiat 500 turbo . Same parts as Abarth

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goshring

· #38 · Apr 23, 2021

I am having the same issues here with a 2013 POP Boy Racer Go Cart. The ESC light is on and the "Hill Huger not Available" message is showing. Even though this is an automatic and not a manual. It all started right after I swapped the wheels with the snow tires to the wheels with the summer tires. Hmmmm me thinks? I'm wondering if a sensor at the steering knuckle came unplugged. I was going to check that first but then it snowed and got kind of cold. I plan on investigating that lead first thing once it warms back up. It just seems too coincidental to me. I just put a brand new battery in it from Auto Zone a couple months back and I cleaned everything up at that time, so, I dont think its a ground. But who knows. If I cant locate a sensor problem at the wheels I will check the brake light switch for proper function and continuity then go from there. I'm starting to think that the weird little bastard just likes throwing codes. Its my wife's car and she loves and adores it so pushing it into a deep reservoir wont be an option. I do have to admit it is a crazy fun little car to zip around in when its behaving. I will find and fix the problem so once I do I will post my findings and solutions in order to help anyone else fighting this problem out. Stay tuned folks.

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IPJ

· #39 · Jun 20, 2021

I know this thread is pretty old, but worth a try… I have a 2016 Fiat 500e. Yesterday I took my car to vacuum and wash and when I left, the ESC, Hill Assist, and Propulsion System warning lights are all on. Is there anything I could have knocked with the vacuum? I checked the trunk wiring harness and mine looks fine. Where is the gas pedal harness? Thanks!

Nazdak69

· #40 · Jun 21, 2021

IPJ said:
I know this thread is pretty old, but worth a try… I have a 2016 Fiat 500e. Yesterday I took my car to vacuum and wash and when I left, the ESC, Hill Assist, and Propulsion System warning lights are all on. Is there anything I could have knocked with the vacuum? I checked the trunk wiring harness and mine looks fine. Where is the gas pedal harness? Thanks!

You may have disconnected or moved the break switch. Which is located on to of brake pedal. Check to see if the reverse lights are working . Sounds strange but everything is connected. It my be loose or when bad.
In my 2013 500 turbo . I needed to replace brake switch . And reverse sensor . And got to a shop that have scanner to find the deeply embedded code for the. Brake switch.
Again not have reverse lights it the key to that fault code.

21 - 40 of 52 Posts