Hello,

I posted a while ago I had a Fiat Ducato 2.3 120bhp with 20,000 miles which wouldn't start - it just turned over. The van has been recovered to the garage and after some messing around with batteries they have managed to get the van to talk to the computer.

It is showing an EDC fault and won't start. They have checked the wiring loom behind the passenger headlight and are still trying to trace the fault.

Can anyone here point to anything that would be worth checking in this case?

Garage bill is spiralling here!

Cheers,

Addie

Might sound too simple but just ensure the inertia switch has not cut in - which cuts off power to the tank pump & in turn the fuel supply from the feed pump, happened to someone earlier when their Ducato wouldn't start after a "fast trip" - https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/254785-2-8jtd-injector-warning-light.html
Also what is the fault code number if they have read this ?
Cheers

Hello,

Have spoken to the garage and they say there is a massive drain on the electric system, as soon as they turn the ignition on there is not enough power available to power the system and start it.

I tried to start it while rigged upto an Iveco recovery truck and it stalled the truck when I tried to start it - so there must be a monster drain somewhere.

Given these new systems has anyone any further advice?

Thanks for your advice so far FreeSpirit

AddieB said:

Hello,

Have spoken to the garage and they say there is a massive drain on the electric system, as soon as they turn the ignition on there is not enough power available to power the system and start it.

I tried to start it while rigged upto an Iveco recovery truck and it stalled the truck when I tried to start it - so there must be a monster drain somewhere.

Given these new systems has anyone any further advice?

Thanks for your advice so far FreeSpirit

Click to expand...

Starter Motor ?

Hi Addie, I have a Ducato Multijet 130 with exactly the same problem as yours. I also had it towed into a repair garage, their computer showed that the Cam Shaft sensor was faulty, this apparently controls the fuel injection into the cylinders. The garage is waiting for a new part from Bosch.

Best of luck
Peter

That sounds like an easy diagnosis theres really only one wire that could sustain a short like that - to the starter motor. You can get a nasty short in the alternator too but it alternator should pop a fuse.

The garage have a brand new Ducato they are swapping bits out of to try and get mine going.

They have replaced the starter motor (no fault), traced all the wires (such as behind the passenger side headlamp) still no fault they can detect.

Beachedbuoy - Thanks for this, I will tell them about the camshaft sensor and see if they can swap this part out as well!

The van doesn't seem to be turning over 'fast' enough.

Looking at a new Camper based on a Citroen Jumper with the 2.2 120 engine, wonder if it'll be a better lump then the Iveco one in this!

Technical assistance should of been contacted long before now.

A visit to an auto elec who supplied an upgraded earth sloved the problems.
Worth a try.

but the engine turns over and there was no communication with ECU, not symptons of earthing issue.

Are they using examiner if so why have they not scoped out the sensor. Also is the engine ecu powering up, has it unlocked for fiat code. Last but not least get them to check engine timing had a few of these in cold conditions jumping the belt due to water freezing behind belt cover. Hope this helps.

Have spoken to the garage, they've spent about 8 hours on it (so the bill is probably nearly £1000).

1.) Have you contacted Fiat Technical Assistance? - No, we've contacted our 'lad' who is an expert. ?

2.) Has the earthing strap on the engine (gearbox) degrated? - We'll get some jump leads between the gearbox and the battery on Monday
(this is interesting, as the garage had the van to replace the reverse gear/clutch/engine mounts under warrenty 1,000 miles ago).

3.) Has water frozen behind the belt cover and knocked the timing out? - We was going to check this on Monday.

4.) Is the ECU Powering up & has it unlocked for Fiat Code? - Yes, but we're getting different faults each time due to the battery drain.

5.) Camshaft Sensor - Not sure.

6.) Short circuit in the Starter Motor / Alternator (but alternator should short a fuse) - No, because we swapped the Starter over and the Alt wouldn't cause that.

Hi
Have they checked the current draw at the battery yet to give you a rough idea of what is causing the parasitic drain. Check the under bonnet fuse box for water ingress and shorting across a relay.

FFS! Tell them to disconnect the alternator (then if required starter) as surely on these can cause the huge drain that has been described?

(IMO get it towed elsewhere!)

They have tried all of the electrical suggestions and suggestions on this forum with no luck.

They have put power directly to the starter motor (bypassing the electrical systems) and the van is still not turning over fast enough.

They have taken the injectors off and are going to consider stripping the engine down.

Then van was serviced 3 months, 2,000 miles ago at the same time the gearbox was removed and re-fitted with a new reverse gear, engine mounts and uprated clutch (as per the 'reversing judder recall). Could any of this have any bearing?

I take it there is a low oil warning light as per most cars?

Can anyone here help any further?

EDIT: I just want to add to this that in September 2010 the van went in for a new clutch, reverse gear and engine mountings (as per the 'reversing judder recall') and also had a full service at the same time. Does any of this have a bearing on this "hard to turn over" fault appearing 2,500 miles / 3 months later?

Cheers

Update: Water in Cylinder number 1!

Anti-freeze is of a good consistency, so no idea how it has got in there.

Stripping the engine down.

My money is on a cracked cylinder head.

Hi.
Have you tried snatching it (tow start).
This really was a long time ago; I had a Fiat car come in and from what I can remember it was a similar problem.
If I remember correctly the 5th gear is housed on the back of the gearbox under a separate cover plate, on this car the gear had worked loose and was dragging on the cover plate which obviously put a big drag on the engine.
We only worked it out after we snatched it, once running it was obvious from the noise and the inability to select 5th where the problem was.
I would defiantly try the snatch as a first option; you have already tried the starter motor, alternator and the wiring it sounds mechanical to me.

Hi, was there any update on this?
I have very similar problem with the non starting, and although I have a u1701 code nobody on the forum seems to know or have any idea on what it is, I'm hoping for some direction from your experiences