Technical Euro 6 engine software update letter?

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Technical Euro 6 engine software update letter?

MikeySkiBoy

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Has anyone else received a letter from FIAT regarding "Vehicle Service Campaign Notification - FIAT Panda 4x4 with 1.3 MultiJet Euro 6 Engine - Engine Control Module Software Update"? It also has "Campaign Ref 6026" on it.

I can see that it is supposed to "improve emission performance in real driving conditions", which is nice. What the letter doesn't say is if there are any potentially negative effects from having this update.

I can't find anything by Googling and am wondering if anyone else has any idea if there are any downsides?
 
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Yup. Of course it is. I'm absolutely fine about the reasons why. I'm just a bit concerned that it might make the motor sluggish, or less fuel efficient, or a bit of both.

I've also noticed that I put this in the wrong forum and am not sure if it is even applicable to the pre-2012 Panda. Any idea what I need to do to move it into the correct Panda forum?
 
Has anyone else received a letter from FIAT regarding "Vehicle Service Campaign Notification - FIAT Panda 4x4 with 1.3 MultiJet Euro 6 Engine - Engine Control Module Software Update"? It also has "Campaign Ref 6026" on it.

I can see that it is supposed to "improve emission performance in real driving conditions", which is nice. What the letter doesn't say is if there are any potentially negative effects from having this update.

Let's just consider the following completely hypothetical statement for a minute:-

"In order to reduce the chance of <insert almost any current manufacturer here> being landed with a massive EU penalty for selling a vehicle which is incapable of meeting its homologated emissions limits in real world driving, please bring the car to your nearest dealership so that we can install modified software which will reduce its performance, worsen its economy and shorten its expected service life."

Now I've no idea whatsoever if there is any truth in this statement, but if there is, I wonder if any manufacturer would be completely open and up front about it :rolleyes:.

Let's just say I wouldn't want to be one of the first folks having this update installed. In the absence of detailed technical information about exactly what the update does, published by an independent testing laboratory, I'd be concerned about this too.
 
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This upgrades are like the bloatware Microsoft constantly shoves onto our computers. It makes them run ever more slowly so you'll be forced to "upgrade" to a "better" machine.

So why would car ECU be any different? Just have it remapped and refuse to allow any dealer "upgrades".

Job done.
 
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This upgrades are like the bloatware Microsoft constantly shoves onto our computers. It makes them run ever more slowly so you'll be forced to "upgrade" to a "better" machine.

So why would car ECU be any different?

No reason at all.

And, like modern phones and computers, the hardware will be locked, specifically to try to stop anyone doing this. That's not to say it can't be done, but it'll get increasingly difficult, and I'd bet money there'll be a hidden anti-tamper flag somewhere that detects any attempt to modify the code, so that even trying will invalidate the warranty.

I'd bet any money you like that, whatever the software update does, once you've installed it, there's no possibility of backward reversion.

I've worked on a couple of computers lately for which the manufacturer had released BIOS 'upgrades' that effectively prevented anyone subsequently running an unsigned boot loader - and there is no way back once they've been installed. (n)
 
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Dilemma.
As said above, this is possibly a response to the VW scandal, so will likely reduce performance.
If the vehicle is still under warranty, will NOT having it done potentially invalidate that warranty, in the same way a third party remap would do?

If mine, I'd write back to Fiat and ask for some details about what it is supposed to fix, as I feel the vehicle is working very well as it is. Ask them specifically what is likely to befall you and the vehicle if it is not done, suggest it is inconvenient for some time, so will it be OK meanwhile? Put them on the spot.
 
Ridiculous that VW still have no penalty in the EU for what they did. And Germany trying to ban Fiat sales etc.

Not sure if the update will bloat the car the way bloat ware on our PCs will, I think the ECU is so simple in its programming that they'll simply retune it by replacing numbers with other numbers which will in turn control the machinery differently. ...though I bet the net result will be sluggish performance as with and 'Eco' tuning :-(
 
That's my point.

My brother runs an old Windows XP computer that's never been updated. It works just as well as it ever did though to be fair he does not connect it to the internet.

OEM changes to the car's computer are heading the same way. Goodness help us when they are "connected".
 
BRP who own Skidoo and Evinrude brands also own Rotax. When the US EPA really tightened the off road emissions rules manufacturers really had to step up.

The snowmobile makers fitted bigger engines with all sorts of power and energy guzzling emissions controls. The problem was cold start and bigger engines suffer the most on cold start.

Rotate went the opposite way and produced a direct inject 2 stroke that easily beat all the emissions demands including cold start smoke and HCs. Its also considerably more powerful AND uses less fuel than the competition.

147bhp from an 800cc twin cylinder with better fuel consumption than the competing 1200 4 strokes and even they can't match the power output.

https://www.rotax.com/en/products/rotax-powertrains/details/rotax-800-e-tec.html
 
Dilemma.
As said above, this is possibly a response to the VW scandal, so will likely reduce performance.
If the vehicle is still under warranty, will NOT having it done potentially invalidate that warranty, in the same way a third party remap would do?

If mine, I'd write back to Fiat and ask for some details about what it is supposed to fix, as I feel the vehicle is working very well as it is. Ask them specifically what is likely to befall you and the vehicle if it is not done, suggest it is inconvenient for some time, so will it be OK meanwhile? Put them on the spot.

I have no desire to be at the front of the queue. I'd just like to be better informed so that I can make a reasonable decision. It looks like there isn't any further info available so I'll get in touch with FIAT and will see what they say - which will probably be speak to the dealer, who won't know exactly what's going on. I'll let you know how I get on.
 
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It's actually a 6 month old standard 4x4. I did notice this question was in the wrong forum (item #4 ). Unfortunately I couldn't see how to move it and there have been no suggestions. Anyone have any idea how to do that?

P.S. emailed FIAT customers services on Friday Evening and await their reply.
 
I'd reckon that if you don't take the car in for the update, then they will most likely do the update at your next service anyway regardless if it's something you want or don't want.
 
This story from the unfolding VW emissions scandal makes interesting reading. Interesting, that is, if you're not the owner of a Euro6 diesel car. If you are, then you might want to substitute 'scary' for 'interesting'.

Note particularly that the VW engineer concerned admitted that continued running in 'test mode' (the mode that meets emissions standards) was having an adverse effect on reliability, leading to warranty claims... so VW modified the software to reduce the amount of time the car spent running in an emissions-compliant manner.
 
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In the 1990s Ford were running a fleet of 2 stroke engines that hammered the emissions rules and were planned for the new Ka model. It was direct injected with stratified charge the latter being much easier in a 2-stroke having no valves in the cylinder head.

The engines needed much lower service time, used not much more oil than four strokes but with zero (engine) oil disposal problems. Were cheap to make (no costly cylinder heads no cams no poppet valves).They were more powerful for their size so made more power and were great for mid range pull just where we need it on road cars.

Thanks of the 1970's stinky clanky strokers and throw those ideas away. They new ones were poles apart.

So after all that, why did Ford fit the clatter old crossflow into their new small car?

EU rule about catalysts and O2 sensors did for the 2-stroke. The stroker was cleaner and better in all respect but the one rule regarding how the exhaust catalyst and O2 sensor must be. This killed the whole lot. A stratified charge engine injects a rich air fuel mixture just before the spark fires, which ignites easily. Hot compressed air within the cylinder gives a full and clean burn with unused oxygen heading down the exhaust. Overall a DI stratified runs much weaker than a normal engine. The catalyst wont have enough fuel for it to operate so it can't be used in the way the rules mandated.

Political meddling led directly to more diesels on the road and has given us the current problems with emissions scandals.

Right now, BRP have fuel efficient and powerful DI 2 strokes that (guess what) hammer the US EPA emission regs but they can't be used on EU roads.
 
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It's happened!

My 4x4 went in for it's first annual service at the end of last week and the snappily titled "Vehicle Service Campaign Notification - FIAT Panda 4x4 with 1.3 MultiJet Euro 6 Engine - Engine Control Module Software Update -Campaign Ref 6026" update was applied.

So far I would say that throttle response is not what it used to be and there are now definite new flat spots when trying to nip quickly out of junctions. Also, when cruising along at around 30 to 40mph speed limits along flat, or slightly downhill, roads the engine now has periods of not being able to make its mind up whether to provide power or to idle. The symptom being that the car can now have very obvious periods of surging and slowing - similar to if you were dipping the clutch as you were driving along.

So not too impressed, but have only been out in it about 5 times since it was done, so it may be too soon to say and things might bed in.

There has always been an occasional bit of a flat spot when pulling out of the end of our street that I put down to turbo lag type issues, but it wasn't nearly so noticable as it is now. It's as if the update has enhanced the negative characteristics.

So..... Anyone else had similar experiences, or know if the ECU might still be learning and things might bed in from here, or know if this software update can be backed out?

Yours grumpily!
 
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