Northern Auto Tech - ECU and Blue & Me Repairs

Technical 2005 Panda Unrepairable???

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Technical 2005 Panda Unrepairable???

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Walkingbandh

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Hi, I am hoping somebody can offer some advice on my 2005 Panda which has been in the garage for 5 weeks!!! It was towed into a local independent garage by the breakdown recovery service after it refused to start one day. I know absolutely nothing about cars so Im sorry about the lack of technical details.

It was reluctant to start for several days before the final breakdown but always started on second or third attempt. The diagnostic equipment stated an ecu/immobiliser problem. The garage told me that the ecu could be repaired and reprogrammed which would be a cheaper and quicker option than a new ecu so I agreed. However, even with the repaired ecu the car still wont start. Apparently there is a problem with the chip in the key communicating with the ecu. The garage uses an independent autoelectrician, the same one that the local Fiat dealership uses, but he seems to be at a loss as to what to try next. So I am stuck with a car that wont start plus undoubtedly a hefty garage bill. The garage have suggested that the car is unrepairable which seems crazy for 2005 reg with only 60,000 miles.

Has anybody else had a similar problem or can offer any advice please?
 
Walkingbandh said:
Hi, I am hoping somebody can offer some advice on my 2005 Panda which has been in the garage for 5 weeks!!! It was towed into a local independent garage by the breakdown recovery service after it refused to start one day. I know absolutely nothing about cars so Im sorry about the lack of technical details.

It was reluctant to start for several days before the final breakdown but always started on second or third attempt. The diagnostic equipment stated an ecu/immobiliser problem. The garage told me that the ecu could be repaired and reprogrammed which would be a cheaper and quicker option than a new ecu so I agreed. However, even with the repaired ecu the car still wont start. Apparently there is a problem with the chip in the key communicating with the ecu. The garage uses an independent autoelectrician, the same one that the local Fiat dealership uses, but he seems to be at a loss as to what to try next. So I am stuck with a car that wont start plus undoubtedly a hefty garage bill. The garage have suggested that the car is unrepairable which seems crazy for 2005 reg with only 60,000 miles.

Has anybody else had a similar problem or can offer any advice please?
Click to expand...

This is quite common on the panda to have key problems. Was it the remote central locking key? Did you try the spare regular key?
 
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It's a Fiat Panda Dynamic, 1.2. Yes it was the remote central locking key, I dont have a spare key for it. When I suggested getting a new key the electrician said that it's not a key problem. Thanks for the replies
 
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Would like to get a second opinion obviously but as the car wont start I am struggling to get it anywhere.
 
I'd say that it probably is the key rather than the ecu. You'll probably need to get the code from Fiat so that you can get a new one made.
 
Aston Martin said:
When I had immobiliser problems, a new expensive key fixed everything.
Stupid question, but do you only have the one key?
Click to expand...



Yes only the one key unfortunately. I suggested getting a new key to the garage but they have said that it isn't the key and that wont fix the problem. Do you think it is worthwhile getting it into a Fiat Dealer? Although I am not sure how I will manage this with a car that wont start
banghead.gif
 
Walkingbandh said:
Yes only the one key unfortunately. I suggested getting a new key to the garage but they have said that it isn't the key and that wont fix the problem. Do you think it is worthwhile getting it into a Fiat Dealer? Although I am not sure how I will manage this with a car that wont start
banghead.gif
Click to expand...


It sounds like your garage dont know what they are on about tbh. This exact thing happened to me and left me in the car park of a garden centre.

If you search on here its happened so many times and nearly if not always the remote central locking key that stops working.

I got a copy for 50£ from a timpsons. If they have replaced your ECU now though you might have to pair to that or whatever.

Edit:Mine broke exactly the same as yours btw, it woudn't put out the immobilizer light and after trying a few times it would. Then it went a few days later and never worked again
 
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At about two years old, my 54 plate multijet had intermittant problems with starting. It turned out to be the transponder receiver in the steering lock which was fortunately replaced under warranty.
 
Walkingbandh said:
Yes only the one key unfortunately. I suggested getting a new key to the garage but they have said that it isn't the key and that wont fix the problem. Do you think it is worthwhile getting it into a Fiat Dealer? Although I am not sure how I will manage this with a car that wont start
banghead.gif
Click to expand...

hello,

A FIAT Dealer would be an expensive option, :eek:

where are you based?, as a competent Auto- locksmith could well save you a lot of money..,

Charlie - Oxford
 
Who suggested the garage where you took it ?

TBH I would question their ability.
I am new to Fiat but the Vectra isn't unfamiliar with electrical problems.

Try phoning a few auto electricians and explain the situation. If the garage can't get it going ask them to put the old ecu back in as it wasn't faulty.

If they can't sort it I would argue there is nothing to pay.
 
Have they actually tested the key? If they haven't get the key back from the garage and take it into a local key cutters that does car keys any Timpsons will do. Ask them to read your key on there machine it should read as id46 if it doesn't read at all then you know the problem is with the key and not the car itself.
If it is the key at fault then they can normally be repaired. Occasionally the pcf7941 chip in the key completely fails but its normally a bad solder joint or defective induction coil.
 
Have they read the ECU codes? Could be Camshaft sensor/associated wiring? Whenever mine was being really hard to start (it was never easy) it would throw up a camshaft sensor circuit a fault.
 
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