Ok guys i need help, my fiat puntos got some problems. Its a 2001 1.2 engine, and the EOBD system light has been staying on and wont go off. and recently my car wouldn't start but then it started after the 5th attempt. Anyways took it to my mates, dads garage and he said it could be the coils need changing but I went to the local kwik fit and theyre saying that they dont think its the coils but they think that the ecu has failed and that it would cost 800 quid to fix it!! can anyone shine some light on this problem??

by the way, i'm a girl so I dont really know much about cars..therfore i dont know if kwik fit is chatting rubbish...

heres your main problem

KWIK FIT

When was the last time car was serviced?
Best bet is to get the codes read, that will give you the reason behind the light staying, will also give a better insight to which part is causing the non start issue.

The ECU might have failed but unless he's done some tests the mechanic is just guessing.

Get the error codes and move on from there
Fiat ECU Scan software has a free version and a cable costs about £20 on eBay. Another £20 will buy the colour coded adaptor leads. Full software is about £50.

It could also be the immobiliser crank sensor Lambda sensor. Just changing parts isn't really a clever way to go.

If codes show ignition faults change the plugs, leads, coils and if all else fails the ECU. The ECU needs a new coil anyway so its not wasted.

colinf1 said:

heres your main problem

KWIK FIT

When was the last time car was serviced?
Best bet is to get the codes read, that will give you the reason behind the light staying, will also give a better insight to which part is causing the non start issue.

Click to expand...

Hey I did get the codes read, and it came up with a p0352, p0351 and ignition core malfunction 1 and 2. But kwik fit still think its the ECU. If it is the ecu do you know anywhere I can buy one for cheap and then just get it fitted?

henna786 said:

Hey I did get the codes read, and it came up with a p0352, p0351 and ignition core malfunction 1 and 2. But kwik fit still think its the ECU. If it is the ecu do you know anywhere I can buy one for cheap and then just get it fitted?

Click to expand...

Dont seem like the ecu its more like ignition coil, kwik fit are rubbish any ways go to yellow pages and find some other normal garage ....where do u live tho...might recommend smbdy near u......

Sounds like the coils then.

around £40 for the two on shop4parts

Then get the errors cleared, should sort out the problem

well i took my car to my mates dads garage this morning (Gillingham,Kent) and he said its probably the crank sensor..so he rang me and told me that he fitted it and the car was running fine, but when i went to pick it up the engine was turning over but it wasn't firing up. So i've had to leave it there so he can try and sort it out, but does this mean its probably the ecu? the cars only done 53000 miles on the clock and was running fine for the past couple of months until now. :S

Check the crank sensor again, it has to be in tight to pick up the signal. if its out too far it wont let the engine fire up.

Generally, if the ECU on Puntos gives up the ghost you get a misfire, rather than a no fire. There's lots of stuff here on testing the ECU.

So far then you've replaced the Crank Sensor
Cleared the
P0352
p0351

which as you said is the Coil Packs (both)

I'd changing the Spark Plugs - HT leads and the Coil Packs AND CLEARING THE FAULT CODES - failure todo so will mean the car will probably react like it did before, thinking its still got the fault

and drive around for a bit
You know when the coil packs/ht/sparkies are missing - as the car runs rough, struggles to accelerate and you can feel the engine shaking badly through the car

Ziggy