Posted this in Garages thread but this may be more appropriate.

Hi all, first post so be gentle!

So, almost at the point of part-ex'ing the Stilo (well, leaving it at the Dealer as a non-running and starting up the ladder again.....)

Basically, the car was running fine until Sunday when it started up but revved erratically then died. Repeatedly. Called the AA out and they had a good look at the fault indicator etc and decided the MAP sensor may be at fault. AA engineer removed the MAP sensor and cleaned it (though that sounds like it may not be much use, reading around the matter) but in the process of removing it he broke a small plastic retaining catch on the wiring loom.

We towed the car to my local dealership who have called back and quoted £1100 for the repair! Was a bit bowled over, especially as the car is worth less than that. Part-ex without the repair would get me (as I was an 'existing customer' - £200).

Called them back to work out exactly what was being quoted for and it turns out they want to replace the whole wiring loom (on account of a tiny plastic lug) for £500 + fitting + VAT.

Quoting for the MAP sensor only (without guarantee) is £300.

This still sounds extremely expensive to me since I watched the AA engineer remove the part and refit it.

Normal dealership practice or taking the ****?:bang:

Normal practice and taking the pi$$ whats stopping you going to a scrappies and cutting out part of a loom and getting an auto electrician splicing it into your existing..another point is can a new conector be fitted anyway and be ordered from fiat or from someone like this place..

http://www.tycoelectronics.com/catalog/bin/TE.Menu?M=MENU&ID=10238&BML=10000-S&LC=en

Thanks for the idea - must admit I'd thought of a simple 'cable-tie' fastened around/across the joint but I'll look into a 'proper' job.

Still amazed that they think a full wiring loom was the way to go but I guess I must look gullible.

BarchettaTK said:

Still amazed that they think a full wiring loom was the way to go but I guess I must look gullible.

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Look at my picture below. The "hood" of one of the multiplugs going into the ECU is missing, and has been missing for at least 4 years... Last time I was at the garage they could get it for £1200 GBP. With it came the whole wiring loom. Don't think so. 3M insulation tape does the job.

Morty Mort said:

Look at my picture below. The "hood" of one of the multiplugs going into the ECU is missing, and has been missing for at least 4 years... Last time I was at the garage they could get it for £1200 GBP. With it came the whole wiring loom. Don't think so. 3M insulation tape does the job.

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Oi Morty someones nicked the battery cover as well.. that T14 gets everywhere..

Heh.

Well, I'm getting a couple more quotes - £300 for MAP and fitting still sounds too steep.

I'd rather get the part, fit it myself then get the AA to clear any remaining error codes if there are any!

Give us the engine size..:idea: and I will check my favourites for a cheaper supplier of map sensors for you..

PNL said:

Oi Morty someones nicked the battery cover as well.. that T14 gets everywhere..

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Hehe. Even to Norway...

I just had my earth leads changed, and the cover didn't fit afterwards, so it was on the asphalt waiting to be dremelled. The new wires between the fuse box and battery interfered with the cover. It's back on now - as the engine cover (winter mod).

Just thought... If the AA broke the 'tab', shurely they are accountable for it.

Then again you would probably need to take them to court.

As for the dealer that suggested replacing the whole loom.. DO NOT GO NEAR THEM. Any dealer that tries that sort of thing on should be shot.

The MAP sensor shouldnt cost more than 30-40quid and fitting it is a doddle.
In fact total cost from a FIAT dealer should be no more than 50 quid + VAT.

MAP sensor is about £120 + vat!

Well, bear in mind that it could be extrememly likely NOT to be the MAP sensor itself but a problem in the MAP sensor circuit which is exactly what the fault code was saying. A simple bad connection is enough for it to say "WARNING MAP SENSOR PROBLEM". Often, simply making a cleaner/better electrical connection does the job. £5 can of electrical contact cleaner and 2 small tie wraps to hold the connector on securely might be all that's needed then clear the fault code and see what happens

It would be useful to know what engine size it is as they are very different MAP sensors and each ECU can either cope or not cope with MAP sensor problems. A 1.6 engine for instance will run quite happily without a MAP sensor as it will use the throttle position and rpm to guess very well what to do

1.2 or 1.4 engines that I've seen go into a real sulk and just won't work without a good MAP sensor input, unable to tickover or run at all. It just can't make a guess at what the air intake temp is (our MAP sensors have air intake temp sensors incorporated within them too) and throws it's toys out the pram

I bought a 1.6 MAP sensor for about £50 from Shop4parts a few months ago
1.2 and 1.4 are a different sensor but still around £50 I believe
Don't forget the 10% discount if you donate to Fiat Forum

So.. we may have a result!

(1.6 Stilo by the way)

After collecting the car from Fiat (from a particularly disinterested Service Dept. who were dealing with another unsatisfied customer at the time) I drove it 300 yds down the road - with very little sign of the problem - to an independent Fiat specialist.

Explained the whole saga to them and returned home. Received a call a little later telling me that the MAP was actually OK but that they have had experience of Stilos ECU/MAP programming becoming corrupt (think I've seen something of this on the web before). All should be OK apparently and they're now doing the 72,000 service that was due too.

Funnily enough I had an automated text from Fiat this evening thanking me for my business and hoping I was completely satisfied with the work undertaken and that if not could I contact the service manager.

I might just do that.

Thanks all.

BarchettaTK said:

Received a call a little later telling me that the MAP was actually OK but that they have had experience of Stilos ECU/MAP programming becoming corrupt (think I've seen something of this on the web before). All should be OK apparently and they're now doing the 72,000 service that was due too.

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Youve been flashed.. I hope she was nice looking..

It never surprises me how many are still out there and still driving around without the ecu and throttle body updates not been done on the 1.6.. god willing your problems should only be little ones now thats been sorted..

BarchettaTK said:

So.. we may have a result!

(1.6 Stilo by the way)

After collecting the car from Fiat (from a particularly disinterested Service Dept. who were dealing with another unsatisfied customer at the time) I drove it 300 yds down the road - with very little sign of the problem - to an independent Fiat specialist.

Explained the whole saga to them and returned home. Received a call a little later telling me that the MAP was actually OK but that they have had experience of Stilos ECU/MAP programming becoming corrupt (think I've seen something of this on the web before). All should be OK apparently and they're now doing the 72,000 service that was due too.

Funnily enough I had an automated text from Fiat this evening thanking me for my business and hoping I was completely satisfied with the work undertaken and that if not could I contact the service manager.

I might just do that.

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If I were you I would get in touch and tell them exactly what you think. Shy bairns get nout.

Re: MAP Sensor replacement/fitting costswww.cd

PNL said:

It never surprises me how many are still out there and still driving around without the ecu and throttle body updates not been done on the 1.6.

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Interesting point... How do I get it do