Pls help Ulysse problems

We have a 2.0 El T reg Ulysse that we've owned for about a year now. In the last week it has developed a problem where the orange engine management light comes and the car cuts out, sometimes when this happens the car wont start again and the engine management light flashes and a relay can be heard clicking on and off also the fuel pump can be heard priming. The problem has got so bad now that the car is undrivable. We are on a tight budget so really dont want to take it to fiat if we dont have to. Anyone got any ideas?? please

The eml coming on just indicates that the ecu has detected a fault.

Unfortunatley, without looking at the car, it cant be said as to what this is.

If you could provide a littl emore detail as to what happens, such as:

When does it cut out (randomly, when stopping at a junction, when dipping clutch etc)
Does the car restart normally, or does it have to be left to cool down?

Is it a petrol or a diesel?

The EML Flashing and the relay clicking, could be the main system relay, this could be faulty, or it coudl be a bad earth. Many fiat's are renowned for issues caused by bad earth connections.

we had a 2.0l 8V that used to do this, turned out that it was an intermittent misfire, quick clean of the plugs/leads and it was fine.

Thanks for your response.

The car is a petrol and the fault happens randomly, it will sometimes start again normally but sometimes the eml doesnt light up so it wont start or it flashes on and off.

We have just had a diagnostics check done on it at a local garage, where it didnt find a fault for ages but eventually said a map sensor fault. We put in another map sensor we had and still the same fault.

We have also changed the crank sensor and main system relay, but it hasnt made a difference.

I have had a problem with my Ulysse which is similar an AA repair man got it going by cleaning the fuse box situated under the bonnet on the offside. He told me a common problem with these cars is corrosion of the fuse box which causes short circuiting. Since he sorted it the car has been fine, but I am having the fuse box changed this week.

Still no luck after trying different things - now thinking it could be the ECU?

have you tried getting an agency to pull the fault codes from the car?

This is not a fiat main dealer only procedure, it can be done by many independants if they have the correct equiipment.

Just ring round a few, and ask if they can, and how much they would charge.

Yes we took it to a local garage and they couldnt find any codes to start with, and everytime the car played up it would stop their code reader from working, so they would have to start again. Eventually after about half an hour it came up with a map sensor curcuit fault, but we changed the map sensor and still the same problem and my husband tested the wiring and couldn't find a problem.
This is why we are now thinking the ECU as maybe thats why it wouldnt read properly? I dont know think we maybe grasping at straws lol

visit www.ecutesting.com

They can test your ecu for you.

You should be able to post it to them for testing too.

Great thankyou, we will try them and hopefully save the cost of a new one if it isnt faulty

hopefully it will turn out not to be the ecu, as they can be pricey.

A fiat dealer will happily remove your wallet for the privalage!

There are a few breaking on ebay at the moment, it may be worth asking them if it does turn out to be the ECU.

That is of course, provided that they cannot fix or replace the ecu for you.

hi, my fiat ulysee 2.0el petrol engine build in 1997.
recently buy from secon-hand dealer. Got a flat battery. After change the new battery.. a weird sound and lamp flickering at headlamps, side lamp and signal lamp.. Also why the STOP light came on the panel. Came back to my home after driving about 100km and the car wont start. the battery flat.. the alarm led light blinking all the way. Is it a alarm radio code failure or other general electrical connections and procedure of changing the battery wise..

Is there any helpful advise on how to change the battery and how to reset the ecu unit.. or it need to take to the next fiat service centre for diagnosis and fault reader.. the airbags, abs and door panel light also come out.

need help as the driving experience is so good..

check the battery earths.

I had a similar issue on mine, it had a bad earth connection.

In my case, the battery earth lead was slightly loose on the -ve battery terminal, just cleaned both terminal and connector, and is okay now

thanks,
have been towing to fiat and check by them, it is a elctrical wiring fault..just below the fuse box in front next to the battery.. some loose and cause intermittent problem,

also the alarm has created a mess, ask them to disconected the alarm and also the keypad control..

it look like fiat wiring is not very reliable afterall. from time to time have to check and re-tighten all the connections .

can we get some electrical diagram like service manual here.. would like to have to ease our troubleshooting and preventive maintenance.

if could please reply to my email at : nasrullah.sairi@dyson.com

anyways thanks for the useful tips.

Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot, wiring all the same, it rots and corrodes.

Keep yours earths clean & tight, and make sure that you check the fuse boxes regulary for signs of corrosion and water ingress.

Fix it as soon as you find it.