ECU warning light update

I posted earlier re this problem (engine management warning light came on for no reason). I have now spoken to a very helpful non FIAT mechanic. He states that the error (and I watched the diagnosis myself) was a throttle sensor error and is not important as the motor was obviously running very well. He also demonstrated that the throttle sensor was working correctly also.Does anyone know anything about these error messages, in my particular case it seems to be an arbitary fault that is meaningless except that the light once on won't go off again until it is reset.
Any help appreciated

Thomas

Thomas, it may be a throttle position sensor that has got a bit caught up, its not totally uncommon on Fiats. It may be worth doing an ECU reset to get all the positioning motors back to default. To do a reset, disconnect the negative on the battery for a minimum of 45 minutes (some people beleive overnight, although how leaving it in the dark helps is beyond me :D)

The important bit is when you reconnect the battery, allow the engine to idle for a full five minutes, before switching the ignition off and then restarting it. You may find poor fuel consumption for the next 100 miles whilst all the sensors learn your engine again, but it may just assist with this issue.

The warning light is actually an engine management system malfunction warning and can mean anything from fuel pump to injectors and everything inbetween! I used to get it frequently on my Bravo HGT and it cut the power to "get home mode" until I found that the wires to the throttle potentiometer were too short and it was pulling the plug!
Nige

Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD (210BHP)
Fiat Punto JTD (130BHP)
Fiat Barchetta

http://www.angeltuning.co.uk
http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk THE Fiat Bravo site

Wow!! What a fantastic reply alfanige v much appreciated. Thanks for the info...I must admit that I suspect something very simple to be the cause of this problem - the car is running very very nicely and has no problems whatsoever. I like your suggestion about a poor connection, in fact one of my ideas was to find the wiring connection to the throttle sensor and clean and waggle the connector about a bit just to ensure that everything was clean and properly plugged in. However I had a quick look from the drivers footwell and couldn't identify the bit I was looking for ...can you explain where it is located........?

Once again
many thanks
Thomas

What about the fact the Fiat Ulysse is made in France? Or do the frogs not give a toss [sorry, more of a toss] - see the job sheet, note the 4 letter F-word, mutter something [Vive la France], ignore the parts bin, mutter again, go on strike, block the ports, cancel flights in their airspace, surrender to the Nazis.......

Er!

Hi Thomas
I have just read this topic and it has been most interesting. I have a 2ltr Ulysse that has recently stopped on me on the way to work, it just slowed to a stop after I passed a car with my foot hard on the gas pedal. It would not pickup from tickover so the AA man tried his diagnostic laptop on it but he could not access the ecu! Eventually he found the fault by pulling plug leads off and told me it was the air flow sensor, with the plug off I could drive home. On my way home I pass a Fiat Dealer so I tried to buy a new sensor, the parts man was baffled, on inspecting the vehicle he told me it was actually the throttle potentiometer. Any way I ordered a new one (£78) and fitted it the next saturday, the Ulysse ran OK for about 200 miles before the same thing happened again. This time I just pulled the plug and limped home again.
I took it in for the mechanic to take a look this time because I thought it would be better to have a diagnostic checkup. The fitter came back and said it had not been fitted correctly! (it is probably impossible to fit it wrong) and he had cleaned the throttle body and reset the fault code, another £85. It had occured to me at the time that the ecu may need resetting but as the car ran OK I thought it was alright. Reading this topic has confirmed my suspicions that it probably only needed the reset! as the symptoms where axactly the same as the first time,at least if it happens again I will know what to do.

ps thanks Nige for the advise

Gordon

Interesting message gball.........hmmm. You know having read these pages (particularly the Stilo) and I am beginning to wonder if FIATS are worth the bother. I suppose other manufacturers have similar probs but when one looks at the reported probas as a whole the phrase 'crap build quality' comes to mind....
Anyway after a few weeks my ECU management light has come on again for no apparent reason so I am now in the process of taking alfanige's advice and I have disconnected tha battery overnight (what an awfully designed + battery post clip). I intend to follow the instructions for restarting and I will update the forum for info purposes.
Sorry for adelayed post I thought this thread had died

Tom

Next time I am in a customers Ulysse I will try and locate the bits you need and do a step by step. I will also have a look on the workshop CD when I get chance.

As for reading the error codes - come Friday I should be in possesion of my new "toy".... a Fiat error code reader :-) I wont be charging the same as Fiat, beleive me!
Nige

Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD (210BHP)
Fiat Punto JTD (130BHP)
Fiat Barchetta

http://www.angeltuning.co.uk
http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk THE Fiat Bravo site

Alfanige/gball

Oh well..........:-(
As promised an update......Reconnected the battery this morning and the ecu light is still on. I don't really know where to go with this next.

If anyone could describe to me where the throttle sensor is then I could check the connection but it still looks as if I will have to go back and have the warning light reset, I do object to this as it definitely smells to me of car manufacturers inventing these things to wring every last farthing out of the paying motorist..

All advice considered and thanks so far

Tom

Where abouts are you as I may be able to reset this for you rather than pay ££££ for it as we have the equipment to do it <shhhhh though>

Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD (210BHP)
Fiat Punto JTD (130BHP)
Fiat Barchetta

http://www.angeltuning.co.uk
http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk THE Fiat Bravo site

Alfanige.........you are very kind and I very much appreciate your gesture
I am in Hertfordshire and that is quite a way from you. I could probably take it back to the place that did it before but I think it will just come back again after a few weeks again. I am trying to find out where the throttle sensor is located within the vehicle as I think it is a possible guess what you (I think it was you mentioned in an earlier post) that is it may well be just a badly fitted wiring connector or something similar.........If it isn't that then my guess is that there is a fault .....your comments?

Tom

Start at the top of the throttle peddle. They are normally there, then trace the wiring harness back.

You don't travel about much if you think Hertfordshire is quite a way from me lol!
Nige

Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD (210BHP)
Fiat Punto JTD (130BHP)
Fiat Barchetta

http://www.angeltuning.co.uk
http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk THE Fiat Bravo site