Hello, my 14 plate 55k twin air owned from new, and with only this July's service (plugs, fluids and filters) not done by FIAT, showed an engine fault ('start stop unavailable - check engine') 10 days ago and went to limp home mode. Local garage found a PO340 fault code so the sensor was changed (Bosch) and code reset. All then Ok but failed after 11 miles. Reset - same thing. Third reset, drove to Fiat Carlisle (same thing after 13 miles). Carlisle diagnosed PO340 and claimed the sensor fitted was incorrect.
Collected the car on Friday (£345 plus the £200 for a rental car). After 300 yards I realised there was no warning message but no turbo boost. Returned to them. They cannot look at it for 3 weeks and when they do "It's a separate problem at extra cost"

Currently thinking of selling it back to Fiat and running away and that my 1981 X1-9 was a breeze...

Suggestions please.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear it's in such sad circumstances.

There've been too many posts like this from folks with limping TA engines. Turbos, coil packs and the uniair module have all given owners their fair share of headaches. Whilst some have reported 100k+ trouble free miles with this engine, sadly it does not seem to have the same reputation for reliability as the now-venerable 1.2.

The problems aren't helped by a general lack of knowledge about how the thing actually works; finding a garage outside the dealer network that's actually competent with these engines is nearly impossible, and many of the franchised dealers frankly aren't much better.

If you are one of the unlucky ones, TA ownership out of warranty can be both bothersome and expensive.

Personally I'd sell it and move on; residuals are strong and you might find somewhere that'll give you a decent trade in price 'as is', particularly if they're not a Fiat dealer and you don't mention the turbo.

Thank you, and I must say the forum is a very useful resource and a credit to the owners of these cars.

If you can find the answer anywhere it will be here. I wouldn’t trust Fiat dealers as far as I could throw them.

I would invest in a copy of MultiECU Scan and a set of cables and do the diagnostics yourself. I believe that MES would give you a more detailed and specific error than what they’ve given you.

As JR says, these engines seem to be a mystery to most garages. Haven’t looked where you are but there may be someone near you that will plug the car into MES for free for you. I’ve done it for a few people on here.

MD, Are you suggesting that the turbo boost issue was not present before the garage tried to solve the Cam sensor issue ?
If so then there is a good chance that they have caused the problem during diagnosis/repair and failed to spot the boost pressure on a test drive ?
I have seen many examples of garages failing to reassemble components correctly, often forcing or breaking parts or even losing fasteners. They will simply send it out.
If this is the case then you have a good case for damages.

I avoid garages as its hard to find someone who knows what they are doing and treat the car as if it was their own.

Hello all and thank you for your replies. I waited until a local diagnostics chap had looked before replying. He found four faults.
1. MAP sensor fault. Bench test failed as over- voltaged
2. Camshaft position sensor fault but bench test ok.
3. As these are both on the same 5v circuit (together with the crank position sensor and coolant and oil temp sensors) he looked for and found three faulty wires in the loom. One had cracked insulation and was ‘green dust’, one cracked insulation and part melted, one cracked insulation. This may have occurred during attempts to fit the loom retaining clips at manufacture or when the tow bar was fitted.
4. Finally he noticed a suspiciously new vacuum/pressure hose and clip repair near the camshaft sensor. I wonder how that might have happened???
Anyway, if you’re in Cumbria do use Ian Dodd in Tebay. He’s a genius!

Shame how a great engine gets sullied by crappy garages!

Hello all,
I complained in writing to the dealership who have offered a refund of their bill. Happy days

Did Doddy fix it?

Which wires was it? It might be handy to post a pic' of at least the general area, for anyone (could be me in 5 years time... ) who has a TA with the same problem.


Ralf S.

Hi yes, Doddy fixed it. I hope I’ve uploaded a picture.

Sorry, not techie enough to upload a photo. Wires are one solid mint green one orange with black stripe.

MD14UCM said:

Sorry, not techie enough to upload a photo. Wires are one solid mint green one orange with black stripe.

Click to expand...

There's a great guide to posting photos here:

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto/317573-posting-photos.html

Without this I would have been lost!

Of the two methods I use the one in post #2 .

Feel free to have another go ... and great to hear you got your problem sorted!

MD14UCM said:

Hello all,
I complained in writing to the dealership who have offered a refund of their bill. Happy days

Click to expand...

So I should bloody well think. They may have redeemed themselves a little but they are STILL A DISGRACE!

Hello there, finally succeeded in doing the needful,
BW,
J