Hi all,


Unfortunately, I already got the mechanic to put in a new battery just in case that helped and it didn't. Not sure on the Ah of the new one though.


We have also tried using the metal key to override the unit and that didn't work either - all we got was an occasional 'Steering Lock Disabled' message for about half a second (See original Post).


Anyway, On Saturday I got the car loaded up onto another Lorry and shipped over to the Dealer. They have it at the moment but as of an hour ago haven't started looking at it.


I'll keep you all posted.


Regards


Gary

So,


2nd Dealer (who said it was a bad idea to just buy the new ignition unit and try it) rang yesterday. They have had a look and they reckon I'm correct - it's broke. He's ordering the part and have quoted me about £300 including labour. On the face of it, that's cheaper by a way from the simple supply from the other dealer.


They expect to have the job finished tomorrow (Friday).


Gary

good luck!

gazskeltz said:

So,


2nd Dealer (who said it was a bad idea to just buy the new ignition unit and try it) rang yesterday. They have had a look and they reckon I'm correct - it's broke. He's ordering the part and have quoted me about £300 including labour. On the face of it, that's cheaper by a way from the simple supply from the other dealer.


They expect to have the job finished tomorrow (Friday).


Gary

Click to expand...

any luck..??,
Charlie

Hi All,


Rang dealer on Saturday - ready to get the train over to collect the car.


I'd previously rang then on Thursday but they'd been lot down on the delivery of the part and it was being sent by courier to them.


They were just going to install the new ignition switch and would ring me back.


One hour later got the call. The switch was installed and now moved up to the firing position. Except that was it - no response to starting the car. They had to get an MOT done and get back to it as soon as poss.


Next call - they had checked all connections/fuses/cables etc. and couldn't get it to start.


They had run out of time (as you know - most garages are only open in the morning on Saturday) and they are going to get back to it with fresh eyes this morning (Monday).


I haven't contacted them yet to chase up as there's no way IO could get the car now until next Saturday.


So I continue to hack up and down the M2 in my wife's M Reg 1994 Nissan Micra 1.2 Auto (of course I get absolutely NO respect from other drivers when I'm in that). By the way, it's done 74000 miles - same as my 56 Croma...


Gary

Just had a call from the Dealer.


They opened a technical thread with Fiat themselves as they had a theory that the problem was in fact the steering lock mechanism. Because this had failed, the ignition unit had broke due to force.


Fiat have agreed with them and are sending a new mechanism to them. They have advised testing it without fitting it so that it can be returned if it doesn't work.


The unit is another £340.


Gary

Hi,


So - new Steering Lock unit works and car springs into life (lights etc.)


Car won't start though - computer won't wake up and smell the key.


They are trying various methods to connect to computer to get key going.


Regards


Gary

jeez, i'd be close to setting the damned thing on fire by now if it were mine!

gazskeltz said:

Hi,

So - new Steering Lock unit works and car springs into life (lights etc.)


Car won't start though - computer won't wake up and smell the key.


They are trying various methods to connect to computer to get key going.

Click to expand...

I thought that the steering lock unit, ECU and body computer were all coded together. Did the garage get the replacement lock coded to match your keys and ECU? They would have needed the CODE card to do that. The other option is to get a competent electronics engineer to swap the EEPROM chip (which holds the code) from the old unit to the new one.

Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

I thought that the steering lock unit, ECU and body computer were all coded together. Did the garage get the replacement lock coded to match your keys and ECU? They would have needed the CODE card to do that. The other option is to get a competent electronics engineer to swap the EEPROM chip (which holds the code) from the old unit to the new one.

Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

You would HOPE a FIAT dealer would know about this..

but I'm still amazed at the poor levels some attain

Charlie

One more thing to check is the key itself. If the circuit in the key has failed that could explain the lot if it has. I doubt that the Fiat dealer has the equipment to check the transponder in the key is working. But if you pop into any branch of Timpsons or any one else on the high street that does car keys. Ask them to check your key in the there programmer. It should read as id46 pcf7941. If it doesn't then there is your problem

Hi All,


Thanks for your replies. The Dealer actually ordered the Ignition unit direct from Fiat using the Chassis number as a reference, so they should have received the correct one.


They have been on to Fiat with this continuing problem and they have tried various things to enable connection to the computer. So far to no avail.


They have a Fiat Field Engineer in on Tuesday next week to look at a Van Turbo Unit. They are going to get him to have a look at the car then. Apparently, if there is a solution, he will know and be able to sort it out.


They have already been advised by Fiat that I may need a new body computer, but they don't want to go down that road unless they absolutely have to.


They are not giving up on me...


Regards


Gary

Hi Gary just read through your thread and possible body computer failure
Scub was having trouble on his thread on 10/3/15 which turned out to be a lose connector to his croma body computer. I have had some trouble with the connector on the steering column which I mentioned on his thread. It would I think be worthwhile having both connections checked before any more expense.
Hope you are able to get it fixed soon.

Cheers!


I have passes this nugget on to the dealers.


Regards


Gary

Hi again,
After all these parts replaced it would be practical maybe to ensure that all of computer coding is matched with all parts fitted, and I have read that in some cases of modern cars problems software update helped as well.

Fingers crossed for successful repair of your Croma. It is great car, unfortunately gets bit temperamental.

Ok,


Car all fixed now at my (not so) local Fiat Dealership...


New ignition key thingamajig - seems this was broken by the recovery driver forcing it.


This didn't fix the problem.


Technical help opened with Fiat and they had heard of a few Cromas with this issue. Suggested changing Steering Lock computer. This made the ignition talk to the car but the car didn't really respond to it.


Dealer had a Fiat Technician coming in for another problem and 'borrowed' him to look at my car. He had a look and said that he had heard of a few Cromas with this issue. Needs new Body Computer.


New Body computer duly ordered from Fiat UK but didn't turn up when expected. Turns out Fiat UK had none in stock and had ordered it from Italy (without letting the dealer know).


Eventually the new unit arrived. Connected up and everything sprang into life.


Collected car last Saturday. Very pleased to get back into it.


Drove to work (50 miles) on Monday. Colleague comes into my office a bit later. Did I know I had a puncture?


D'oh!


Swapped for skinny tyre with help from another colleague and got a new tyre that evening.


So.


From elsewhere:
New Battery £120 inc labour
New tyre £65


From Dealer:
New Ignition switch
New Steering lock computer
New Body Computer


86% discount on Labour (probably they felt guilty as most of the labour was unproductive......


£1040 dealer bill.


Oh well...


Car running lovely now. Actually, running the same as before.


Regards


Gary

OUCH! Glad its all sorted but DAYUM! Prob more than my car is worth haha.

Hi,


It's always an issue if you can't afford a brand new car...


£1000 to get a nice car fixed or find £5000 to get another 2nd hand car that may start to have issues as well.


And as the 2nd user market progresses there'll be more and more reliance on computers to manage the engines of older cars. And I'll bet it will be those parts that fail. We've all had to replace old computers at home as they get slower and start to fail so expect that in cars as well. And that's not even mentioning all the cars that now switch off at junctions - loads of failing starter motors etc in the future?


There was nothing wrong with the engine in this case, just the management systems.


That's the main thing I learnt driving round in my missus's '94 Nissan Micra - no computers - it either runs or it breaks down!


Gary

indeed, i learnt in a classic mini! and first few cars were carb'd cars... I think there is a sweet spot where cars with computers were pretty solid - somewhere between them being a new thing and now was a point where things had electronic ecu and injection etc but it was all still pretty simple - things like cinq sportings. It has an ecu with a variety of sensors but its pretty bullproof as its so simple and what fails is generally just temp sensors and switches - i see people blaming the ecu for issues often but I try to convince them it won't be the ecu and when they send it off it usually is sent back with a note saying no faults found or they get it back and pay a load of money for the work only to find the issue is still the same. I'm yet to come across a ecu failure other than someone has been really silly and blown something themselves rather than something just stopping working in the ecu. But then when the sei mpi came out with the micro ecus that has issues and can need replacing. My sister had a merc a-class (or as i called it a merc cheese-wedge) but thing had a failed map or maf, i forget exactly was ages ago, but you couldn't change the sensor alone and we ended up fitting a whole new ecu and then there is the code system that chucks a wobbly so more money. Everything being plugged into everything else is the main issue as i see it - all the little computers seem to be linked into another one or a code system and you change one you need to change more or get it programmed to accept - its certainly becoming a minefield.

Hi everyone, I have a problem with my Croma, I had a new alternator fitted and approx four weeks later I am having a problem with the ignition ( check car protection system ). At first I thought it may be the key but even the problem persists with the spare. At first it just happened in the mornings occasionally, the key would go in but not turn, then if removed and then re-inserted it would turn and the padlock icon appears on the dash and ' check car protection system' comes up, if you then remove the key for the 2nd time and re-insert. the key turns and the fault light disappears and the car starts as normal and continues to be fine most of the day unless left for a while. After looking online I thought it may be the battery so went down to Halfords and they did a battery check, the print out said the battery was good but needed a re-charge so I purchased a newer charger. Upon charging the full charge LED light came on only after 3-4 mins so how can the battery need re-charging. I don't even know if the battery is the problem. The car protection problem is now happening more regular and on a daily basis and if not used for a number of hours the fault appears again. The steering lock mechanism also seems to be making a different noise now. I do like my Croma but I have had a driveshaft problem, and new alternator in the last 6 months and now this. Could this mean a new ignition and steering lock as i have read yesterday

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