Hi everybody

I'm new here and any help with my problem would be much appreciated!

I have a Fiat Ducato 3.0L 160 Multijet, 2007. I have the engine warning light up, although no symptons and seems to drive just fine. I've had someone look at the fault codes which I've listed below.

P0403
P0683
P0401
P250A

They have recommended either replacing the EGR valve or blanking it off. Both quotes are quite high as the garage have said 4-5 hrs labour.

Any advice? I'd rather look at ways around spending loads if I can do something myself.

Cheers for any help.

Tell them they are gold diggers that think they specialise in diag !!bet there boss got nice bmw or merc but he cant possibly know best fix for your van cause he not got access to fiat e-learn he just wants your money and gives you all the talk like he knows anything !non dealers they haven’t got access to fiat factory so to charge u ££ for anything diagnostic related is null and void they have no right to charge you anything because they no nothing apart from pcode Yes without looking at software version yes ?get your software updated it will sort juddering issue out ??3.0 litre don’t drive fine you think ?or your just used to it ?( software update!))stop paying rats to take your money o yes egr worn when your software needs updating 5 hours labour have a word!!blanking egr ? Why fit it in first. Place? what we got! these same people blanking add blue on e6d so clever ?Hope sir David Attenborough and a polar bears get you! bring on elec ducato!!hale elec ducato!!

O yes po683 is glow plug fault normally numuber 3?or 4 glow plug seized causing short there’s all these people that specialise in drilling out glow plugs on 3.0 but I see the work they do and there’s bubbles up side of glow plug because it not sealed
Correctly , specialist my arse!

RGentry said:

Hi everybody

I'm new here and any help with my problem would be much appreciated!

I have a Fiat Ducato 3.0L 160 Multijet, 2007. I have the engine warning light up, although no symptons and seems to drive just fine. I've had someone look at the fault codes which I've listed below.

P0403
P0683
P0401
P250A

They have recommended either replacing the EGR valve or blanking it off. Both quotes are quite high as the garage have said 4-5 hrs labour.

Any advice? I'd rather look at ways around spending loads if I can do something myself.

Cheers for any help.

Click to expand...

Lets not get all emotional about this. I do agree that you should probably take the van to a Fiat dealer or even better a Fiat specialist. At least go back to the original garage and ask them to tell you exactly what the codes mean in writing. This will give you a better idea if they know what they are doing. If you are paying them for diagnostics theyshoul b giving you more information than just raw codes.
I don't know that van and engine but 5 hours for a EGR valve seems excessive.

Blanking or otherwise disabling a EGR valve (or any other emissions control) is ILLEGAL. It is also illegal for them to offer to do it.

Robert G8RPI.

Hello. Your van is fairly old, how many miles, has it had good journeys most of the time? These are vulnerable to connection issues in the looming due to age or water ingress. Codes popping up without lasting real symptoms are a classic indicator of that.
Get yourself Multiecuscan and the leads, read the faults yourself. Post back here, we will help. Scoot about the Ducato section here and you will find details of the general problem areas for the wiring (under headlight for example)

P0403
What the P0403 code means. P0403 is an OBD-II generic code that indicates that the engine control module (ECM) has detected the engine exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit has malfunctioned. The ECM detected a short or open circuit in the EGR vacuum control solenoid or wiring to the solenoid.

The solenoid controlling the EGR is under the bracket under the seam in the middle of the scuttle and seizes up because of water ingress. common issue.

P0683
Code P0683 indicates that the Glow Plug Control Module to PCM Communication Circuit has lost communication. A fault has occurred that prohibits the powertrain control module (PCM) from communicating commands to the glow plug control module. The command is essentially an 'on and off ' signal.

Again probably water ingress. The glow plugs and the glow plug cables often sit in water and rust also the glow plug module is behind the left hand headlight and also suffers from water ingress along with the fuse box and cable harness that chafes on the bracket.

P0401
It is part of the vehicle emmissions system, and is used to reduce combustion temperature and pressure to control Oxides of Nitrogen. ... These things work together to deliver the correct amount of recirculation based on engine temperature, load, etc. The P0401 code means that OBD detected an insufficient amount of EGR.

Probably linked the P0403 as the EGR isn't opening or stuck open

P250A
This is showing as oil level to high or not showing?

I would want to check all the codes on a proper Fiat code reader like mutiecuscan,

Mike

just to say to Taffybloke well done sir fantastic post exactly the type of information the original poster would be looking for. much more helpful then all this emotional stuff been posted.

Hi all

Thanks for all the replies. Has certainly helped me get my head around it.

Hooked the van up to a friends (mechanic) scanner today and had a look around. The control solenoid isn't working and there are signs or water ingress through the scuttle directly above it. Looking at the design of the scuttle I'm not surprised this is a common problem!

Will be picking up a working solenoid soon and we'll see where we go from there with the EGR problems and then the other codes.

I'll post back here what happens so you can see what we find/for people looking through EGR valve threads in the future.

Cheers

Hi

It might be useful for you to know how the EGR setup works. The EGR valve allows a controlled bleed of exhaust gases back into the engine's air inlet under certain conditions, for emission control purposes. It is a big old hot heavy lump which would need a powerful high temperature electrical controller to move the flap inside. So instead, the flap is controlled by a variable vacuum line via a thin hose. The amount of vacuum in this line is in turn controlled electrically by the solenoid valve high up in the centre of the engine bay, which essentially turns a changing electrical signal into a changing vacuum one. The fun starts when water pours down onto the solenoid valve from the leaky joint in the centre of the plastic scuttle moulding. The vacuum hoses can also perish and split, especially near their attachments, so take a close look. At least the solenoid valve is accessible (a pleasant change for a Ducato) and not outrageously expensive.

Multiple fault codes often mean corroded or damp connectors rather than genuine faults. Do you really think it's likely that four things have failed simultaneously ? Not unless you are very unlucky, or are in the business of charging to swap out parts.

Thanks for the help in this thread.

It was indeed the Solenoid which had stopped working, likely due to water ingress. Both fault codes now cleared. Solenoid replaced using a 2nd hand one from ebay. £30.

The P250A code hasn't returned after being cleared.

Just the Glow Plug one to fix when i get home.

There is a drain to fit under the scuttle joint, pictured below. it is made by Seville but only sold by Citroen for the Relay but it will fit the Ducato.

Citroen part number 6454.66

Read this post on Motorhomefun
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...-engine-problem-resolved.101807/#post-1289607

Mike

andydiver said:

Hello. Your van is fairly old, how many miles, has it had good journeys most of the time? These are vulnerable to connection issues in the looming due to age or water ingress. Codes popping up without lasting real symptoms are a classic indicator of that.
Get yourself Multiecuscan and the leads, read the faults yourself. Post back here, we will help. Scoot about the Ducato section here and you will find details of the general problem areas for the wiring (under headlight for example)

Click to expand...

You make some interesting points.
Would it help to get a 'manual' by which to understand the DTC error codes and the possible cause/fix procedures?
If so, how can these manuals be acquired?

I look forward to your response.

Great reply, taffybloke...very informative.
Could you tell me what exactly a "P02402-51", description "emission control fault" DTC error code means?
Also, I have been "refer to the manual" by a DTC "19,51,00,30" code
I would appreciate you thoughts here.
Cheers

Hi GypzyJack. The "codes" you have written are not standard obd2 codes so a little more information would be needed to comment on them. The following web site shows how the obd2 codes are made up,

http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/...ricmanufacturer-obd2-codes-and-their-meanings

The codes generated by most generic code readers are only general indication of the fault, a vehicle specific reader would give a more precise explanation, that said the code may point to a component failure but the problem may be elsewhere such as when the code suggests a EGR failure but the problem may be something like a MAF sensor or vacuum failure to the EGR or even a split hose on the inlet side. On a Ducato the problems often result from the water ingress problem.

Mike