Hi, just got a 2nd hand 2018 Ducato 2.3l Adria Sunliving. 40,000 miles.

On our first trip it went into limp mode and could have been a real safety problem on a busier road. Fiat Garage said software update needed, which they performed.

On our way home from garage, after 2 stops, the engine warning light came on again. We returned to the garage and they now advise that it needs a 'valve'. at a cost of over £1k. and take days to fix as they wait for part. we already paid £250 for the software.

We had a mechanic check van before purchasing.

Having checked the recalls our chassis number does not seem to have been included in the 'sleeve detaching' or any other recalls.

I have searched the threads here about limp mode and software but did not see a reference to valves.

Any advice or comments would be very very welcome.

Thank you

Hello Hacketstown and welcome to the FIAT forum.

I'm sorry to hear you have issues and sorry to say I can't help you either, but Im sure someone will be along soon that can make some suggestions.

A valve - egr valve or engine? if an EGR valve it cant be £1k surely! Did the garage that said it needed a valve do a compression check? (bear in mind a 'low' compression check could also be rings and not engine valve)

Hi Hacketstown

If the engine warning light comes on, a fault code or codes will be logged by the ECU. I expect the garage will have read this, they should be able to tell you the code. If they refuse or stall on this point, remind them who has just paid for diagnosis.


If you post the code here, someone will be able to give you more specific advice.

The "valve" could be the EGR valve (in the exhaust system), the Throttle valve (in the intake system) or some other valve - I have no way of knowing at this point.

The price you have been quoted seems rather high for any of the above, I recommend a second opinion !

Is this still not under warranty ...???

camionpilot said:

Is this still not under warranty ...???

Click to expand...

I was also about to add that too - its a very good point!

Thank you for the advice(s) just seen now.

I am contacting the garage for the fault codes.

As soon as I get those I will post them here as suggested, thanks.

The van was first registered in UK Feb 2018 and imported to Ireland Feb 2020. Fiat Ireland said there is no warranty on it!

If the van was still in UK, would the software update have been free? I thought it should be, as the limp mode created a very serious safety issue.

Thanks

Hi, Thank you for your responses.

I asked for but did not receive the fault codes. However the estimate includes a list of parts. 2 No Electro-valves (each with a different price); seal gaskets; collars; bolts; an adapter and coolant.

Fiat advise that we are not covered by warranty.

Is it to be expected that a 2018 Ducato with just 40k miles would need two valves replaced?

Advice and comments again please.

I quote my original post.

Hacketstown said:

Hi, just got a 2nd hand 2018 Ducato 2.3l Adria Sunliving. 40,000 miles.

On our first trip it went into limp mode and could have been a real safety problem on a busier road. Fiat Garage said software update needed, which they performed.

On our way home from garage, after 2 stops, the engine warning light came on again. We returned to the garage and they now advise that it needs a 'valve'. at a cost of over £1k. and take days to fix as they wait for part. we already paid £250 for the software.

We had a mechanic check van before purchasing.

Having checked the recalls our chassis number does not seem to have been included in the 'sleeve detaching' or any other recalls.

I have searched the threads here about limp mode and software but did not see a reference to valves.

Any advice or comments would be very very welcome.

Thank you

Click to expand...

Hi again Hacketstown

Fiat use the term "electro valve" to describe a mechanical valve which can be controlled electrically. The two most likely items are described below:


One electro valve is the throttle body, which is at the front of the engine and goes between the air trunking and the inlet manifold. These cost about £150 from independent parts suppliers, plus a few gaskets for about £15. This price is for an item by a major parts supplier of equal quality to the original factory fit. Access room to change this is limited, so the front grilles have to be removed. The radiator needs to be eased forward but it shouldn't be necessary to drain it and require coolant. The changeover should take 2 or 3 hours.

The other electro valve is the Solenoid Valve, which is mounted at the centre of the engine bay, high up under the windscreen scuttle. It is used to supply a variable vacuum by small hoses to control the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve on the right hand side of the engine. These valves cost about £70 and take only about 30 minutes to change.

Both these valves are involved with the EGR system, the functioning of which is monitored by the ECU. Any fault will cause a code to be logged, the warning light to be activated and sometimes the power restricted.


On more recent vans such as yours, these valves are not known to often give trouble.

Simply reading a fault code does not give enough information to be certain where the trouble lies, that needs experience and some further investigation. I may be cynical, but simply swapping out multiple parts, and charging a very high price to do so, doesn't seem a very economical approach from the customer's point of view.

I am astonished that you were charged £250 for a software update. Surely this is only an hour's work at the very most, and even at main dealer's prices it doesn't come to that much. One could also argue that if the software wasn't up to the job in the first place the update should be free of charge !


I strongly recommend you seek a second opinion from a different Fiat or independent specialist, even if it involves travelling.

Thank you Anthony489 for your very detailed response. Unfortunately for us, our van developed its problem in the North West of Ireland and we had to travel home to the South East by train, six hours. Moving the van to another location is not an option for us unfortunately.

We have contact Fiat via their online form asking for a refund of the software EUR 200 and to pay for the repair estimate EUR 1600. [Parts EUR 600; Labour EUR 800 Plus VAT).

We await their response.

The saga goes on I'm afraid.

On Friday, we collected our van, after the six and half hour train journey. Two valves (EGR and Electro) had been replaced, EUR 1,800 OUCH!! We drove for 3 miles, stopped for something to eat. When we resumed the Engine warning light back on. We went back to the garage. They said that the EGR valve was showing a fault, so they swapped one out from a new van.

Back on the road and drove, for one hour 27 miles to camp site.

The only issue was that we discovered that the reversing camera display was corrupted.

Decided to head for home on Saturday. We stopped something to eat after 1 hour driving, 29 miles. On resuming our journey, 1.5 miles later the engine warning light came on. We pulled over and called roadside assistance.

The mechanic told us that the computer showed that the "EGR valve was closed". No other faults were reported.

He thought that given the repairs that had just been done, that it might be an electrical fault. He cleared the fault.

He advised to try to drive home, once it did not go into limp mode.

About 2 miles later the light came on and the van went into limp mode after about another 3 miles.

We are now parked up and waiting to be towed to a garage on Monday morning.

By the way, the reversing camera is still not working properly. (The only reason I mention that is that I read elsewhere, that dampness affected an engine management light issue and a reversing camera.

On a separate note, Friday, before we picked up the van, we had received a response from Fiat. They promised to get their camper van team to consider the case during the coming week.

So your comments and advices would be very appreciated.

Thank you.