We have a 2013 Fiat Panda with 5,000 miles on the clock.
An electric fault has been diagnosed as the ABS Control Unit.
The cost of replacement is considerable and we're concerned that such a major component could fail such a short time in use.

Someone like www.partsgateway.co.uk may be able to supply a secondhand one. typecastboy may know whether something like this needs pairing to the car with diagnostics or not.

StLen said:

We have a 2013 Fiat Panda with 5,000 miles on the clock.
An electric fault has been diagnosed as the ABS Control Unit.
The cost of replacement is considerable and we're concerned that such a major component could fail such a short time in use.

Click to expand...

It's most unusual, but like any part on any car, there will be the odd random failure.

Given the very low mileage, it may well have been faulty at manufacture.

If you're the car's first owner, and it's been serviced at the recommended time intervals by a fiat franchised dealer, try asking Fiat CS if they'll make a contribution to the repair cost - you never know. Otherwise, and has already been suggested, a salvage part from a breakers may be the most cost effective way to get this fixed, though you'll likely need to use an independent garage if you go this route - I doubt a franchised dealer would fit secondhand parts.

There are also a number of companies who will repair or provide a service exchange control unit.


Robert G8RPI.

Thanks for the advice and info.
Car has full service history so we will approach Fiat to see what can be gained

g8rpi said:

There are also a number of companies who will repair or provide a service exchange control unit.


Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

A couple of such companies I have used in the past.
http://www.bba-reman.com/gb/index.aspx
http://www.ecutesting.com/

I've also used BBA Reman. Was in a rush this morning before work hence lack of details


Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

There are also a number of companies who will repair or provide a service exchange control unit.


Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

My neighbour recently had similar on his VW Eos. There are apparentlya bunch of faulty ABS units around. I don't know if Fiats are affected by this. He did manage to get a good local engineer to repair it, but it was £500. These things should last the life of the car. I agree that you should try Fiat customer services if the car has a full Fiat service history. If not repairable a second hand unit would be my choice as these things are fairly straight forward to fit. I wish you luck.

I've used someone new to reset Airbag ECUs with faults and it costs £30. It might be worth asking them if they are able to reset software faults. Failing that if you were to buy a second hand one, I imagine he could virginise it if needed. The body ECU has to be virginised if you get a secondhand one, and then the car recodes it when you turn on the ignition. I don't know if the ABS one is the same. The Airbag one certainly isn't. You can interchange them with the same model.