Hi, My generic and engine symbol light came on yesterday morning and the car felt as though the front tyres were running flat.
I went to a local garage, for a diagnostic check, and who incidentally only charges £20, and the result was that the engine was missing the first cylinder.
He said he would start by changing the spark plugs, to see if that would solve the problem, and if not, then he would change one of the coils.
I stated that my car was past and due its 3 year service and to do a service anyways as the car was already there.
This seemed a good plan to me, but as I left, he warned that Fiats are known to have problems with the ECU and if the plan does not solve the problem, then it could be an expensive repair.

My questions are
Do Fiat have a problem with their ECU`s?
How expensive are they to replace?
Is there any chance that Fiat would agree that 3 years 4 months is too short a time for a major fault like this and agree to a reduced price for replacement?

Thanks for reading and hopefully your replies, I might get call tomorrow, stating that new spark plugs have solved the problem, but am looking ahead at my options, as I have a gut feeling that I am facing a big bill here.

oh btw my car is a 2011 punto evo sporting 135.

Mechanic said that my car might have to go to local fiat dealer, as their dianostic machine will be more advanced than his, but they charge £108 , just to look at it, and do not even absorb the cost of diagnosis, even if you agree for them to do the repair

Hi, and welcome back..,
where are you based ?,
MultiECU Scan is FIAT Group specific and a lot of FF members havea copy,

ECU's - YES they CAN fail.. BUT more likely to be a poor cable connection ..( from a sensor),
a proper diagnostic tool will help there..,

once you've eliminated the obvious.. then YES a trip to a good dealer to attempt a Warranty claim would be sensible..,
when / where was it last serviced.. ( I'm assuming it's a "multi-air" engine)

Charlie - Oxford

davie150 said:

Hi, My generic and engine symbol light came on yesterday morning and the car felt as though the front tyres were running flat.

Thanks for reading and hopefully your replies, I might get call tomorrow, stating that new spark plugs have solved the problem, but am looking ahead at my options, as I have a gut feeling that I am facing a big bill here.

Click to expand...

SEARCH " Multiair unit failure"

that's the "worse case scenario..!!"

Coils are dirt cheap by comparison

How many miles total on car.. and how many since last Selenia oil change..??

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

SEARCH " Multiair unit failure"

that's the "worse case scenario..!!"

Coils are dirt cheap by comparison

How many miles total on car.. and how many since last Selenia oil change..??

Charlie

Click to expand...

Just over18000 mmiles , last service was Nov 2013, 6000 miles ago, so was due another one. Hopefully mechanic will do it this morning

Forgot to mention, the S&S is not working. The light is coming on, on the dashboard . I am assuming that is related.

davie150 said:

Forgot to mention, the S&S is not working. The light is coming on, on the dashboard . I am assuming that is related.

Click to expand...

normally battery related

simple to test though..,
low battery voltage can flag-up all kind of errors.

Where are you based..?

may be able to recommend a place that has the right kit for your car..,

Charlie - Oxford

I am in Aberdeen.

My wife just got back from garage, crisis over lads, thanks for all replies. New spark plugs seem to have solved the isuue.