Ok where do i begin, a few weeks back my car started developing really bad flat spots, id be driving along then power die's then comes back, then dies again. Took it to the garage and they replaced the lamda sensor. Everything went fine for that night then just as i was going home my heater matrix blew, back to the garage i go. Got that replaced but it now wouldnt start, the water from the heater matix had made its way into the ECU and bust that, so got that replaced but it still wont start.

The garage have now tried everything but with no luck, has anyine else had problems similar???????????????????

[xx(]

Ali

Yeah sorry to hear that, one or two simple questions...
ONE-Where is your ecu located 'cause if its on the inner wing where most are a heater matrix leak should not hurt it at all...
TWO-What age is the car? if its after late '95 or 96 the ecu has the immobiliser built into it and unless you have the matching coded key ignition lock etc for that particular ecu it won't start. The security light (orange key symbol)on dash will just stay illuminated...engine will turn over but will not start!
I hope i'm wrong but this could be expensive

my ecu is located under the heater matrix on my car, its a 1997 90sporting,
yep all the engine did was turn over but nothing else, picked the car up from the garage yesterday with one BIGGGGGG bill to pay.

Ali

If they diagnosed the problems and after all their mucking about they didn't actually fix the car this means their diagnosis was wrong and you shouldn't pay. Talk to citizens advise.

Sorry to hear that, I agree with last post something is not right here, either the car is fixed or it isn't. Just as a matter of interest do you know where the new ecu came from, it could be faulty, does it have an immobiliser and were the keys replaced/reprogrammed by a FIAT dealer. Also if the unit wasn't new what happened to the old one? Does the orange security light on the dash stay illuminated when you try to start the car?
One thing you could try, disconnect a battery lead leave 5mins reconnect and try to start the car again and also check that the battery is fully charged.

The new ecu has now been tested and was f**ked, the cars got an imobaliser and keys have been reprogrammed, does anyone know what a egr sensor is???

Ali

Also, one of my mates has got a punto 60s. When the cars just left to idle is has a loud rattle/ticking noise coming from either the engine or clutch, but if he just pushes the clutch down it disapears compleatly. Any ideas on what it is??

Ali

noise which stops when you press the clutch is usually the gearbox...

has it got any oil??

if so, live with it, or dig deep.

if not, check the drive shaft boots - replace if split - then top up with "correct" oil.

If it's run a long time with no oil you have a prematurely worn 'box with an unknown life expectancy, which will make a variety of interesting noises depending on what's worn.

Might be a thrust bearing on the way out

"The Not so Fast but Furious"
Who cares about my post count - it's all about quality not quantity!!
(at least thats what i tell myself anyway)

Thrust bearings!!! its not a Turbo You must mean clutch release bearings.

Don't be fooled by Fiat, I have a 1.6 sporting and for 15 months I had a problem with the engine just cutting out. For the whole 15 months they insisted the ECU was at fault. It never got replaced because of the price, im glad really because I went to Dartford Tuning (they don't read the ECU, they force the info from it), after 10 minutes and £30 he told me the EGR valve was faulty. Went to Fiat and bought one, fitted myself and the problem went away.

Dont trust Fiat.

Well at least you seem to be making progress! An EGR valve is an exhaust gas re-circulation valve which intoduces a little exhaust gas to the inlet system which reduces combustion temperature and improves emmissions of NoX which is apparently a good thing until it goes wrong.
Hope you are sorted soon.
Gearbox noise is probably gearbox bearings, every Fiat I've owned has suffered from this noise to a greater or lesser extent and none have failed yet..check/change oil if over 60k but dont expect noise to go away but clean oil will help maintain box.

Thats what i meant a clutch thrust release bearing thingy

"The Not so Fast but Furious"
Who cares about my post count - it's all about quality not quantity!!
(at least thats what i tell myself anyway)

Got everything fixed, and its running well now but my fuel ignition light still comes on. The car has been independantly tested by three different people who all say it fine but i want this damm light off!!

EVIL_PUNTO: what did that place do to get the info out of the ecu?? Do you konw of anywhere in edinburgh that'd do the same thing???

Cheers

Ali

The best thing to do would be to contact www.dartfordtuning.co.uk and ask if they can recommend someone in your area. I don't know how they did it but I know they didn't plug into the diagnostic port, apparently the ECU doesn't give out all the info through that port (copyright thingy). They tap into a few lines near the immobiliser, sensors and the ECU for a true reading.

Failing that, you could always just take the bulb out.

Hi.


Barnsley Tyke.

Hi ...again.

What I was going to say when my kid jumped me was ....if all the experts say it's A1 and all you want is the light out....why not take out the bulb?..Sounds reasonable ter me!
Derek.

Barnsley Tyke.

Fiat spent 15 months telling me that my Punto was A1 and they couldn't find a single problem (it didn't bother them that the injection light comes on and the engine cut out).
They kept saying, if it gets worse bring it back and we'll have another look. I spent about £150 on ECU checks with no result. Eventually went to Dartford tuning and they discovered the fault almost straight away. He printed me off the list of faults which went on for 9 pages and started from the day it first happened. So not only did Fiat not find the fault dispite it being coded on the ECU they didn't clear the ECU either.
It makes me wonder if they did know about the fault and were just making extra cash for themselves. Terrible considering they told me the ECU must have been knackered and I would need a new one.

How much did Dartford Tuning charge for the diagnostic Evil??

2000 ELX , (1998 60S got mashed)

Often the red light coming on is caused by a Lambda sensor being faulty....but then that should show up as a fault code but it might be worth rechecking.

Sorry your original post said this had been replaced before the full story unfolded but it might still be worth checking as the faulty ecu etc may have contaminated the sensor tip or overheated it...:I