Technical Punto Sporting problem

[Mary Cochrane]

Can anyone help? I've had a problem with my Fiat Punto Sporting (W reg) for several months now and I can't find a mechanic who can sort it out.

This is what happens. I'm driving along and when I brake the car 'thinks' it is in reverse. The R signal flashes up on the dashboard (well, it sometimes alternates between D and R as though it is 'confused' about which gear it is in). In addition, the beeping sound that I get when I'm actually in reverse goes off, and continues until I take my foot off the brake. The gears themselves are actually OK - the car just seems to be getting the wrong signal. I have taken it to 3 mechanics and these were the results.

1. The first guy changed the brake switch and said he did some work on the electrics. The problem returned within 3 days.

2. The next lot, a Fiat garage in Catford, said the car need a new ECU (and attempted to charge me a small fortune). However, my friend spoke to an ECU specialist in Greenwich, who said this was not an ECU problem.

3. The latest mechanic thinks the computerised system is out of kilter and just needs to be reset (by a Fiat specialist).

As you can imagine, I really don't know what to do next. The problem can't be so complex that it is unsolveable. I definitely don't want to spend any more money until I have a good idea of what the problem actually is. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Mary Cochrane.

 

[dave]

hmm dont know where it is on a mk2 punto but most cars have a switch thing that moves with the gears that tells the rest of the gubbins what gear you are in, its on top of the gearbox on a mk1 i reckon it could be just the plug on that is loose, or if its like a mk1 needs the 2 mounting bolts loosened and turning slightly.

EDIT sorry forgot to say, Welcome to the forum

 

[diamond]

Have anyone looked around the area of the brake pedal to make sure it is not physically rubbing or pulling on any wiring when pressed?try this hope its the answer.

 

[arc]

sounds like a short, i know on cinqs the brake and reversing lights are on the same circuit, dont see why it'd be different here.

just for a test.. take you're brake light bulbs out and test it.. humour me..

if that doesnt help, pull the reversing bulb out too, and if not - get a haynes manul and trace the wires for each circuit and check anywhere where they could short.

 

[Mary Cochrane]

Thanks for replies to my problem. Will test out possible solutions and post results.

 

[Mary Cochrane]

Forgot to ask - where can I get a Haynes manual? Thanks.

 

[dave]

Forgot to ask - where can I get a Haynes manual? Thanks.

any car accesory shop, or www.haynes.com

 

[The younger modder]

If there is a MAKRO store near you go there they are cheap on car stuff surpriseingly and loads of people have the trade cards through their work places

 

[Mary Cochrane]

This is to say a huge thank-you to all the people who provided possible solutions to my problem. I printed them out and took them to my mechanic and he found that it was actually an earthing problem (and the brake pads needed sorting). I'm picking the car up today so hopefully will be OK. Any ideas on how much this type of work should cost?

 

[thefishdude]

well break pads are pretty cheap. earthing problem?? that is quite random so hard to put a price on what heis actualy going to do. as it sounds like it wuld be mainly his labour you pay for that one.

 

[T14086]

Speak of the devil I had one of these problems today,traced it to faulty earth at rear light cluster
One to look out for in the future!

 

[manualsco]

Download car Manuals PDF files for repair, maintenance and wiring.