My 1.6 16v 2003 dynamic has been diagnosed with a faulty ECU..its had a habit of cutting out with loose connection alternator failure/abs/security/asr/high temp failure messages

Ideally like to get it repaired if possible, found a few places online

BBA Reman

ECU Doctor

ECu Testing.com

Anyone had any dealings /experiences with any of these? Ie service cost

Any advice would be most helpful

Are you sure it's definately the ecu that's fried? Have you checked eveery other possibility?

how are you sure its the ECU? Unless you have had some serious electrical issue, the ECU is pretty reliable. How has it been diagnosed?

Exactly, alternator failure jumps out among those you listed. Low voltage can produce a load of "ghost faults" on Stilos.

Had 4 diagnostics test no faults found .its intermittant .the car starts again right away.. Its been in and out of garages for past 4months Crank shaft replaced brake light switch replaced the wiring/earths all checked out aswell as the battery and alternator.took it down to a diagnostics/ecu repairs bosch independant garage who kindly informed me today. they didnt go into too much detail as what was wrong with it but they cant repair mine

Been on this forum everyday for past 4months. Iv searched and searched and read almost every thread in relation to this matter trying to find a solution didnt want to believe it was the ECU . It's a known issue of the 1.6 Stilo and replacing the ecu solves this problem in most cases.
But i have ran out of ideas. Here were my finding from this forum for this sort of fault - some people have had it sorted just simply by changing the battery some alternator too..crankshaft is also one of the main culprits. Some have sorted theirs by repairing/replacing their ECU some even stated by changing the engine fuse box solved there problem others have found corrosion somewhere leading to the rear lights .some suggested it could be a fuel/air relay issue i made a note to myself to get the inlet valves and the throttle checked out also the coil pack unfortunately some decided to flog it.As you can see nothing very conclusive and im not that techincal handy with cars.

damn.

I take it these cars wont allow you to just slap in a new ECU then? this is something i dont know too well about these cars as I am new to them. I cant recommend a repair specialist, but i would certainly consider a replacement if its possible..?

You can install a new ecu, but it has to be virginised first so that it can be programmed with the new cars imobiliser codes etc.

With the 1.6 ecu problem, in most cases it's due to overheating due to where FIAT placed the ecu in the engine bay, this causes internal welds on the circuit board the melt. What the ecu repair guys will do is "re-ball" the ecu, reconnecting the connections that were lost in the circuit.

When you get the ecu back, replace but move it to somewhere else in the engine bay that is a little less warmer than on the engine, side of the battery tray perhaps?

Hope it solves your problems

MarkThompson4 said:

With the 1.6 ecu problem, in most cases it's due to overheating due to where FIAT placed the ecu in the engine bay, this causes internal welds on the circuit board the melt. What the ecu repair guys will do is "re-ball" the ecu, reconnecting the connections that were lost in the circuit.

Click to expand...

Spot on

not sure if its coincidance but it started happening straight after a cambelt change which wasnt through fiat. had that checked too as i know 1.6 engine need special tools?

MarkThompson4 said:

When you get the ecu back, replace but move it to somewhere else in the engine bay that is a little less warmer than on the engine, side of the battery tray perhaps?

Click to expand...

would it cost much to get something like this done?

I doubt the timing belt change has anything to do with it, it's an electrical fault that you have. You would have problems starting it and rough running and as these are interference engines I'm sure even with the cutting out the engine wouldn't have lasted this long

Costs next to nothing to relocate the ecu, just pick a spot within reason ie where the wiring loom can still reach the new location and mount the ecu bracket there and bolt on the ecu.

Just had an awesome idea: Have you got any tupperwears laying around? If so cut holes in it to allow the wiring loom inside and drill small holes around it to vent out any hot air that might be inside and mount the ecu inside. I think that could work

MarkThompson4 said:

I doubt the timing belt change has anything to do with it, it's an electrical fault that you have. You would have problems starting it and rough running and as these are interference engines I'm sure even with the cutting out the engine wouldn't have lasted this long

Costs next to nothing to relocate the ecu, just pick a spot within reason ie where the wiring loom can still reach the new location and mount the ecu bracket there and bolt on the ecu.

Just had an awesome idea: Have you got any tupperwears laying around? If so cut holes in it to allow the wiring loom inside and drill small holes around it to vent out any hot air that might be inside and mount the ecu inside. I think that could work

Click to expand...

Cheers buddy. Its definately something i will consider. Tupperware? Lol nice idea Just dont like the thought of tupperware under the bonnet.il see if i can find an alternative

Lol well you get my logic, you could always paint it and put a nice big FIAT sticker on it :slayer:

But you get my logic anyway and we're yet to see if the problem will be solved when the ecu returns

Yes deffo..will keep all posted.

Back to original question then..anyone recommend an ECU repair specialist