Am I being ripped off ??

[Jason Leonard]

Please can anybody help.
Recently my Fiat Brava 1.4s N reg developed a fault.
It ran irratic as if a spark plug had failed.
After replacing the plugs and leads to no avail I took it to the local Fiat Dealer for a diagnostic.
They said it was the lambda probe but after the probe was fitted there was no differance. Price £139.99.
They then said it was a fault in the wiring loom and this would fix the problem I agreed to have the work done. No differance Price £350.
Now they are saying the ECU has failed Price £450.
I was looking for help.
What does this diagnostic fault finder actually find?
And was all this work nessecary if the ECU is actually to blame in the first place?
I love my Brava but things are getting pretty bad.
Can anybody tell me if this was just a replace and find out by this Fiat dealer or can something be done about this type of repair work.
Thanks
Jason

 

[Brian S]

Yep

For a more accurate diagnosis we need a lot more information than " an erratic misfire like a plug". For a cylinder to fire correctly then the compression has got to be good, the fuel/air mixture just right and a healthy spark at the right time, then it's bound to go bang! But there's a lot of avenues to go down and you, the driver, are in the best position to provide the clues.

Is it starting pretty much first time every time? Is it only happening when cold/hot? Is it a regular misfire like a continuous rhythm or is it intermittent? Is it only on acceleration? How many miles have you got on the engine and when were the plugs last changed? Is the air filter clean? With some further information then we can isolate the cause better.

Are you being conned? Sounds like they're being fairly typical like "Got a misfire, change the ECU" is real black box phobia. If it's like a spark plug missing then go for the easy/cheap things first like spark plugs and leads. Don't just replace them though, check them out! If it misses on start up then it's not likely to be the lambda sensor. Even then you can have the lambda sensor checked out without going to the "have to replace it first" syndrome. I've run around with the lambda sensor completely disconnected when fault finding without any misfires.

Could be just a case of sticking valves like a few drivers have had. Read back for symptoms and cures. Could be just a case of cleaning out the oil and carbon build up and you're on your way. If a garage has replaced your oil with the wrong type they may even be the CAUSE of the problem.

What about the Fiat Codes? They're pretty useless on most occasions and you need to have something very radically and obviously wrong before they vaguely tell there's something wrong. It's a common misconception that you have to go to a Fiat dealer for any engine fault "so they can read the fault codes". There's rarely anything that the fault codes have picked up. Most of the codes are extremely vague as to where the problem lies.Many private fuel injection specialists can often do a better diagnosis and fix.



Rather than a verbal description of the car's symptoms, I always write the symptoms down as the suited chap at reception won't relay your info correctly to the chap doing the job. To be fair any mehcanic can do a better diagnosis the more information they have.

If you get a garage to replace a component then it's a good idea to say you want to keep the old components. You can be sure they've changed it then and if their diagnosis is wrong (as in this case) you can have the old component put back and it would be bare faced cheek to charge you for their wrong diagnosis.

Good luck and let us know the outcome

 

[Chris]

Oil/carbon problems again

I agree. See the previous on sticking valves.
You should try a fuel injection specialist if your still in trouble.

 

[Jason]

Thanks for Reply

This is Jason with the Brava 1.4s.
Thanks for the reply.
I read your advise and here are some of the answers:
It starts first time every time but as the engine comes off auto choke
the car starts to splutter and leaves heavy water and carbon deposits
from the exhaust.
After about 5 mins the car seems to settle down but when driving is
pulling back on acceleration. When parked after driving it seems to be
almost ready to stall then the engine reves will rise to compensate but
then return to the spluttering, this is a regular pattern.
The car has 470000 miles on clock and the plugs and air filter were
changed 3 weeks ago but when removed are very black( carbon).
I did forget to say the car has failed its MOT on the emittions and this
was the reason I sent it to the Fiat dealer in the first place.
After all their promises that first the lambda probe would fix the
problem and then the wiring loom now the ECU Im worried that if this
does not work how do I get my money back.
I have sent a car for repair, spend nearly 600 pounds and two weeks
later I am driving the car back out of the garage in the same condition
it went in.
There must be some rule to stop this kind of work.
Any way I am seeing the dealer tomorrow and will let you know how I get
on.
Thanks again
Jason

 

[Pete]

Specialist

You need to go to a fuel injection specialist. At least they have the equipment to diagnose.