Hi - hope someone can help with this problem (seeing as my local dealers can't !)
Punto Mk II - reg.V (2000)
In April the petrol gauge suddenly dropped to zero - took it to the dealers (Toomeys - Westcliff) who couldn't identify the problem , but suggested fitting a new ECU.....I wasn't happy about this , but , knowing nothing about cars (!) I reluctantly agreed.
All was fine until a couple of weeks ago - wife got in car , turned ignition - nothing happened. Called out AA - he said faulty battery.
Took to shop where I bought battery last November - he did his own tests - said nothing wrong with battery BUT something must be draining it cos the levels were very low.
Took car to Toomeys - asked them to sort out ASAP (as I had been told that it was prob something to do with the replacement ECU) - after much "debating" they agreed to take the car in for repairs a few days later (after telling me there'd be a 2 week wait - and to disconnect the battery after using the car every time !!!)
Charged battery up over weekend - drove car to Toomeys - they phoned a few hours later saying they couldn't find anything wrong with the car...(and charged me £102.00 for the privilege !!!!!) Fine , I thought...maybe it was just a glitch.
Got in car last Sunday - dead again. Called out AA - he did a thorough check and found that the headlights were staying on , even after being switched off on the stalk , and the key removed from ignition. So that was what was causing the drain !
Phoned Toomeys - again , told there would be a 2 week wait for repairs - said I had paid £102.00 to be told nothing wrong , when clearly there was - asked to speak to manager , line went dead !!!!
Phoned back - was told to bring the car in , which I did immediately.
They phoned an hour or so later - and told me that the lights weren't staying on and that unless the fault occurred when it was in their possession , there was nothing they could do !!
I said that was ridiculous - there must be something they could check , and was told "Well where do you suggest we start ?"
I politely informed him that I wasn't a mechanic , and he replied that "it could take weeks to find the problem - and who would pay for that ?"
At the end of my tether , I told them I would come and collect the car.
So far , the problem with the lights hasn't re-occurred....but is there anything I could check to prevent it happening ?
(sorry about the essay !)
Punto Mk II - reg.V (2000)
In April the petrol gauge suddenly dropped to zero - took it to the dealers (Toomeys - Westcliff) who couldn't identify the problem , but suggested fitting a new ECU.....I wasn't happy about this , but , knowing nothing about cars (!) I reluctantly agreed.
All was fine until a couple of weeks ago - wife got in car , turned ignition - nothing happened. Called out AA - he said faulty battery.
Took to shop where I bought battery last November - he did his own tests - said nothing wrong with battery BUT something must be draining it cos the levels were very low.
Took car to Toomeys - asked them to sort out ASAP (as I had been told that it was prob something to do with the replacement ECU) - after much "debating" they agreed to take the car in for repairs a few days later (after telling me there'd be a 2 week wait - and to disconnect the battery after using the car every time !!!)
Charged battery up over weekend - drove car to Toomeys - they phoned a few hours later saying they couldn't find anything wrong with the car...(and charged me £102.00 for the privilege !!!!!) Fine , I thought...maybe it was just a glitch.
Got in car last Sunday - dead again. Called out AA - he did a thorough check and found that the headlights were staying on , even after being switched off on the stalk , and the key removed from ignition. So that was what was causing the drain !
Phoned Toomeys - again , told there would be a 2 week wait for repairs - said I had paid £102.00 to be told nothing wrong , when clearly there was - asked to speak to manager , line went dead !!!!
Phoned back - was told to bring the car in , which I did immediately.
They phoned an hour or so later - and told me that the lights weren't staying on and that unless the fault occurred when it was in their possession , there was nothing they could do !!
I said that was ridiculous - there must be something they could check , and was told "Well where do you suggest we start ?"
I politely informed him that I wasn't a mechanic , and he replied that "it could take weeks to find the problem - and who would pay for that ?"
At the end of my tether , I told them I would come and collect the car.
So far , the problem with the lights hasn't re-occurred....but is there anything I could check to prevent it happening ?
(sorry about the essay !)