Technical ECU failure '05 Panda 4x4 1.2 Fire - repairs?

[masha]

Main dealer is telling me this week my 19,000 mile Panda 4x4's ECU has failed.

Has anyone experienced this, and if I recover the car from them, is there anywhere I can send my ECU for a repair to save on the cost of buying new from a main dealer.

Moreover, when I said to the dealer i would recover and waiting until I can source a used one they said "you can't do that they have to be fitted new and setup by us or they won't work". Is this the case, or could it be a case of a main dealer strapped for cash and trying to make a quick buck (or £600+VAT for the part, + coding and the diagnostics based on what they've quoted today). Obviously I'm very reluctant to pay £1grand for a box on a car probably only worth £3-£4k and am looking for a sensible way around it, or a 2nd opinion. I'm even wondering if its worth settling up for the diagnostics and towing it to another main dealer for them to have a go and to get 2nd opinion.

Any ECU related advise on the Panda greatly appreciated at this stage. regards

 

[Goudrons]

might be worth talking to the guys
http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/Products.aspx?category=80
or
http://www.ecuclinic.com/
(had my car in here for some PAS work, as they do that as well, they were repairing ECU's for dealers like Ford, Jaguar, Fiat and Vauxhall)

 

[masha]

Thanks very much that is sound advice. I will try both in the morning.

Coincidentally that is 2x Panda ECUs I know of in the Canterbury area that have potentially failed in the last 2 weeks - perhaps we got hit by that solar-fair after all!

(more of this to follow no doubt as vehicles get increasingly complex and electronic in the interests of 'progress' and efficiency - give me my Panda fire WITHOUT the ECU, canbus wiring and fly-by-wire throttle any-day - I bought it because I thought it was simply being based on the 20 year old Fire engine I could fault find and fix myself = WRONG, electricaly its a tricky as everything else out there - fine while it works / nightmare, and in the main dealer's hands to a greater extent, when it doesn't)

Thanks for the pointers on local ECU help in the South East - very much appreciated.:worship:

 

[beau]

bba-reman are very good, and in kent, but iv been trying to contact them for 2 days and not got through, but they did email me to say they are very busy and they will call me soon, so if you dont get through, keep trying

 

[Goudrons]

That ECU clinic is in Greenwich and are very helpful