General Getting older, not nice to drive anymore.

[Bonehead]

Hi folks. Got one of the very first Multipla's, had it since April 2001, mileage gone from 12000 to 66000 and it's our treasure, our pride and joy.

However, in the last (say) 10000 miles, the dreaded Front Suspension knocks have started. I know about the drop link bushes, though.

More recently, had the dashboard out to change the heater fan switch. However, I appear to have disabled the passenger airbag. How can I reset it?

Now to the tricky stuff. Only just changed the brake fluid, but now the ABS light has come on all the time. How do I reset this?

And the car has always has the odd stutter and stumble, when in heavy traffic, but now it's almost unbearable. It will misfire badly if accelerating from a trailing throttle, and only comes "on song" above 2500 revs.

I like to look after my own cars, but to do so I need a manual with all the tech data. Can anyone recommend a Workshop Manual CD? Bought one on eBay, but it won't work - written by Fiat, obviously!

I fear the computer is failing, as the KeyCODE light has come on, and the brake (!) icon lights intermittently and randomly.

Help - she is turning into a nightmare.

Many thanks,

 

[T14086]

1)Disabled airbag? which one? Go to dealer,dont touch airbag system plus you have to remove lot of the dash to get to pass airbag & connections!
2)Dealer...did you disconnect/damage abs sensor wiring?
3)What engine is it?
4)Dont buy copied CD's!
5)Dealer for code light

 

[Fiat Driver]

I think you need to send it to a dealer. Gone are the days when you can fully maintain a car by reading the Haynes manual then getting out your spanners

 

[T14086]

Depends what it is that you want to fix 'fiatdriver' don't chuck out those spanners just yet

 

[Bonehead]

Thanks, people. However, I would just like to make a few relevant points:

To those who suggest a Fiat dealer...have you ever used one? They are the biggest bunch of illiterate no-brainers ever to pick up a spanner, and, in my humble experience, I wouldn't let them fix my wheelbarrow. It would end up with square wheels!

It's the passenger airbag, by the way.

And to those who say that maintenance is beyond the home mechanic, the Multipla is simply a series of detachable modules - everywhere! The question is...who knows where the faults are, and in which module?

I am quite happy to do any work myself (my other car is an XJ6 and I have rebuilt most of it!) but without a manual, I'm a bit stuck.

Cheers,

 

[T14086]

To those who suggest a Fiat dealer...have you ever used one? They are the biggest bunch of illiterate no-brainers ever to pick up a spanner, and, in my humble experience, I wouldn't let them fix my wheelbarrow.

Guess i'm a illiterate no-brainer then like alot of other folk on here!!!

 

[NumanR]

Me too then, best you get on and fix the damn thing yourself, anything me or T tell you will be incorrect obviously.:worship:

 

[Bonehead]

No offence intended to anyone who is actually a dealer - I merely speak as I find. There are 3 Fiat dealers in my part of the world, and I have experience of all of them. Efficient isn't the word. Neither is competent, helpful, useful, economical or good. (I am still waiting for a panel I had ordered under warranty when I first bought the car. That was in 2001. I gave up pestering in 2003!)

However, I didn't susbscribe to an information forum just to be told by a Fiat dealer to go to a Fiat dealer. And as for telling me not to buy pirate CD's off eBay - do YOU sell any that I could use? I merely asked if anyone knew of a CD or manual that is a good substitute - the Haynes Bravo/Brava one for instance. (I have since checked myself and the Haynes covers my engine and gearbox.)

Regards to those of you that actually do some driving, and actually have to endure the day to day costs of running a car.

 

[NumanR]

Dealers sell legal upto date cds for approx £45. And as far as I am aware every technician that posts on here drives there own car and has to pay for everything on it.

 

[T14086]

Tell me about it,I just had to for out over £500 on my engine

No offence but if you can afford a multipla then you can (or should budget for) a proper CD or a haynes manual at least?

You need to visit you dealer for airbag light,sorry but thats the way it is.

 

[Gary]

Thats the main problem though, no haynes manual for the Multipla
If they made one then perhaps no-one would need these cds

 

[T14086]

Your kidding! no manual for the multipla???

Oh well.....err.....you can get it from a certain download site....so I'm informed

 

[T14086]

Or here....

http://www.workshopmanuals.co.uk/workshop_manuals/cars/fiat/fiat_multipla_workshop_manuals.htm

 

[Bonehead]

Wow, thanks.

Will follow this one up.

As to the other guys...just a quick one:

OK, will go to a dealer where necessary. Just been spoilt, I guess. I'm used to the Jaguar owners' site, where aficionados will attempt ALL maintenance, including resetting the ABS warning (NOT the brake pad warning i.e. pad sensors...different light!) and disabling and reprogramming the airbags.

As to year and model...check out the signature. Bit of a giveaway, that one!

Regards,

 

[T14086]

I remember being asked to change shoes (I think,it was years ago) on a Jag & apparently you have to drop rear axle,that right?

 

[Gary]

I sent an email asking if they were going to produce a manual for the Multipla and got this reply

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding a Service and Repair Manual for your vehicle. Unfortunately, we do not produce a Manual for this particular model and have no plans to do so within the next 12 to 18 months.

However, all customer requests are recorded and used in the decision making process of future Manual publications/updates.

You could try contacting your local dealer to see if he can be of assistance.

Thanks a lot Haynes

 

[T14086]

A recent report suggested Haynes were unable to 'reliably' produce many car manuals these days due to equipment required to diagnose & so many models being produced & were concentrating on other markets...washing machine repair etc

 

[dave]

Or here....

http://www.workshopmanuals.co.uk/workshop_manuals/cars/fiat/fiat_multipla_workshop_manuals.htm

old thread i know but people have bought CDs off that site and they dont work, so buyer beware

 

[T14086]

Yes i saw that thread aswell.....£45 from dealer then:devil:

 

[tuba]

I agree. If I had known about the dealer version of the CD then I wouldn't have bought one advertised on ebay which...er... 'customised' my computer, albeit at very reasonable cost...