Technical Violent juddering

[bredsticz]

Nah, alot of garages might not have a clue about alot of things if they never had it before and its a problem so many things can effect it they never know where to look.
If its a simple problemalot of garages might like to charge for an ECU because no one will know if they replaced an ecu or not! can blame it for anything

 

[PuntoSS]

I see your point, but it's just so frustrating not knowing what it is! I mean Fiat couldn't work it out, Nationwide tried to rip me off for a headgasket that wasn't needed, this garage it's at at the moment is very good but even they're baffled by it, so you can understand my frustration!

But what can ya do.

 

[bredsticz]

lol I know believe me! Just be glad you can still drive your car! Mine got to the point it was taking nearly 10 min just to keep it running 1st thing

 

[PuntoSS]

Just been on the phone to the garage, they are going to keep it in a couple more days. He said it started first time this morning with no mis-fire on the cylinders. It sounds like good news, the mechanic took it 15 miles and it was fine.

Whatever the problem is, it's intermittent, but what on earth is the problem?!

 

[DaveMcT]

Check the main earth cable and check the ECU earth cable around the back of the cylinder head.

 

[punto2001]

In addition to my last post my mate who got the ECU changed still has occasional problems, but not as bad, so something more complicated is going on!

My juddering and lack of power now dissappears when I rev the engine super hard...

got it booked in at the garage tommorow

 

[PuntoSS]

Yeah, same here Punto2001, revving super hard seems to clear it but it will sometimes come back if you let it idle. Let me know if your garage manages to suss it. And I will do the same if I find out!

It is absolutely ridiculous... I mean, why does no-one know what's going on? How come this fault cannot be diagnosed properly or found by even a professional mechanic?

I've got some videos of it to put on Youtube but need to get onto editing them before I publish on there as the file sizes are quite big.

 

[DaveMcT]

It does sound like a fuel mixture issue. These things usually smooth out at full throttle.

 

[PuntoSS]

Just got off the phone to the garage. They reckon it's the ECU.

They started it up this morning, it was fine. Then they had a diagnostics bloke who came out and it started juddering and shaking again. The guy left behind some equipment they could use to test the ECU with.

Fiat told me in November there was "no such thing as a test for the ECU".
This garage will test to see if there is a pulse on the line between the ECU and Coil Pack 1, which should establish if it's the ECU or not.

I have to ring them back tomorrow.

I'm just annoyed and frustrated with it all. And after this has been fixed, what else is going to go wrong with it that will cost me more money?

 

[DaveMcT]

If it is the ECU get a used one (complete with keys and locks) from a breakers.

At the least you'll need the ignition keys to go with the ECU. You can swap over the old key blades with the new handles so you dont have to change the locks.

 

[PuntoSS]

If I get a used one, how long will it be before the used one starts giving me "what for" ?