HELP!! Fiat Punto is dying

MoneyMiser

Hi All,

Really hope someone can help.

My Fiat Punto 1.2 02 reg packed in at the weekend. The garage has just told me it will need a new ECU unit and two coils!! This whole process is gonna cost me over £400. I have made a complaint at Fiat as they mechanic said this happens a lot with Fiat Puntos.

Can anyone help? Can I get it done cheaper? Can I make Fiat pay for a design fault?

tr3mor

Go have a look at fiatforum.com. There's lots of advice on there.

mr_accountant

also www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum

lots of helpers there.

in my opinon changing the ecu is showing that the machanics dont know what there doing, this is changed as a last resort.

Conor_3

mr_accountant wrote: »

in my opinon changing the ecu is showing that the machanics dont know what there doing, this is changed as a last resort.

And you being a qualified mechanic know that for a fact do you?

mr_accountant

Conor wrote: »

And you being a qualified mechanic know that for a fact do you?

No im not a qualified mechanic, but I do know something about cars from PRACTICAL experience, how do you know the so-called mechanics are qualified and have received the correct training?

changing parts by hope and poke mechanics shows the fitters are guessing, remember the original poster pays the bill not the fitter.


I would ask the following questions

1)What diagnostics have they done to decide the ecu is at fault?

2)The ecu is one of the most expensive electrical item, i think the fitters can see £ signs. the ecu is very reliable, even on a fiat

3)Fiats have an awful reputation as dealers, I don’t trust them

4)Would you give 400 to a fitter with no guarantee it would fix the fault?
No i don’t think so, if they guarantee they will refund 100% the cost if the problem is still there then go for it, but they wont refund if they're wrong.

Johnny_Cogs

Actually my friend is a Fiat/Alfa Mechanic and have also had a friend suffer from this problem. Where the immobiliser is attatched to the ecu and the RED master key holds the program codes a common fault in the chain occurs and getting a new key costs bout the same as getting an ecu. Unless you can buy second hand I would be tempted to try n price match some garages then sell the car once repaired... sorry. p.s I do hope you can find a solution cheaply, I know how much of an a55ache it can be.

hyp3r

Johnny_Cogs wrote: »

Actually my friend is a Fiat/Alfa Mechanic and have also had a friend suffer from this problem. Where the immobiliser is attatched to the ecu and the RED master key holds the program codes a common fault in the chain occurs and getting a new key costs bout the same as getting an ecu. Unless you can buy second hand I would be tempted to try n price match some garages then sell the car once repaired... sorry. p.s I do hope you can find a solution cheaply, I know how much of an a55ache it can be.

Just to correct you, an 02 Punto when new is supplied with blue coloured ignition keys only. The RED key system was phased out in '99.

MoneyMiser

Really Appreciate your help guys,

Johnny Cogs - Sounds like you have the problem down to a tee. This is what I was told by the mechanic and after visiting the Fiat Forum this is what was said on there, it is a common problem. I think I will get it fixed then sell it. Any Ideas how much for?

mr_accountant - Thanks for the advice, I will be asking what diagnositics were done to detemine the fault. Will look into getting the parts off ebay or something.

Will phone garage now to see what they say.

highguyuk

Should be able to get it done much cheaper at an independant garage though ...

knnicho

I dont know if this would be of any help to you but a few years ago I owned a punto which was 2yrs old when I bought it and I discovered the windscreen seal was leaking and the passanger well was very wet! Anyway I took it to a Fiat dealer and they mentioned that that was a common fault on that particular year.Well I wasnt very happy with this as if it is a known fault then I shouldnt have to pay for there shoddy workman-ship. End of the story is after some discussion Fiat paid for 75% of the repair cost. Give it a try if you dont get anyluck you havent lost anything.