EMC FIAT PUNTO ACTIVE 2002 model

SallyD

Warranty ran out beginning of this month. Had the 3rd year service at a ridiculous cost and low and behold a week later, airbag failure light appears - £80 to put it out - loose connection! Off on my hols, and as approaching airport car park start to loose power and EMS light appears. Call NORWICH UNION RESCUE,turn up within an hour. Checks vehicle out finds No.2 and 3 HT leads not firing, suspects coil pack faulty. Checks on computer and it confirms fault reporting Fault Code PO352(needs coil pack replacement). Norwich Union chap phones a local Fiat dealer to see if they could repair straightaway. This dealer said that he had had quite a few of this model with the same fault and they needed the whole Engine Management System to be replaced - lots of cash and they all were just within or just out of Warranty. Suggested it be towed to where I bought it if they were the garage that serviced it from new and TRY and get them to honour the Warranty through Fiat or at very least reduce the cost - could be in the region of £500+

Has anyone had this problem or know of anyone who has that could offer me some advice.

The Norwich Union chap said the fact the the EMS light was on, and that the computer read the fault code indicates to him that it may well just be the need for replacing the coil pack as he suspected he would not get a reading from the computer if the EMS had failed.

The Recovery Driver from CJS Recovery who also turned up within an hour,knew of this type of problem.

When I got the car to my Fiat dealer the first thing the receptionist said was "it was out of guarantee and probably needs a replacement EMS system"
They are going to phone me today with their diagnosis.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

SamC_4

I don't know but it's worth posting this question in the newsgroup alt.autos.fiat, I've seen some good answers to techy questions there. Don't use your main email address to post or you will be bombarded with spam.

AlanCollier

What does a coil pack cost to replace?
Significantly less than an EMS I'll bet!

I had a similar problem once with a Rover, turned out to be a faulty rotor arm and spark plug but the dealer (Paramount, Swansea) tried to sell me a new ECU at a several hundred pound mark-up.

You may even be able to replace the coil pack yourself fairly simply.

--Alan

SallyD

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your response. Yep, one EMS fitted. Haggled with the Manager and got a discount but considering the car has only done 21,000 miles in 3 years and is only 3 weeks out of guarantee it was suggested I go to Fiat direct to complain. The garage have had a few 2002 models back with the same problem. I will try alt.autos.fiat first before I write to see if I can get some info to add to my letter.

Thanks again for your help.