I recently got the RAC man to restart my car.

[lilypoppyfre]

he couln't find anything wrong (the car cranked but didn't start ) and needed his computer to reset it. He advised me to see the garagist ASAP and indicated in his report that he suspected ECU spiked ( at least that's what I can read...).Could anyone tell me what "spiked" is and is my wallet going to break under the weight ?

many thanks in advance.




....

[Iggle Piggle]

What make/model/ age is your car?

[lilypoppyfre]

hello. I have had my car from new. It is a Fiat Panda, Diesel, Multijet.I can't remember exactly the year but the numbers are 55. Does that help ?

[Iggle Piggle]

Did the RAC man 'jump-start' the car or just reset the engine computer ?

[lilypoppyfre]

the RAC man did not jump start the car but used his computer to reset it.When I rang the garage I was told that it was a "big job "....I am dreading the estimate...but I need a car as my husband goes to the hospital 2/3 times a week and the taxi fares mount up quickly...

[AlBags]

Iggle Piggle

ECU's are nor 'reset'

The fault codes are read .. and can be wiped. This can remove some car's from 'limp-home'.
It will only be a big job if the garage know what the fault is .. exactly.
Many problems like spikes (voltage irregularities caused by many reasons) are irregular and it's possible that no other fault is found. They will not replace the ECU for no reason .. or shouldn't.
Get them to look for faults on machine first.

[lilypoppyfre]

THANK YOU IGGLE PIGGLE AND ALBAGS. .....AT LEAST I WON'T LOOK TOO STUPID WHEN I BRING THE CAR TOMORROW....

[chas2008]

Changing ECUs is actually quite rare, its just easy to blame faults on it and if it does its designed not fail totaly but go into get you home or limp mode..

[lilypoppyfre]

thank you Chas for your comment.

[Andyvon]

Blaming the ECU seems quite common Lily. My father was recently told he needed a new ECU for his 1995 Astra which kept cutting out and wouldn't startr from warm. I convinced him it wouldn't be the ECU, then he found someone who identified the water temperature sensor as the problem. The fault codes kept saying there was nothing wrong.

If you don't know much about cars you are at the mercy of......other people who don't know much about cars but tell you they do! Generally, if a car has a major fault then it's usually obvious. When the fault is minor like yours then it could have a number of causes and is harder to pinpoint. You then get people guessing rather than working their way through the list of possibilities.

Your car sounds like it has a minor fault which should be easily and cheaply rectified once identified. The tricky part is trying to find someone who is prepared to work their way through the possibilities, not take £50-£70 to plug in a diagnostic computer then tell you there's nothing much wrong and resort to snap guesses "probably a fuel sensor, could be ECU", blah, blah. My father's a pensioner and he ran out of money paying these clowns who kept telling him there was nothing wrong as there were no fault codes. If you can find a mechanic or a small garage prepared to spend that time getting your car sorted then give them the work and stick with them.

Good luck.

[DaisyNonna]

Excuse me for being dense. What is a garagist?

[AlBags]

Someone who collects gar's.

[lilypoppyfre]

Hello Andyvon.....the mechanic tested with his computer but couldn't find anything.....the car was ready for its MOT .....suddenly wouldn't start again....fault was the ignition switch , apparently faulty (buy not always )....
result, a new one ( wait 3 days for Fiat to send one......)I shall sit down when they give me the bill next monday.....I'd love to find a small , local garage , knowledgeable and decently priced.......I would certainly be faithful to it as long as I can drive.....