Fiat Ducato 2013 nightmare

Afraid that I can't help with a garage suggestion for you, but I hope my Fiat Professional dealer story can put a smile back on your face.

The Air Bag warning light came on and the odometer started flashing, a quick online search suggested that the airbag ECB had failed, so phone call to the nearest Fiat Professional garage confirmed the issue and that they had a replacement in stock, so I made an appointment for the next day. Drove the MH over and was told it would take about 90 mins to do the job. When I returned I was told that the new ECB wasn't communicating with the main ECB and they would have to order a new one. Four weeks later I get a call that the part is in and again made an appointment for the next day. This time I was told to give them 2 hours to do the job when I returned I was told that the new ECB still wasn't communicating. They had checked the part and noticed that the part number on the case was different to the part number on the board so they would have to order another one. Yep another four weeks go by and I get a call to say that the part is in, but this time could I leave the MH with them as if there were still any issues that they would have to raise a Case with Fiat to get their help. Five days later I get an update call and the new ECB with the correct part numbers checked still wasn't communicating, Fiat had sent software changes etc, etc. The next step was to bring in an independent motor electrician to check the wiring as Fiat suggested that as the fault. Two days later I got the call the collect the MH as everything was now fixed.

So there's me expecting a huge bill for all the work that's been done, to be told I was only being charged for the cost of the ECB and no labour charges at all. Why, it would seem that the first Professional mechanic removed the airbag fuse from the main ECB and it took an  independent motor electrician to advise them to put the fuse back in.

Fix It Again Tomorow

I just don’t understand how a main dealer couldn’t connect to the car with full support off fiat in 8 weeks.

 

I found out to day that the first garage’s snap on diagnostic machine is 4 years out of date and the Fiat mechanic said that there was a huge update by snap on 3 years ago as all fiat cars and vans had problems on them so no idea what codes they were reading, all I know is I’ve paid £2000 for work that 99.99% didn’t need done.

It could well be that the first garage didn’t have access to the Fiat software and was using third party diagnostics. Sometimes we need to bite the bullet and use a Fiat Professional garage.

Sometimes one wonders whether all this electronic wizardry is worth the hassle. Vehicles these days seem too clever for their own good. Gone are the days when someone with a bit of common sense could troubleshoot problems and get themselves back on the road without massive bills for replacement of circuit boards and sundry gizmos that one often suspects weren't the actual problem to begin with. One almost hankers for the days when a bit of fine emery cloth and a cigarette paper was all that was required to solve ignition problems.

Problem is these days is garages will change what the "computer?" Comes up with as the faulty component,and keep putting in parts untill it works,  and wiil charge for all the parts changed even if it was not all the changed parts that was causing the fault

Well it’s getting moved from fiat in the next couple of days and taken to an independent van and truck specialist.

 

Earliest date was 1st dec at fiat commercial so gives the independent garage a good few weeks to try and sort it.  Fingers crossed.

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Yep.

Computer says.....

At my recent habitation check i was told that my Thetford fridge/freezer required a new control panel as it wasn't changing 'manually'.....

I said it was working all weekend as we were away in the van & had driven (10 mins) straight here....

I did not agree to proceed & on returning home checked the fuses relating to the 12v feed. Nothing blown but 'hey presto' removing & replacing the 3A fuse appeared to do a reset!

If they had gone ahead to replace panel which wasn't defective what are the odds of them owning up to their mistake?

And they wanted to charge me £360 for an EHIC check but couldn't sort this..... jokers!

The user and all related content has been Deleted User