Fiat Coupe 16v 2.0 Turbo - ECU problems

[fingerstorm]

HI all,

Just recently bought a coupe from a friend of mine. Unfortunately the day when i came to pick it up, it just wont start.
So called the mech in, engine was cranking but just nor firing up.

Unplugged and replugged in the ECU socket and it starts, but once you turn it off, it wont start again. Sockets seem fine. Mech says it could be the ECu unit itself, as it resets whenever you plug/unplug it.

Been 6 weeks now trying to get a replacement ECU, managed to find 1 unit, solved the starting issue but the car doesnt run well.

Am contemplating getting an aftermarket ECU or something. Maybe perhaps send it to a Fiat Coupe specialist? nit sure where though..

i really want to get the car back on the road...

[Kelv27]

It would be great if you could try an ECU of another 16VT owner first to determine if its really the ECU..but if you're pretty sure that is the culprit then you're better off ordering one abroad as the 16VT is getting pretty scarce here.

Try contacting Joe from http://www.fiatcoupespecialist.com/

[fingerstorm]

Ouch that's not good... Don't know anyone else who has an ecu to try out hahaha... Am gonna go around today to
Some half cuts and look for it.. Fingers crossed

[puchongbala]

Fingerstorm, it really is best to take it to an Italian car specialist fer a thorough diagnosis first.

Many "normal" mechs just don't have a real handle on how our coupes work.

Where are you based? Do look through workshop thread to see list of garages.

Some may even have a spare lying around.

You just never know.

Good luck!

[fingerstorm]

Hey puchongbala,

Am based in kl, jalan kuching area to be exact..

Have asked joe from 'fiatcoupespecialist.com' for a ecu. Quoted 250pounds for it. Not sure if I should go ahead and order it, or bring it to a fiat specialist first. Was thinking to drive down to MLM as I see he's quite popular here haha

[ognam]

Was thinking to drive down to MLM as I see he's quite popular here haha

Do that.

[puchongbala]

fingerstorm, take it to a specialist first.

It could be something else that's causing the problem. Get proper diagnose first before buying anything, especially something that costs 250 quid!

Which workshop did the previous owner send this coupe to?

There are quite a few workshops specialising in Italians & most should be able to sort ye out.

MLM has workshop & a treasure trove of spares.

Good luck.

[fingerstorm]

Hi All,

Thank much for all the feedback.

Will go to MLM on monday morning :-)

Now most of the other electrical stuff has issues, A/C, power windows, Amps...

The previous owner sent it to a guy in Kepong... not a fiat/conti guy...

[bravosx]

How is it that when you bought this car you weren't aware of all these? You did mention that the car won't start when you took delivery of it but before that was it running?

You may have bought yourself a lemon

[gtfan]

I am surprised people actually paid for a car that won't start well......i would have walk away from the purchase.

There are better coupes out there if you are patient enough. And what's more your friend send the coupe to some guy who don't even know the FIAT/ALFA.

Anyway, what's done is done, as long as you have the budget, please take your car to some of the mechanics listed in the workshop thread. MLM is also a good choice. All the best in troubleshooting.

[2DRingFile]

I'm would think its the wiring harness the culprit..

[Jacky]

So far till today, I come across these three reasons when it doesnt start :-

1. Battery dead
2. Timing belt snapped
3. No power to fuel pump. Just happened 2 days ago, my Walbro fuel pump shares the power with the amplifier, amplifier's fused blown (in the battery connector area), car refused to start.

[raitag]

jacky, shouldn't be sharing the 2 items... do a dedicated power for the pump... u will lose some of the power, resulting in lower pump capacity...

[desin]

-16VT, Ipoh Auto Recambi (Ah-Hong) known 16VT quiet-well, he done a-lot of transplant 16VT Engine to Alfa.
-Wiring? Never been an issue to him! Call him up...

*Car cannot start, difficult to say leh... eg. like what Jacky told you, the fuel, check got fuel coming in or not. Pump failure? fuse? knock(accident)-emergency-trigger-fuel-cut? sensor(s)??? wow.. cannot tell, so check FUEL 1st, sooo ez, just remove the fuel-pipe from fuel-rail, then standby the car (not start! just standby), see got petrol come out from the fuel-pipe or not.
*anyway, just send the car to a specialist, they will do the job for u.

[fingerstorm]

hi all,

well i bought the car from my business partner. it was working fine.. till the day i came to pick it up.. :-(
Just the night before and the morning, the driver used it to send the kids to school.. (yeah the sole purpose of the car for the past 6 years was to send his kids to school.. as the missus dint like driving a manual car)..

Anyways sent the car last monday to 'Barchetta Auto Services' in Jalan Batu 3 lama - Shah alam.

The guy only does Fiats and is a personal collector of Fiats himself. Nice chap.

All the other electrical problems came from the chip in the ECU. He tried on a ECU from another 16V coupe and everything worked well.

He's trying to salvage some components from another ECU. and if all goes well, all is good.

found out the right lower arm was gone too so gotta change that.

The car also has some massive 18" rims, which i feel are too big and kills the low end torque, looking to trade them in for a 17" or 16" after i'm done with the electrical stuff.

p.s thanks for all the replies :-)

[ongka66]

Hi. Glad to hear u solved the problem. Im having same problem, mechanic says is crank/knock sensor kaput. Never heard of that, and got quoted $1500. Any feedback please?
Sorry to hijack ur thread...