Problem with car...anyone know?

[Fnaar]

Greetings earthlings
My car (Fiat) has a warning light (appeared this morning) for "EOBD Engine Failure Control System", which acc to manual is "a warning of a fuel feed/ignition system failure which may increase emissions in exhaust or cause possible drops in performance, poor handling and high consumption". I know it has to go intro garage (grr) but does anyone know how serious this might be?
Help (and the odd facetious reply) welcome!

 

[walker]

Sounds like it needs professional hands. Other than that take it to a mechanic.
Fiat, italian for
Fix
It
Againa
Tony

 

[Maz]

What kind of Fiat and how old is it?
Have you noticed any loss of power/slugishness whilst driving or during gear changes?

 

[Fnaar]

What kind of Fiat and how old is it?
Have you noticed any loss of power/slugishness whilst driving or during gear changes?

It's a Fiat Ulysse (aka Useless), 7 yrs old... the missus noticed a sort of "jolting" yesterday when she started the engine....

 

[Maz]

It's a Fiat Ulysse (aka Useless), 7 yrs old... the missus noticed a sort of "jolting" yesterday when she started the engine....

You could try the cheapest 'fixes' first.
Replace the spark plugs.
Put that engine cleaning additive stuff (forget what it's called) in with the fuel.

If the problem persists, I think I'd take it to the garage. It maybe that you need to take it to an engine tuning/diagnostics garage, but best see what the garage man says.

 

[Milo]

Redex?

 

[Globalti]

It wil be a sensor in the exhaust, which has given up and is telling the engine management system there's a fault. A new sensor won't cost much and shouldn't take long to fit. Look in Yell.com for an independent Fiat specialist who will confirm this or not and then do the job for a fraction of the main dealer cost.

Do not take it to a main dealer, they will fit parts on a trail & error basis at your expense in the hope of curing the fault. They are NOT mechanics.

 

[tdr1nka]

Deffo on checking the spark plugs.
If more than one of the spark plugs are not firing it might be the ignition coil.

From what I can gather on Google you need to get the fault code from the onboard computer to know what is wrong and you need to go to a garage to get it read. Phone around a few garages to get prices as a Fiat dealer will probably certainly charge you more.

 

[fossyant]

Could be any number of things - the light usually fires when it detects a problem. As mentioned a faulty oxygen (lambda) sensor - but they aren't always cheap, or the MAF - Mass Air Flow Sensor - sensitive sensor on the air intake - measures air temp as it enters the engine - prices vary on these as well.

Deffo a garage check up !

 

[Maz]

Deffo on checking the spark plugs.
If more than one of the spark plugs are not firing it might be the ignition coil.

From what I can gather on Google you need to get the fault code from the onboard computer to know what is wrong and you need to go to a garage to get it read. Phone around a few garages to get prices as a Fiat dealer will probably certainly charge you more.

Although my car is Japanese, I went to a Fiat/Lancia/Alfa engine diagnostic garage and it cost me £20ish for diagnosing the problem. That was for getting the fault code from the Engine Control Unit.

 

[Fnaar]

Thanks for the replies folks....
I am, unfortunately, totally useless with anything mechanical... I have a mate who runs these cars as taxis... will get in touch with him, and then (I guess) book it in if he can't do anyting....

 

[Baggy]

Our Punto had the same warning light on display last year, but it was just a wiring problem (surprise surprise - a Fiat, with a wiring problem ) which cost very little to fix.

 

[Over The Hill]

If you do short/town runs it may just be a bit gummed up. Leave wife and kids at home and take it out for a good thrash. They like a good hammering now and then to clear them out. Sensors get gunk on them and management system can get clogged.
(Check your oil is topped up before you do this)

Known as an Italian Service.

Also try not using supermarket petrol if you do and treat it to tank of "posh" petrol with all the addetives in (Super Plus whatever). Two almost no cost options to try before anyone gets a spanner out on it.

If all else fails take the bulb out of the warning light.

 

[Mortiroloboy]

Could be any number of things - the light usually fires when it detects a problem. As mentioned a faulty oxygen (lambda) sensor - but they aren't always cheap, or the MAF - Mass Air Flow Sensor - sensitive sensor on the air intake - measures air temp as it enters the engine - prices vary on these as well.
Deffo a garage check up !

That's what is causing your warning light, I have an 8 yr old Multipla, I recently had to replace my MAF found a bloke on Ebay down Portsmouth way I paid £40 for a factor part FIAT list price double that! Dead easy to fit too.
Do a google on MAF/ FIAT parts, good luck.

 

[gbb]

Not a particually useful reply Fnaar, but the warning light isnt neccessarily indicating something badly wrong...a poor connection perhaps...
My Vectra has had a management light come on occasionally ever since i got it.
I happened to be MOTing it for the first time, and spoke to the garage owner.
Yeah he said...my wife had exactly the same model ...exactly the same problem. He got fed up of turning off the warning light in the end...performance and fuel consumption was never affected.

Ive had mine 4 years...the light still comes on occasionally..so long as performance doesnt get affected...it can keep coming on.