** Mechanic Help Please **

[maltaseagull]

I used to put a bit of this over the warning lights View attachment 52028

 

[beorhthelm]

Ive got a Jeep, and recently had a battery problem. Called AA for home start, and he tried to put a charge through the battery. No joyso he swopped the battery. No problem.
Hang on I said, there is an Engine Management Light on, ah says patrol man, you just need the to get it reset at a Jeep dealer, its because we disconected the battery. No problem.
Oh says the man at the Jeep service centre, it turns out its not a battery code, and a full Diagnostic check reveals that the AA man has put to big a charge through, and blown the
ECU, cost of new one £1100 plus fitting.
Moral of this tale, not all AA men are brilliant mechanics, and modern cars with ECU's, can have expensive electrical gliches.

im inclined to think theres another moral here - stealerships will fleece you. why you believe them over the AA? im not going to say the diagnosis was wrong, but it certainly doesnt sound right as thats not how battery testing or charging works. also idid you drive the vehicle to the service centre? if so, ECU isnt blown.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Yes, I have driven the car for three weeks before i could get to the Jeep main dealer. My owm mechanic did a diagnostic check, but his machine will only do mechanical diagnostics.
The ECU will not stop the car driving, it only effects the computerised warning system and the dash board lighting......I think

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

im inclined to think theres another moral here - stealerships will fleece you. why you believe them over the AA? im not going to say the diagnosis was wrong, but it certainly doesnt sound right as thats not how battery testing or charging works. also idid you drive the vehicle to the service centre? if so, ECU isnt blown.

In full agreement,i hope no monies were exchanged.

I have a Clio 2005 for 3 years it had an (common fault on Clio) Engine management light on,never missed a beat,but if i gave it a good thrashing Italian (Alfa treatment)(yes i know your wondering how such thing is possible) it would put the light out,turns out the cat was a non standard one and a better make (still non standard funnily enough) cured the fault.

Moral here is-seek a second opinion and never pay £1100 for an ECU,just because a garage says it needs one...

PS i am a lorry driver by trade an ex mechanic and have a Btec (1991) diploma in automobile engineering....

 

[beorhthelm]

Yes, I have driven the car for three weeks before i could get to the Jeep main dealer. My owm mechanic did a diagnostic check, but his machine will only do mechanical diagnostics.
The ECU will not stop the car driving, it only effects the computerised warning system and the dash board lighting......I think

the ECU is the Engine Control Unit, its primary purpose is to run all the electronics involved in modern injection engines. blown ECU=no movement, erractic or poor performance depending on how blown "blown" really means. may be theres a secondary system thats responsible for warning lights on a Jeep, but £1100 sounds mighty expensive for warning light managment. (it sounds too expensive for a main ECU for that matter). sry.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

I once had a bloke ask for a jump start of my lorry,i told him that the 24V Batteries on the truck could do some serious electrical damage to the 12v system on his car.... besides on was on POA at the time

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

In full agreement,i hope no monies were exchanged.

I have a Clio 2005 for 3 years it had an (common fault on Clio) Engine management light on,never missed a beat,but if i gave it a good thrashing Italian (Alfa treatment)(yes i know your wondering how such thing is possible) it would put the light out,turns out the cat was a non standard one and a better make (still non standard funnily enough) cured the fault.

Moral here is-seek a second opinion and never pay £1100 for an ECU,just because a garage says it needs one...

PS i am a lorry driver by trade an ex mechanic and have a Btec (1991) diploma in automobile engineering....

I have no intention of paying £1100 for a new ECU, I have enough friends in the trade to follow a cheaper option, which i wont disclose on here.
It was just a post to confirm, how the AA aint everything, and that warning lights can cost you a fortune.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Bulb on?
If money is the issue, remove bulb - simples
If safety is the prime concern, prepare to put hand in [deep] pocket.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

I have no intention of paying £1100 for a new ECU, I have enough friends in the trade to follow a cheaper option, which i wont disclose on here.
It was just a post to confirm, how the AA aint everything, and that warning lights can cost you a fortune.

Agree,i know what your getting at,i would say the same about a certain chain of garages too...which is why i use a family owned local.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Bulb on?
If money is the issue, remove bulb - simples
If safety is the prime concern, prepare to put hand in [deep] pocket.

Exactly, but removing the bulb isnt possible when it is in a sealed unit dash. But my mechanic reckons he knows how to disable the light.
Seeing as i'm about to trade in the Jeep for a new motor, that seems a good/cheaper/sensible option.