fiat sienna-water wash -ecu dead

nutmello · 16th September 2010, 11:09

hi all
after my recent kerala trip, i gave my fiat sienna 1.6 petrol car for water wash and interior cleaning. and i have been doing this almost every month. drove back to home. parked car for four days. last week, tried to start the car, but it did not. after a few cranks, i noticed that injector light was not glowing when ignition key was turned.
called up tata motors for help. they intially agreed to get it towed but did not turn up even after four days. finally i towed the car to tata service centre and in hour the service advisor calls me to tell ECU is dead, needs new ECU costing upwards Rs 25000.
my car has done about 130000 kms and is in absolute mint condition. not a single OE part changed till date incld drive shafts and clutch.
im a little worried now.
got the car towed out of tata and have given it to manz motors ( formerly fiat service people).
they have analysied using ECU and have asked me to get the original master key and master codes.
what is this all about?
can water wash inside the bonnet do such damages?
and finally any idea how much a ecu costs?
thanks all

EFF-EIGHT-BEE · 16th September 2010, 11:19

Just ask them to use ecm of some other car and see if your car starts with other ecm or not, this will certain that your ecm is indeed blown or they are taking you for a ride. And have you checked the fuse aswell?

planet_rocker · 16th September 2010, 11:21

Yes ECU may get damaged if the engine bay is washed (pressure washed) - that is why it is recommended to wash the engine bay with the ECU covered with a plastic sheet.

Vahaan Automobiles (FASS) did toast my car's ECU in the same way - though it was resolved by them. Do note if the black plug (on the face if ECU) is in place - that is where the water seeps inside.

1.6 ECU costs 16000 (and 13000 in some places) - do get a second quote from another dealer.

Don't remember FASS asking for the master key / master code.

SirAlec · 16th September 2010, 22:30

Its is possible that water may enter ECU if its poorly sealed. Out of all the ECU's i have seen SWift diesel's and Honda City's ECU to be sealed very solidly.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ower-wash.html

nutmello · 18th September 2010, 09:53

hi all , thanks for the advise. manz motors did not get ecu of other sienna to test. as such 1.6 petrol is very rare now. also 1.6 palio even though has the same engine, the mechanic siad, it is 1548 cc and sienna is 1598 cc and lot of things differ including compression etc, so mapping is totally different.
cost: 13500 + courier charges.
labour - scan tool etc : Rs 1000
so a simple water wash has let me poorer by Rs 14500+
thanks again

16th September 2010, 11:09	#1
nutmello BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mysore Posts: 102 Thanked: 177 Times	fiat sienna-water wash -ecu dead hi all after my recent kerala trip, i gave my fiat sienna 1.6 petrol car for water wash and interior cleaning. and i have been doing this almost every month. drove back to home. parked car for four days. last week, tried to start the car, but it did not. after a few cranks, i noticed that injector light was not glowing when ignition key was turned. called up tata motors for help. they intially agreed to get it towed but did not turn up even after four days. finally i towed the car to tata service centre and in hour the service advisor calls me to tell ECU is dead, needs new ECU costing upwards Rs 25000. my car has done about 130000 kms and is in absolute mint condition. not a single OE part changed till date incld drive shafts and clutch. im a little worried now. got the car towed out of tata and have given it to manz motors ( formerly fiat service people). they have analysied using ECU and have asked me to get the original master key and master codes. what is this all about? can water wash inside the bonnet do such damages? and finally any idea how much a ecu costs? thanks all
	() Thanks

16th September 2010, 11:19	#2
EFF-EIGHT-BEE BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Patiala Posts: 196 Thanked: 113 Times View My Garage	Just ask them to use ecm of some other car and see if your car starts with other ecm or not, this will certain that your ecm is indeed blown or they are taking you for a ride. And have you checked the fuse aswell?
	() Thanks

16th September 2010, 11:21	#3
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	Yes ECU may get damaged if the engine bay is washed (pressure washed) - that is why it is recommended to wash the engine bay with the ECU covered with a plastic sheet. Vahaan Automobiles (FASS) did toast my car's ECU in the same way - though it was resolved by them. Do note if the black plug (on the face if ECU) is in place - that is where the water seeps inside. 1.6 ECU costs 16000 (and 13000 in some places) - do get a second quote from another dealer. Don't remember FASS asking for the master key / master code. Last edited by planet_rocker : 16th September 2010 at 11:22.
	() Thanks

16th September 2010, 22:30	#4
SirAlec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: zxc Posts: 3,393 Thanked: 727 Times	Its is possible that water may enter ECU if its poorly sealed. Out of all the ECU's i have seen SWift diesel's and Honda City's ECU to be sealed very solidly. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ower-wash.html
	() Thanks

18th September 2010, 09:53	#5
nutmello BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mysore Posts: 102 Thanked: 177 Times	hi all , thanks for the advise. manz motors did not get ecu of other sienna to test. as such 1.6 petrol is very rare now. also 1.6 palio even though has the same engine, the mechanic siad, it is 1548 cc and sienna is 1598 cc and lot of things differ including compression etc, so mapping is totally different. cost: 13500 + courier charges. labour - scan tool etc : Rs 1000 so a simple water wash has let me poorer by Rs 14500+ thanks again
	() Thanks