martyn404 Posted December 12, 2010 Posted December 12, 2010 I very recently paid Simon-Dean Motor Services.LTD 628 quid for a diagnostic and ECU replacement. See my post at invoice post they were very professional and courteous but that didn't make our bill any cheaper!.. It seems to me that many minor ailments with the Picasso can be traced back to a faulty ECU! These don't come cheap at over 300 quid.. Our initial problem was engine over heating (beeping alarm & dashboard warning) switch off engine immediately!.. Quote
Guest frwb Posted December 16, 2010 Posted December 16, 2010 I very recently paid Simon-Dean Motor Services.LTD 628 quid for a diagnostic and ECU replacement. See my post at invoice post they were very professional and courteous but that didn't make our bill any cheaper!.. It seems to me that many minor ailments with the Picasso can be traced back to a faulty ECU! These don't come cheap at over 300 quid.. Our initial problem was engine over heating (beeping alarm & dashboard warning) switch off engine immediately!.. Quote
Guest frwb Posted December 16, 2010 Posted December 16, 2010 My C4 Grand Piacasso has been a lot of trouble. Apart from a rebuilt gearbox at 13000 miles, I have recently had a lot of warning messages and breakdowns which, to me at least, seem to be ECU related. First I got literally all the warning messages including "Brake system not working", It went in to a dealer under warranty and a footbrake switch was replaced. A week later the same prob;lem occurred, the deaer replacing a master switch this time. About a week later it happened again and the dealer decided that there were 5 wires behind the battery box which had been rubbed through. These were shrink wrapped. A few weeks later the car lost power and started to "kangaroo". The AA fixed it by removing a pipe from the air inlet manifold, which allowed the car to get in to the dealer on low power. The dealer traced the fault to a leaking coolant temperature sensor, which they said had allowed coolant to track back through the loom into the main ECU. On consuting Citroen, the dealership was allowed to replace the sensor and loom, but only to "clean up" the ECU. No sooner had I got the car but the warning lights and warning for 'Depollution system' failure lit up. The car is back with the dealer and although all the work so far has been done under warranty, the disruption and failures has caused me to lose all faith in the car, and quite frankly I don't want it back. The warranty expires in Mar 2011, what do I do then. Any views, other than never buy a Citroen again? Quote
martyn404 Posted December 20, 2010 Author Posted December 20, 2010 I understand exactly how you feel! The Picasso is a good make of car but from my experience the ECU reliability leaves lot's to be desired. From what you describe above it seems the most sensible thing to do would be to renew the ECU but as these cost in the region of £320.00+ I can see why the dealership is reluctant to replace it while the car is under warranty! I bet your bottom dollar that if the car was not under warranty the ECU would be one of the first components the dealership suggest you replace! I think perhaps with all the faults and issues with your car somehow the ECU has been corrupted or damaged but that is only a layman's opinion. Quote
fartyass Posted December 20, 2010 Posted December 20, 2010 I understand exactly how you feel! The Picasso is a good make of car but from my experience the ECU reliability leaves lot's to be desired. From what you describe above it seems the most sensible thing to do would be to renew the ECU but as these cost in the region of £320.00+ I can see why the dealership is reluctant to replace it while the car is under warranty! I bet your bottom dollar that if the car was not under warranty the ECU would be one of the first components the dealership suggest you replace! I think perhaps with all the faults and issues with your car somehow the ECU has been corrupted or damaged but that is only a layman's opinion. I have frequented the forum for close to 8yrs & ECU faults are far from common. The ecu requires so much feedback from various sensors & of course each wireing connector has to be good. It is to easy to blame the ecu when it is so reliant wireing,sensors,loom connectors.A lot of the time not enough diagnostics & good old fashioned visual inspection of wireing etc is carried out. Of Course when the ecu is changed & the fault remains that real culpit is found. The repairer will want to recover the cost of the unit to the customer. I seem to remember there were one or two instances of a corroded pin on the ecu & that is pretty much it. Oh I also remember one dealer recomending a replacement ecu because the clutch was slipping. WHY? farty Quote
martyn404 Posted December 20, 2010 Author Posted December 20, 2010 (edited) It's only my experience as I stated earlier. I had full diagnostics done on my car by a Citroen Specialist and the outcome directly pointed to ECU failure.. This was after two coolant sensors were replaced unnecessarily at a cost of 50 quid after the first diagnostic check at a different garage.. As you said ECU requires so much feedback from sensors, maybe too much depends on one expensive little item that controls ALL of EVERYTHING under the bonnet .. As far as ECU replacement for slipping clutch I have no idea! I would be keen to find out if that dealer is still in business! Edited December 20, 2010 by martyn404 Quote
Lancelot Posted December 20, 2010 Posted December 20, 2010 As far as ECU replacement for slipping clutch I have no idea! I would be keen to find out if that dealer is still in business! He's probably still taking people for a ride. Like washing machine mechanics - keep changing things 'till it works again. Quote
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