Dear all,
I have bought a Tacuma 1.6 SX, with a 54 registration.
I have started to have a problem with the car as it somtimes won't start at first, although it will start after trying again.
Then the engine malfuntion lamp (MIL) will show intermitently. I took the car to the local garage but after having a "CODE READ" they couldn't identify the fault. They havae tried changing a sensor but it didn't work.
Then, afew days later, the engine didn't start at all. Our local garage contact the dealer as they suspected the ECU (engine management) was faulty. The dealer confirmed their diagnostic, and change the whole unit which took almost a week and cost me over £900.
Two weeks later, the car showed the same fault: it didn't start and when it did, it showed the MIL lit again. Now it is back to the garage but I am concerned we havent got to the bottom of the problem.
Besides, I am dissapointed to have such problems with a relativley new car (less than 4 yrs old, less than 30K miles). I had Chevrolet and Buick cars before and they were quite reliable.
Any ideas?
Rafael
Firstly HELLO to you!!!!
I worked a fair few years in the motor industry but not know and find it surprising everytime I hear that people are disappoint3d that a car can go wrong less than eg 4 yrs and less than 30k.
There are alot of factors that can lead to a car going wrong that are not all down to the manafacturer, poor quailty fuels, poor servicing, less than avarage mileage combined with poor servicing. On another slant cars a very complex things now think about what we ask them to do & how they do it all these electic componants in a tin box out in all weathers & they dont often give problems try leaving your DVD player out in the weather for a few days & see if it works when you bring it back in (end of moan)
Not that we are saying your car is down to any of these if you have paid a dealer to sort a problem & he has said he has done it & hasnt then he should then be looking to rectify the problem at a discounted price!
Once car is done maybe worth a call to CHEVVY customer services to see about a goodwill gesture!
I reckon and if this turns out to be the case let me know the result.
that the n/s/f wiring harness behind the n/s/f wheel arch liner may have some corroded wires in it. get the car started and pull on the wiring to see if it cuts out.
nelse
Thanks Bodie, but I disagree from your view.
As an electronic engineer I know that you can build the electronics - including the wiring-to last much longer than that. With a proper case design, it can endure the weather for a long time. There is no friction, no moving parts, no wear and tear. The ECU has nothing to do with the servicing and certainly nothing to do with the mileage. That is what I find dissapointing. I think a brand as Chevrolet-GM should be able to do much better.
Rafael
Ps. On the other hand, I find the cost of these ECUs way too high. They are certainly much more simple computers than the standard desktop, but they cost a lot more. This is supposed to be because they are designed to work in harsh conditions - i.e heat and bad weather- so I expect it to work for longer.
Ps2. I still haven't got my car and nobody seems to know what is wrong with it!
no need to have a go at bodie he is only trying to help.
if your an electronic engineer then surely this is your field????????????
the wear and tear as you put it. dirt/grime/water all produced from driving in the rain etc will effect your wiring as i have spent many years working for daewoo/chevrolet.
also did you check the wiring under the wheel arch liner as per my previous thread
Hi Nelse and Bodie,
If I was rude then I am sorry, it wasn't my intention. Obviously the problem with this car is making me very impatient. The point I was trying to make is that the electronics in a car, and particularly the ECU, should be a reliable, maintenance free part. I understand what Bodie says regarding the many factors involved but certainly, poor maintenace is not the case in this occasion.
Now back to the car, it is still with the dealer. They have said they will give it back tomorrow but from their answers I don't think they have found the problem. The car is working again, but so it was the first time. They also said that they checked the wiring you mentioned, but it is OK, so no much progress here.
Any other ideas will be very welcome,
Thanks
Rafael