Picanto engine lights

eg2505 said:
so anyway Im sharing an update here;

kia sent my car to some dodgy workshop in primrose; wanted 12K for the ecu to be replaced;
did give us the address of where it is; visited there; guy said ECU gone so you need to swap it around;

dropped 3K on a used ECU from another Picanto; no warranty that it will even still work;
visited DTB spares in PTY;

what I want to find out now:
does repairs like this actually help? can the old ECU not be repaired? should I try even?
and will my mileage be different now? where is such a thing stored?
Click to expand...

Quick q on this, if the 2nd hand ECU doesn't work and you now have to spend a further 12k on another one.
How will you feel?
 
eg2505 said:
what I want to find out now:
does repairs like this actually help? can the old ECU not be repaired? should I try even?
and will my mileage be different now? where is such a thing stored?
Click to expand...

You can't fix it without the interface to flash the software or do a reset (assuming it's software). You may have wasted your money but it's the only way you can isolate the problem so see it as 9000 saved!
 
jansdejager said:
You can't fix it without the interface to flash the software or do a reset (assuming it's software). You may have wasted your money but it's the only way you can isolate the problem so see it as 9000 saved!
Click to expand...

thats what Im afraid of; the guy who sold us a ecu did manage to start the engine though;
so Im assuming if that is the issue It should start immediately?
as soon as the ecu is plugged in right?

and what about the other thing? will my mileage be different now?
 
So update at the end of the month,

I'm slowly going insane:p

Dropped 3k on a replacement ecu,
Check engine and Immobilizer lights now come on but still wont start.

Engine cranks and spins perfectly well
But didn't fire up,

Been with 3 garage's now, including kia
And almost a whole month with no car, been renting and its very financially stressful.

Thinking what are the options left to me?
Change engine? Scrap car and take it as a loss?
Yet another mechanic who can check?

Better than kia themselves and better than 2 other auto electricians and countless other ecu experts?

I'm sure whatever it is isn't simple or straightforward, as if it were I'd have my car by now.....
 
DanH said:
Did you get the key transponder matched to the new ecu?
Click to expand...

as far as I know, the guy said he programmed a key for it already;

but still wont do,

at this point I have to try some humour;

good thing I dont drive a chevy nova, as nova means dosent go in spain.......
:D
 
Geez, it really is a royal mess. Really hope you get it sorted soon and relatively cheap.
 
Did you keep your ecu it may be worth a dime too. Has anyone checked or tried to drain and clean your petrol tank? Has someone done a pressure test on your cylinders? Has someone done a spark test? Dirty petrol no start. No pressure no start. No spark no start.
 
jansdejager said:
Has someone done a pressure test on your cylinders? Has someone done a spark test? Dirty petrol no start. No pressure no start. No spark no start.
Click to expand...
^^ This

After all the experts that have had a go at sorting out this problem I'd expect a basic diagnosis along the lines of "no spark" or "no fuel pressure" by now. I suspect we're seeing a classic example of "too many cooks ruining the soup" here :(
 
eg2505 said:
So update at the end of the month,

I'm slowly going insane:p

Dropped 3k on a replacement ecu,
Check engine and Immobilizer lights now come on but still wont start.

Engine cranks and spins perfectly well
But didn't fire up
Click to expand...

Very likely the immobilizer.

Keep in mind, immobilizer will not stop your car from cranking. It will just stop the spark and usually fuel injection.

So if it is not sparking, that is almost certainly because immobilizer or because the crankshaft position sensor has some kind of issue.
 
jansdejager said:
Did you keep your ecu it may be worth a dime too. Has anyone checked or tried to drain and clean your petrol tank? Has someone done a pressure test on your cylinders? Has someone done a spark test? Dirty petrol no start. No pressure no start. No spark no start.
Click to expand...

Ill see with that ecu thing;

those things worth something if their not toast and not potted and sealed units;

not actually too sure whats going on here, garage no 3 and still no joy, and nobody can work out whats the cause here;

things I do know they checked;
entire electrical system and sensors; all appears fine, so crank angle sensor checked and harness checked and reassembled;
petrol tank pump checked, all working as should be; did mention a lot of gunk inside the tank, but not sure if that might cause any issues;
also as I mentioned before did refuel before this happened at a different station then what I normally refuel at;
ECU changed- did drop 3K on a different ECU from another picanto , tested that it was working before removing it,
from what I understand the immobilizer and check engine lights come on now (didnt initially)
spark plugs didnt check as far as I know, will ask about that;
air filter not blocked
starter motor not burned out,
cant push or jump start car,

not sure what else to check here, or to ask mechanics to assist with?
seems to me its a problem that nobody not even kia or an auto electrican can solve;

problem is this has come at the worst time imaginable for me;
I need my car yesterday, and I cant run around with rental cars forever, its insane......

who else should I speak to?
anybody else that can assist me?
 
Gnome said:
Very likely the immobilizer.

Keep in mind, immobilizer will not stop your car from cranking. It will just stop the spark and usually fuel injection.

So if it is not sparking, that is almost certainly because immobilizer or because the crankshaft position sensor has some kind of issue.
Click to expand...

Have you ruled out the immobilizer with Kia? If they don't charge for the diagnosis maybe worth sending it back to them now that the ecu's changed?
 
jansdejager said:
Have you ruled out the immobilizer with Kia? If they don't charge for the diagnosis maybe worth sending it back to them now that the ecu's changed?
Click to expand...

thats a good idea;

apparently just heard now; the wiring diagram they been consulting up to now is wrong;
they now mailing the training centre in korea to get the correct wiring diagram ;

I have stumped everybody with this car; maybe I must win a prize of something;

normally its they know what is the problem but cant do anything as its a part they must import and that takes a while....
 
so another update; not so good then;

they (kia) well and truly stumped with my car; have absolutely no idea of what can cause its issue;
in the meanwhile im with no car for more than a month;

they did tell me that they gonna try and swap parts around from another picanto (2007) they expecting next week;
see if anything they do suddenly works out perfectly, meanwhile they still trying to find the wiring diagram from korea;

Im holding out hope that eventually by swapping around parts they will stumble onto the fix for my car;
as this is plainly ridiculous, this is a simple as they come car, and Its unbelievable how many issues I have with it;

true ECU's and electronics of cars can be a issue but not for so long

Im just praying and hoping I get my car soon, as I will probably sell this car quite quickly and never touch a korean car again.......

seems they are like volvos and other exotic cars on the roads,
once something breaks very difficult to fix.
 
I had a wonderful car in 2010, but it had a problem, and the dealer could not sort it out, so I went to the Dealership and spoke very nicely and asked if they could help me out...........they could

In the end, they kept my car with the problem and gave me another one at "cost" - long and short of it was that I finally had a decent car that I could enjoy, and they could spend as much time as they wanted, sorting it out.

There comes a time when you have to decide that you have thrown enough time and money at a problem, and just move on.

See if Kia is willing to get you in to another car - in the end a happy customer will spread the word very successfully - give it a try, at this point, they might just be willing to listen.
 
eg2505 said:
so another update; not so good then;

they (kia) well and truly stumped with my car; have absolutely no idea of what can cause its issue;
in the meanwhile im with no car for more than a month;

they did tell me that they gonna try and swap parts around from another picanto (2007) they expecting next week;
see if anything they do suddenly works out perfectly, meanwhile they still trying to find the wiring diagram from korea;

Im holding out hope that eventually by swapping around parts they will stumble onto the fix for my car;
as this is plainly ridiculous, this is a simple as they come car, and Its unbelievable how many issues I have with it;

true ECU's and electronics of cars can be a issue but not for so long

Im just praying and hoping I get my car soon, as I will probably sell this car quite quickly and never touch a korean car again.......

seems they are like volvos and other exotic cars on the roads,
once something breaks very difficult to fix.
Click to expand...

They are like most cars on the road.

Once neglected always a problem.
 
I know a guy who had the same problem, he would drive and the car would just cut out - it was the 2005 model though. He took it to an auto elec, and a few clouds of smoke later it was resloved, apparently the A.E bypassed something. will try find out what it was and let you know
 
eg2505 said:
so another update; not so good then;

they (kia) well and truly stumped with my car; have absolutely no idea of what can cause its issue;
in the meanwhile im with no car for more than a month;

they did tell me that they gonna try and swap parts around from another picanto (2007) they expecting next week;
see if anything they do suddenly works out perfectly, meanwhile they still trying to find the wiring diagram from korea;

Im holding out hope that eventually by swapping around parts they will stumble onto the fix for my car;
as this is plainly ridiculous, this is a simple as they come car, and Its unbelievable how many issues I have with it;

true ECU's and electronics of cars can be a issue but not for so long

Im just praying and hoping I get my car soon, as I will probably sell this car quite quickly and never touch a korean car again.......

seems they are like volvos and other exotic cars on the roads,
once something breaks very difficult to fix.
Click to expand...
My daily commuter is a 2010 Korean steed. Have had it for the last four years, and it is the most reliable, cheap to run car I have ever owned. Hasn't even needed a light bulb replacing.

So ya, think you bought a dud. Next time don't buy a riced up catastrophe.
 
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