2001 Fiat Ducato 2.8 jtd...Intermittent Idle Mode...Help Please

[Benimar_funbus]

I have had this problem for 18 months now and took it to a couple of garages with no resolution.

 

The problem is the van goes into idle mode and the injector light comes on. If I in 5th and crusing it limits it to around 50 mph and if pulling away its low accelator still the light goes out.

 

Sometimes is a second and sometimes is 30 secs. usually once or twice on a journey but sometimes more.

 

The first problem is the 2 garages I took it to could not get the diagnostic tool to work with it.

 

I have been advised it could be the injector cables, fuel sensor, faulty ecu etc.

 

So has anyone has this issue and how did they resolve it.

 

Can anyone recommend a garage in the Manchester area who knows his way round the fiat ducato of this age i.e 2001.

 

Thanks

 

[Robinhood]

.....there is a relatively common problem on the 2.8JTD which I had on a somewhat newer 'van than yours.

 

The wiring loom for the injectors was manufactured too short, and this can cause problems with the lead to the number 4 injector, resulting in symptoms similar to those you are experiencing.

 

I had mine fixed under warranty (a revised, replacement loom) but I believe some people have managed to "bodge" a longer connection to number 4 by cannibalising a lead from a scrap vehicle.

 

Whilst it may post-date your 'van it's worth a look, and you will find a number of hits on the Fiat forum describing it, the following being only a couple of examples:

 

http://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/232605-injector-trouble-2-8-jtd.html

 

http://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/104664-injection-problem-dicato-2-8-jtd-2004-a.html

 

 

[Benimar_funbus]

The first garage thought that and checked them, problem stil persisted.

 

Fiat garage wanted to replace the ECU as they could communicate with the ECU. So wondering if its a ECU issue or something else.

 

Wondering if people have had similar issues, particular with communication with the ECU. Apparantly the 2001 models have the old connection and not all garage have it. So wondering if the garage had the right gear and just want me to update my ECU?

[Robinhood]

.....read this post about ECU communication with a similar vintage 'van:

 

http://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/104856-diagnostic-port-2001-2-8jtd.html

 

It may simply be a matter of finding someone with the correct cable(s).

[Nobby]

Hi there. I have an early Ducato 2.8JTD and feel your pain as I went through the same learning curve.

 

The early 2.8JTD's do have the facility to read, scan and rectify faults but had a slightly obscure means to do so. Some garages will have the correct adaptor but are ignorant of where to plug it in. Most will go looking under the steering column. Here is the correct location and how you can do it yourself if you so wish:

 

The basic method - http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co.uk/connecting_fiat_ducato_2.htm - I followed this but found that it was not necessary to connect the separate earth as mine earthed through the diagnostic connection.

 

To do this yourself, you need the following:

 

1. A Windows PC/Laptop with free software downloaded from these people on - http://www.multiecuscan.net/Default.aspx - They used to be called FiatECUScan. This software is widely used. A laptop is preferable due to necessary poratability.

 

2. A standard OBD2 USB diagnostic cable as used with many marques of vehicle eg - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAG-GROUP-USB-COM-PORT-OBD2-II-KKL-ECU-DIAGNOSTIC-CABLE-LEAD-WORK-VCDS-LITE-409-/271036790042?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f1b0d351a

 

3. (Crucial for your older 2.8JTD) A suitable adaptor like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-3-PIN-CONNECTOR-ADAPTOR-DIAGNOSTIC-CABLE-BRAVO-DUCATO-PALIO-PUNTO-SEICENTO-/150924104454?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2323c71306

 

I carry items 1-3 with me when travelling as it would give me a decent handle on any roadside problems no matter where I happen to be. As you have found, many professionals do not have the knowledge or capability. At the very least, the adaptor (3) will enable garages to connector their standard OBD2 cable and is worth having even if you have no wish to DIY. I have found that the Multiecuscan software gives better capability than that used by some professionals.

 

Please feel free to PM me if you require any further info.

 

Nobby

[BGD]

Nobby - 2013-04-03 10:43 AM

 

Hi there. I have an early Ducato 2.8JTD and feel your pain as I went through the same learning curve.

 

The early 2.8JTD's do have the facility to read, scan and rectify faults but had a slightly obscure means to do so. Some garages will have the correct adaptor but are ignorant of where to plug it in. Most will go looking under the steering column. Here is the correct location and how you can do it yourself if you so wish:

 

The basic method - http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co.uk/connecting_fiat_ducato_2.htm - I followed this but found that it was not necessary to connect the separate earth as mine earthed through the diagnostic connection.

 

To do this yourself, you need the following:

 

1. A Windows PC/Laptop with free software downloaded from these people on - http://www.multiecuscan.net/Default.aspx - They used to be called FiatECUScan. This software is widely used. A laptop is preferable due to necessary poratability.

 

2. A standard OBD2 USB diagnostic cable as used with many marques of vehicle eg - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAG-GROUP-USB-COM-PORT-OBD2-II-KKL-ECU-DIAGNOSTIC-CABLE-LEAD-WORK-VCDS-LITE-409-/271036790042?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f1b0d351a

 

3. (Crucial for your older 2.8JTD) A suitable adaptor like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-3-PIN-CONNECTOR-ADAPTOR-DIAGNOSTIC-CABLE-BRAVO-DUCATO-PALIO-PUNTO-SEICENTO-/150924104454?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2323c71306

 

I carry items 1-3 with me when travelling as it would give me a decent handle on any roadside problems no matter where I happen to be. As you have found, many professionals do not have the knowledge or capability. At the very least, the adaptor (3) will enable garages to connector their standard OBD2 cable and is worth having even if you have no wish to DIY. I have found that the Multiecuscan software gives better capability than that used by some professionals.

 

Please feel free to PM me if you require any further info.

 

Nobby

 

 

 

 

An excellent post Nobby, many thanks for that.:-D

 

I too have an X230 generation Ducato 2.8 JTD of 2001 vintage, so I have ordered one of those 3-pin adaptors from ebay as a just-in-case precaution.

 

I'm also downloading the diagnostic software, so will have a play with it in due course........

 

[Nobby]

Please also feel free to contact me by PM if you wish to discuss anything that might ease your learning curve.

 

As hinted at in my first post, I would recommend initially to NOT connect the earth lead on the adapter to the battery and see if that works okay. I found it to be unnecessary on my Ducato and furthermore when I did so, my OBD2 lead became permanently non-functional and I suspect that connecting the black earth lead caused a short or some other malfunction. Things work fine with only the red positive lead connected to the battery.

 

As a further aside, once a fault is self identified, I have found from my own experience and that of others on the internet, that problems are often electrical (broken wire?). In which case a good mobile auto electrician can be useful for inexpensive tracing and rewiring rather than the experimental lottery of main garage part fitting and switching. A main dealer will nearly always offer a new loom at several hundred £'s cost while an experienced auto electrician will simply replace a cable at the cost of a few £'s.

 

Hope this info is of help.

 

Nobby