Technical Engine Light / Limp Home Mode

[Sausage]

Engine Light / Limp Home Mode in FIAT GRANDE PUNTO SPORT 2008.

Summary:

- 2 years ago my car went into limp home mode.

- My own diagnostic device came up with error code P0011 - Engine oil / camshaft / camshaft sensor.

- I took the car to a garage the next day. They said they tried changing a sensor, but that didn't fix it - I do not know what sensor they changed. They then replaced the solenoid and the engine light disappeared, so they decided that was the fix and charged me £300.

- Since then my car has gone into limp home mode 2 or 3 more times, so clearly the new solenoid did not fix the issue.

- The car seems to clear the limp home mode itself in its own time. So when the garage replaced the solenoid it was probably just a coincidence that the engine light went out, also clearing the limp home mode.

- The car doesn't go into limp home mode on short / less than 20 minute journeys on 40mph roads. The car only goes into limp mode on longer journeys when I am on a motorway going 60 - 70mph.

- The temperature gauge is always ok - in the middle. Not too hot or too cold.

- Reading up about solenoids - they help start the engine? - My car had no issues with starting, it was, and is running fine - no weird noises. It simply goes into limp mode which causes it to not run as normal (reduced power).

- Other things to note: Oil and coolant has been dropping quicker during these few years of going in and out of limp mode. Coolant never needed to be topped up before this started happening, now I have to keep an eye on it.....that said...

....My grande punto has just gone into limp home mode again during a longer journey on a motorway and I checked the oil and water and the levels were up to the maximum they should be. So a lack of coolant / oil cannot have caused my car to go into limp home mode this time, and might have, or might have not been the reason for the car going into limp mode before.


As I have had bad experiences with garages I am reluctant to go to one. Replacing the solenoid is baffling to me when my car had no start up issues - maybe I am not understanding their thinking. Can anyone decipher anything from all the information I have given above to come up with some theories as to what might have gone wrong? thanks.

 

[AnthonyH]

Do you still have the same error code? I presume so. This means the garage didn't fit the camshaft sensor properly, or didn't fit a new one at all.

Probably they couldn't source the sensor, so they made up a story about the solenoid to ensure they were paid.

Buy the sensor on eBay, fit it yourself. It's easy. It'll take 15 minutes, assuming you have the tools, if not buy the tools.

 

[Sausage]

Do you still have the same error code? I presume so. This means the garage didn't fit the camshaft sensor properly, or didn't fit a new one at all.

Probably they couldn't source the sensor, so they made up a story about the solenoid to ensure they were paid.

Buy the sensor on eBay, fit it yourself. It's easy. It'll take 15 minutes, assuming you have the tools, if not buy the tools.

I haven't checked if it's the same code this time - but I'd expect that it will be the same error.

They said they fitted a sensor and that it wasn't the issue - I assume they based this on the engine light not going out. They therefore refitted my existing sensor.

They then fitted the solenoid and I assume (by coincidence) the engine light went out shortly after that was fitted.


With the latest limp home mode situation - I have continued driving my car with the engine light on. As I said, there are no weird noises or running issues - no obvious problems.... the engine light went out this morning when started the car to drive to work....

You could be right - there is probably no engine issue, it's the sensor that is glitching. I will look into buying and fitting one myself, thanks.

 

[AnthonyH]

They said they fitted a sensor and that it wasn't the issue - I assume they based this on the engine light not going out. They therefore refitted my existing sensor.

They then fitted the solenoid and I assume (by coincidence) the engine light went out shortly after that was fitted.

This sounds suspicious.

They'd have been better off leaving the new sensor in there - as the error codes indicated.

Anyway, there's not much more I can say, i hope you get it sorted.

 

[Sausage]

This sounds suspicious.

They'd have been better off leaving the new sensor in there - as the error codes indicated.

Anyway, there's not much more I can say, i hope you get it sorted.

Well, they clearly replaced a part that was not an issue and charged me £300+ for it. That was over a year ago. Whether they did it to rip me off, or because of incompetence - I don't know....

It seems I keep being screwed over by incompetence, not only by mechanics, but other services I have purchased over the past years.

I'll be giving that garage a crappy review.

 

[AnthonyH]

Well, they clearly replaced a part that was not an issue and charged me £300+ for it. That was over a year ago. Whether they did it to rip me off, or because of incompetence - I don't know....

It seems I keep being screwed over by incompetence, not only by mechanics, but other services I have purchased over the past years.

I'll be giving that garage a crappy review.

Yes, sadly me too, it is the modern way, dentists that make fillings that fall out, vets that pick a price out of a hat, plumbers that break things in the hopes of coming back....the list goes on and on....

 

[spidermania]

Whether they did it to rip me off, or because of incompetence - I don't know....

Generally a combination of both. With perhaps a tad more leaning towards they are shysters. I got a few chapters in a book I could write whats happen to me over in this thieving country. I'm so paranoid now with my new spider (new to me) I won't even let the shops change the oil. And if it goes bad with serious issues who knows what I'll do. And when you get older as I'm getting they'll even rob you while smiling.

 

[AnthonyH]

Generally a combination of both. With perhaps a tad more leaning towards they are shysters. I got a few chapters in a book I could write whats happen to me over in this thieving country. I'm so paranoid now with my new spider (new to me) I won't even let the shops change the oil. And if it goes bad with serious issues who knows what I'll do. And when you get older as I'm getting they'll even rob you while smiling.

I've even tried 'over paying', in the hopes that the service provider feels so flush that they do a good job. Sadly that doesn't work reliably or at all. Oh well.

 

[Sausage]

I had some work on a wheel on my car once, I can't remember exactly what.... but a few months later I turned my steering wheel at 90 degrees to turn into my driveway and the strut had come loose from the axle..... they clearly didn't put the nuts back on properly, or not at all. Now at a separate garage I have been ripped off for a solenoid I did not need.

I have been to a chiropractor and osteopath for a back issue, both misdiagnosed me and gave me treatment that was never going to help me. Spent £700 total for nothing. Went to a physio who told me I just needed to fix posture - sit up straighter - I followed her advice and back was fixed in 2 to 3 weeks, no treatment needed.

So, now I cannot trust anybody doing any job to give me a fair and competent service.