Car not starting - wiring issues

Ladjacket

Ford Fiesta, diesel, 1.4, 2010.

Car refused to start in driveway last Friday. Eventually started and about 300m down the road completely cut out. Red light flashing above fuel gauge looked to be immobiliser. Towed it to garage and still have it there.

They said today that the internal wiring is a mess and that they think they have spotted the issue but it requires them to take out the loom and check it - they are quoting me 700 euro already that this is costing. Said they have already checked internal electrics, computer etc.

What do you think in terms of pricing? Said they shouldn't need to replace loom but if they do so it could cost up to 2k.

richardsheil

Sounds very spurious. "internal wiring is a mess- think they may have spotted the issue- take out the loom"

All sound weak as evidence of troubleshooting to honest.

Idbatterim

how is the wiring a mess? assume it has never been touched from new. Where are you based? Hang on, its a 2010 also. The car is probably not worth much more than 2k! Do not go ahead with this! This is garages knowing they are FCUKED and milking the situation, even worse than usual!

fiesta immobiliser light flashing - I searched that on youtube and already tons of results!

Ladjacket

they said that when they looked inside the EMU (could have gotten that wrong) a number of the wires were not connected to the plugs.

the garage has been very good with me previously and no huge issues with costings but this seems a bit much

biko

I'm sure they're not trying to trick you but "wiring is a mess" is unlikely unless someone else have been in there and mucked about with the wiring.

Maybe bring it somewhere else?

colm_mcm

It started before.

Ladjacket

my big fear is that the car cut out completely twice already and i don't want to risk it happening again

colm_mcm

May not even be an electrical issue.

newmember2

Ladjacket wrote: »

...requires them to take out the loom and check it ...

What does this even mean??

Irish Steve

If water is getting into places it is not meant to, there is a possibility of significant damage to wiring, especially in plugs and sockets. Had a mini in a while back that had water getting into a connector that carried wiring for the dash system, when we found the problem, there were at least 12 connector pins that had corroded out completely, resulting in all sorts of strange issues on the speedo lights and warnings. It was scrapped, the cost of repairing the harness was more than the vehicle was worth, due to very difficult access and other related items in the way.

Some of the Fords, the engine management computer is mounted inside the front wing, and while in theory it's protected from water splash, the reality is different, and if the undertray or wing lining gets damaged, or lost, there is a chance of water causing all manner of problems.

Ladjacket

Sorry for delay in reply.

Here are the receipts of work done. Car now back with me.

Thoughts? Left price off as intrigued what you think it should be

colm_mcm

So they didn’t fix it then

Ladjacket

colm_mcm wrote: »

So they didn’t fix it then

Sorry I should say fault unresolved was after first test. They then removed loom and found broken wires and fixed them

colm_mcm

I’m gonna guess it cost you €800?

Great that they found something. Hopefully that was it.

Idbatterim

how do the wires break?

Ladjacket

colm_mcm wrote: »

I’m gonna guess it cost you €800?

Great that they found something. Hopefully that was it.

590 all in.

He said the wires can corrode over time

passatman86

Going by hours worked on and just "fixing wires" €600

Edit just seen your price.. Seems reasonable