AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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Need a bit of advice please.....
My sisters got a Corsa C 1.2 sxi (54 plate). On Sunday afternoon she went to drive it and it refused to start. Had Greenflag out to look at it and the guy managed to jump start it but pretty much all the lights lit up on the dash.
She had it towed to a decent local Vauxhall dealer who aren't really sure what the problem is.
They're already going to charge £50 for a diagnostic which isn't too bad, but can't be sure what the problem is. They've suggested changing the battery for £110, otherwise replace the ECU for £600.
I mean, if it was just a battery I'd pick up a new battery from Halfords for half the price and sort it out, but if its the ECU as well she'd rather just sell it as is..........
Is it common for an ECU to just fail?
I'm not that technically minded but wouldn't have thought it would just pack up like that? Was fine the last time she drove it on Saturday, yet the next day doesn't work......odd.
Any advice appreciated
[Edited on 05-01-2010 by AndyKent]
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AlexW
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Registered: 25th Oct 08
Location: Essex
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I would have thought its a simple earth?
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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No idea.
Went to see the mechanic and it seems the battery is definately fucked. He charged it out of the car, replaced it and within half an hour was too weak to start the car.
The query over the ecu came about because when he did eventually start it off the battery and went to drive it the management light flashed up.
Whether thats because the battery is dying fast I don't know, and nor did he.
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alan-g-w
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Registered: 9th Nov 07
Location: Glasgow
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£160 to change a battery! Even for Vaux that's taking the piss.
Even if it is the ECU, are the C's not like the B's where it's pretty simple to change them?
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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No idea, you tell me 
I got the price wrong actually, £160 includes the £50 diagnostic, so £110. Battery is £85 from Halfords so not too bad for main dealer prices.
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X16XE.Adam
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Registered: 6th Dec 09
Location: Oxford
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Surely you are able to get a battery even cheaper than that from Halfords...
If its the ECU blown, surely it wudn't have started again...?
I would try a new battery and then see what happens, I dont think the management light would come up because of a dieing battery, that would normally bring on the charging light i would have thought.
Adam
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
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Its very unlikely to be the ECU. Put a new battery on it and go from there, I'd imagine thats all it will be.
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AlexW
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Registered: 25th Oct 08
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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If the ECU starts getting less volts than it wants then it will go tits up.
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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Honestly, I've got no idea.
He swore that it was the EML light that came up while driving and I trust him. If it was just the battery/charging light then it would be straightforward as you say.
Anyway, what they've said is that they'll do the battery.
If that fixes it, we'll pay the £160 (50 plus 110) and be done with it.
If its the ECU they'll take the battery off again if we want and just charge £50. We'll then have to get the car home and see if someone else can sort it for cheaper though.
Either than or she just sells it as is.
Pain.in.the.arse
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barneykarl
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Registered: 29th Jul 06
Location: Stevenage
User status: Offline
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No harm in fitting new battery but also make sure it is getting charged correct by altenator,as AW06 said low voltage battery will throw up a false ecu problem.
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alan-g-w
Member
Registered: 9th Nov 07
Location: Glasgow
User status: Offline
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You'll get a corsa C battery for no more than £40 from a motor factors. Don't let those bastards rip you off for more than double that.
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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I don't care tbh, not my money
Battery changed and it seems car is now all sorted. Thanks all 
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