I have a 2015 Citigo with around 50000 miles on it.

In January I had a engine management light come on, with a weird diagnostic number, I assumed my old reader would not recognise it, but was able to clear it and everything was fine for 2 months. Then the light came on again so I took it to my normal service garage and they did a few readings as suggested it could be the ECU going faulty as they were getting all sorts of messages from incorrect fuelling to wiring issues etc. They did not charge me for anything but suggested I took it to an auto electrician which I did.

These diagnosed a faulty catalytic converter, and fitted an after market unit. Approx 2 month later the engine light came on again and it is back with the auto electricians, they are now saying the ECU needs a software update or something similar as it is showing software errors. I am wondering if this may have been the original issue.

So I wonder are there software updates for the ECU, can one fit a unit from a scrapped car and have it reprogrammed to my car, Trying to figure what the options are as it seem I am being kept in the dark as I am not getting any feedback when I ring?

Is there any good ODB2 reader people can recommend to install on my phone, I have a Konnwei blue tooth dongle that still seems current, not expecting miracles but just one that is up to date and give good readings?

Cheers

Adrian

Edited 3 June, 20251 yr by AdrianPH
wrong mileage

1 hour ago, AdrianPH said:

So I wonder are there software updates for the ECU,

No.

1 hour ago, AdrianPH said:

can one fit a unit from a scrapped car and have it reprogrammed to my car

Not easily.

There are company's that will check your ECU.

But first what codes have you now got?

1 hour ago, AdrianPH said:

Is there any good ODB2 reader people can recommend to install on my phone,

Cheap is Torque Pro.

Good for VAG is OBD eleven.

I have both.

Thanks. AG Falco

The car is still at the auto electrician's went in on the 20th May. So I have no codes but the app will be for me when I get it back.

Adrian

AG Falco;

Sorry for the brief answer yesterday, I was using my phone and find it a bit awkward to use at times.

I have just had a look at the ODBEleven web site and at some of the reviews on Google app store. Am I correct in thinking this is a subscription software, does you need credits to clear faults and find out what they are etc. I do note there are some fancy things that can be done, sorry for the question but at 66 I am probably a bit out of the loop on all these software apps.

I have just bought the Torque pro at £2.95 and awaiting installation from the app store so can at least try that on the wife's car.

Thanks for your answers.

Adrian

Hi, out of curiosity, can I ask you which engine you have? Also, is it possible that some fluid has found a way into the ecu and corroded it? Just a shooting idea (if the ecu has to get changed) also as a scan app for daily driving on my Fabia I use 'car scanner' on my android radio (works fine on iOS too) to monitor things like coolant temp, speed via GPS, engine load, and other important (to me) parameters, but for deep scanning I use VCDS (official vag software on PC). If you find someone local to you with the software, you can easily address the problem. VCDS does read more faults than a common OBD reader and errors that don't have a warning light, like low pressure in the AC system and a lot more.

Giacomo

Giacomo.

Thanks for your message.

As far as I remember a base 1000cc engine, I don't have all details with me at moment, I have decided to visit the auto shop to try and get a face to face update. I have had an offer from a mechanic friend who has the VAG software terminal in that he will have a look at it if needs be.

Let's see what response I get.

Adrian

On phone again one finger typing.

Edited 4 June, 20251 yr by AdrianPH

Thank you Adrian, for curiosity did the throttle body ever get cleaned and then recalibrate via vag software? Maybe it is worth a shot; It is a very easy job. Maybe there is deposit or dirt and the ecu can't close it properly, causing the ecu to throw codes? (it could almost justify the incorrect fuelling warning) or a faulty lambda sensor (on a friend of mine before letting me look at his fiat punto his mechanic replaced all the LPG system and the check engine was still on I've replaced just the lambda sensor and the error went away, 5 months and a lot of kms later and still good); also for your mechanic friend I attempt to suggest that is worth testing the relay related to the ecu / engine just for safety.

Giacomo

Edited 4 June, 20251 yr by Jack25

Pass I do very little on this car myself, it gets an annual service by a garage I trust and apart checks to oil, water,wash etc. That I do, which when the car does little annual mileage. It because of all the electronics now I tend to leave alone. The only other issue I have had was a gear shift stiffness which a bit of oil/grease seemed to have cleared.

I now have the car back after an "ECU software update", so time will tell in a few months. Perhaps a widening of parameters before a fault is logged.

Now armed with the basic software I can do more diagnostic myself.

I love the car, for me it is ideal, pity the map software is no longer supported but that is for another thread sometime.

I will try the odb2 app later and see if all clear.

Adrian

Still on phone

9 hours ago, AdrianPH said:

Am I correct in thinking this is a subscription software OBDeleven

Yes.

9 hours ago, AdrianPH said:

do you need credits to clear faults and find out what they are etc.

No.

9 hours ago, AdrianPH said:

sorry for the question but at 66

Only just older than me. 😮

Thanks AG Falco

I will gladly admit to not being that much of a smart phone user except for basic calls and SMS, a bit of a Luddite if you know the term, I hate all the data collection etc. But I digress.

I have used the Torque Pro software and there are no error codes logged in the car at present, so I will see how things go over the next few months. Many of the things the App will do such as 0 to 60 etc I think are a bit useless on the Citigo, but the basic functions will do what I need.

I have spoken to my mechanic friend and there are ECU updates, when he worked for a main dealer they typically did them under the warranty period of the car. It was also discussed that the ECU software errors could well have led to an over fuelling of the engine for a period of time which may have led to damage of the catalytic converter. The typical mpg did drop from high 50's to low 60's typically to around 47 for some time prior to the 1st repair.

I thank all for your responses and I keep my fingers crossed that all is now well that the repairs costs will have stopped and I am back to basic service jobs.

The engine data as in an above post from Jack25 it is a 3-cylinder gasoline engine 1.0 l/44 kW intake manifold injection base engine is TH4

Thanks

Adrian