$5600 no-start

[map]

I've been seeing some recent posts about Fiats with bad B&M units. We know those are a weak point, a hassle, and can set us back $200+. This sucks, but then I saw this Ford.

Head out to your 4 or 5 yo Ford PU and it won't start. Why? A bit of water leaked into the tail lights. Moisture corroded the connectors, the lights contain "radar" units, these are part of Canbus, so the network crashes. No-start. The repair cost: $5600. I'd image a dealer might tack on a grand or two more, trying to figure it out. So, instead of an annoying flashing ODO, your $80,000 truck left you stranded? I see why people think their motto changed, "Ford Tough" to "Ford tough-luck". I recall the days when you got stranded because you broke something while mud slinging... today it's from parking in the rain.

[5port]

People insist on their options like radar controlled cruise, bling spot monitoring. They have to put those modules somewhere.

[Fiat500USA]

Yeah, not making me rethink my not wanting a new car attitude. Just had some guys come into work with 2019 Chevys. One needed a trans for ~$8k, the other had a lifter issue on a low mileage engine. Big bucks for that. Another came in and had an injector problem somewhere near $1000.

[mp4guy]

Hold on to your Fiats, kids.

New car prices are nuts, repairs are obscene, and at least it's a real car.

[map]

People insist on their options like radar controlled cruise, bling spot monitoring. They have to put those modules somewhere.

Agreed, but maybe Ford should program to disconnect the module instead of letting it kill the car? Or maybe use sealed connectors if they can't seal a tail light.

[HalfPint]

People fail to recognize the cost of complexity.

I'd like to have something like a 124 sedan, or a late '60s Rambler. Straight four or six, manual trans, carburetor. At one time cars had much fewer parts, and something like a starter relay for a Ford was the same for decades. Now every car has unique, specialized parts, and we're already seeing the supply chain fail for these. A 500 Abarth is a far more complex machine than it appears to be.

[bryanintowson]

Recently had to replace the Bluetooth Module... at the dealer. I tried to do it myself using ALFA OBD however I could not get my early-build 2011 to play nice so off to the FIAT Studio it went. Nearly 2k later and its fixed.

The culprit? My cowl drain was clogged and when I washed the car, it filled up and overtopped and ran into the cabin and dripped straight onto the Bluetooth module.

[mp4guy]

Recently had to replace the Bluetooth Module... at the dealer. I tried to do it myself using ALFA OBD however I could not get my early-build 2011 to play nice so off to the FIAT Studio it went. Nearly 2k later and its fixed.

The culprit? My cowl drain was clogged and when I washed the car, it filled up and overtopped and ran into the cabin and dripped straight onto the Bluetooth module.

It's a good habit to snoop around there when you check your oil.

[bryanintowson]

So the culprit (me obvs) was that I park with the nose angling slightly downward thanks to the angle of my driveway. I got used to seeing water in there because it would not drain when it rained due to this so I never really checked it.

[Fiat500USA]

So the culprit (me obvs) was that I park with the nose angling slightly downward thanks to the angle of my driveway. I got used to seeing water in there because it would not drain when it rained due to this so I never really checked it.

Whoa! Sorry to hear that, but that is a good heads up! My driveway is like that too.