Italian electrics and electronics have a reputation, not always a deserved one. We deal with faults whose cause lies in the wiring, the control units and the software, in other words where many would rather not look.
Computer diagnostics
We have several diagnostic tools for full diagnosis of electronic systems, ECU programming and configuration changes. One tool is rarely enough: one works best on a car from the nineties, another on a current model.
Reading fault codes is only the beginning. A fault code tells you what the control unit noticed, not what broke, so we look for the cause first and only then reach for parts. Swapping parts blindly tends to be expensive and usually solves nothing.
Magneti Marelli Tester Plus
It is a piece of kit you will not find in most garages. It is probably the only tool that fully supports cars such as the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo and the Maserati 3200 GT, where universal testers quickly give up.
A real-life example: an authorised Maserati dealer was unable to program a new throttle body on a 3200 GT. The car came to us and we programmed it, probably as the only workshop in Poland.
Bosch and Magneti Marelli fuel injection
We know the injection systems of both makers, from the mechanical K-Jetronic through L-Jetronic and Motronic to Magneti Marelli IAW (Weber).
That is several eras of engineering. In K-Jetronic the fuel is metered mechanically, in L-Jetronic electronics take over, and Motronic combines injection and ignition in a single control unit. Each of these systems is diagnosed differently, so it pays to go to someone who knows them all.
Wiring looms
On classic and historic cars, wiring looms often have to be restored to factory condition after many unsightly repair attempts. Years of use and successive modifications take their toll: twisted joints, insulating tape and random connectors are a common sight under the dashboard and in the engine bay.
Sometimes a completely new loom is needed. Importantly, we make it with original connectors and plugs, so the wiring looks and works like the factory one.
Maserati Quattroporte V and GranTurismo: date and time
We fix a sad affliction of the Maserati Quattroporte V and its sibling, the GranTurismo: the date and time cannot be set.
The fault comes from resetting the service reminder while the date and time are not set. The instrument cluster then records the last service date as 01.01.2099, while the latest date that can be set in the car is 31.12.2098. As a result, the date and time can no longer be set. How we fix it remains our secret.
Bosch ME 2.1, ME 3.1 and ME 7.3.1 ECUs: repair and reset
We repair and reset Bosch ME 2.1, ME 3.1 and ME 7.3.1 engine control units. The last of these is used in the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, 156 GTA and GT 3.2, among others.
A used ECU will not work in another car straight away, because it is paired with the immobiliser of the car it came from. That is why dealers usually sell a whole starter kit, from the body computer to the instrument cluster.
After a reset, we prepare the ECU to start in your car. There is no need to swap the whole kit; replacing the ECU alone is enough.
Immobilisers
We code immobilisers and add keys. The subject comes up when a key is lost or a control unit is replaced.
Our experience and equipment let us repair and code systems from Code 1, used in the Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider (916), 164, 145, 146 and 155 and in comparable Fiat and Lancia models of that era, up to the keyless systems in current cars (Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, Maserati Quattroporte, Ghibli and Levante).
Starter and alternator rebuilds
We rebuild starters and alternators, preferably for classic cars, because they are rewarding designs: easy to repair, durable and trouble-free. We can also restore their factory appearance, and on classics we always do.
Magneti Marelli alternators
There are no decent spare parts for older Magneti Marelli alternators today. In our experience, what is available does not even try to work, so in practice these alternators are doomed.
That is why we replace them with refurbished Bosch K1 alternators. One example is a Fiat Argenta with the Lampredi engine, which received a K1 numbered 0 120 489 136.
See also
Our other services, from engines to gearboxes, are described on the Services page.
An example of a tricky case is in our workshop chronicle (in Polish): Schłodzone Ferrari, a fault that depended on the temperature of the control unit.