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Technical Stalling if Cold, Not Sure if Normal for a 500

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Technical Stalling if Cold, Not Sure if Normal for a 500

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Giardiniera1969

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My little Fiat has to idle for about 5 min before I can drive it. If I start giving it gas while the engine is cold (mash the gas pedal), it sputters and dies. If I feather the gas pedal, I can slowly get the engine speed up and start going if I need to.

A big problem is that if I don't idle it, I can't get out of the garage due to it being underground and there is a steep ramp to go out. Sometimes, I have to make a couple of runs at the ramp to get out.

Once the car warms up, it does not seem to have the problem, but if you stomp the gas pedal (like when the light turns green), it still hesitates just a bit like it is going to die, so you kind of have to ease the gas pedal. A technique I use is a few seconds before the light turns green, I will start easing the gas pedal then let out the clutch when the light turns.

Anyway, after saying all of that how can I fix it? Does this happen to others as well?
 
Mine runs brilliantly when hot and whilst not as extreme as you describe from stone cold, it needs a bit of careful management for the first couple of minutes. After about a quarter of a mile the choke can be fully off.

I would also struggle if I had to exit a steep ramp from cold.
 
:) I just fake it til I make it. If someone is in the garage, I just kind of wipe the car or something. Then, once they leave I run over, push the 59 second timer on the garage door, back it up, then floor it. Usually, I have to roll backward, get out of the car and push the timer button at least one more time before I make it to the top of the hill. God I wish Germany had private garages!
 
How cold are we talking here?

Depending on the additives, gasoline freezes at around -40 to -50degC but it will get viscous before that and generally won't vaporize well in subzero temperatures.

You may just have to put up with the problem and in the depths of your Winter warm the cars prior to driving. Either that or rig up a warming system like on aircraft with carburettor engines.

Chris
 
Giardiniera1969 said:
My little Fiat has to idle for about 5 min before I can drive it. If I start giving it gas while the engine is cold (mash the gas pedal), it sputters and dies. If I feather the gas pedal, I can slowly get the engine speed up and start going if I need to.

A big problem is that if I don't idle it, I can't get out of the garage due to it being underground and there is a steep ramp to go out. Sometimes, I have to make a couple of runs at the ramp to get out.

Once the car warms up, it does not seem to have the problem, but if you stomp the gas pedal (like when the light turns green), it still hesitates just a bit like it is going to die, so you kind of have to ease the gas pedal. A technique I use is a few seconds before the light turns green, I will start easing the gas pedal then let out the clutch when the light turns.

Anyway, after saying all of that how can I fix it? Does this happen to others as well?
Click to expand...
. I had a fiat fiat 500 for few years and I did not have that problem.
 
This is Scotland but fortunately, -5C is probably the coldest start temperature I have had to cope this year.
I have the original pages from a magazine called Popular Motoring which is undated but probably from 1960 at least. It has a comprehensive review of the car and takes this very seriously.
Bearing in mind this is from when the car was new:

"Performance when cold is poor, but within a mile or so it performs properly" For a smooth take-off the engine must be revved before letting out the clutch."
 
Last edited:
I just mean starting it first thing in the morning, although it is worse with temps less than 40 degrees F
 
Giardiniera1969 said:
My little Fiat has to idle for about 5 min before I can drive it.
A big problem is that if I don't idle it, I can't get out of the garage due to it being underground and there is a steep ramp to go out. Sometimes, I have to make a couple of runs at the ramp to get out.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about this the other day when exiting my garage by an alternative door I have just fitted. This means I now have a slight slope to tackle and when the engine is cold the car has the same problems you describe. I have come around to realising that the hand throttle must have been installed in these cars to try and get around the stalling that occurs if you aren't able to zoom off down the road straight away, so that the engine can warm up and be assisted a little in the first few minutes.
 
fiat500 said:
I was thinking about this the other day when exiting my garage by an alternative door I have just fitted. This means I now have a slight slope to tackle and when the engine is cold the car has the same problems you describe. I have come around to realising that the hand throttle must have been installed in these cars to try and get around the stalling that occurs if you aren't able to zoom off down the road straight away, so that the engine can warm up and be assisted a little in the first few minutes.
Click to expand...

That's what I tend to do Peter. I normally start from cold using nearly full choke and once started knock the choke lever back to halfway for about 30 seconds, then take it off completely. If I am not leaving straightaway, I will just up the revs a little bit using the hand throttle for a couple of minutes until it is happy to idle smoothly.
 
fiat500 said:
I was thinking about this the other day when exiting my garage by an alternative door I have just fitted. This means I now have a slight slope to tackle and when the engine is cold the car has the same problems you describe. I have come around to realising that the hand throttle must have been installed in these cars to try and get around the stalling that occurs if you aren't able to zoom off down the road straight away, so that the engine can warm up and be assisted a little in the first few minutes.
Click to expand...

HAND THROTTLE , so that's what it's called.

I thought it was Mechanical Cruise Control. :D
(another example of Fiat leading the world!).

Al.
 
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