HI,
sorry that my first post is one asking for help but I'm a little bit stuck.

My wife has a 2006 Fiat Panda 1.2 petrol. Yesterday whilst driving home in the snow, about 1/4 mile from our house, the car started to splutter. When she pulled in to let another car passed the car cut out and wouldn't restart. It will turn over, occasionally splutter a little but wont actually run. I connected the car to the laptop last night and there were no codes stored. Not sure where to start...

The car was serviced about 3 weeks ago, it had a new battery about 4 weeks ago. Another thing, although I don't think this is the problem, about 2 weeks ago the key code light stayed on whilst starting the car with the flip key and the car wouldn't start. I took the spare key and the car started first time, I thought maybe a faulty key...a couple of days later I put the flip key in the ignition and the car started first time...no idea why it didnt work on that one occasion but both keys have worked since. I must point out that the key code light goes out now when I put both keys in the ignition so I don't think that is what is causing the car to fail to start.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Its the crank possition sensor free of snow/damage etc?

hi,
no stored codes points to something fairly unusual,

does the fuel pump prime ( humming sound from under rear seat)?

where are you based,

we may be able to recommend a FIAT specialist near to you,
Charlie - Oxford.

Hi,

Thanks for the quick replies. The is no snow on the cp sensor or anywhere else under the bonnet. My initial thought was maybe something was wet (my first car was a mk1 metro that if it even looked like it might rain it struggled to start) but engine bay was surprisingly dry considering the conditions.

I will check the fuel pump next time I go down to the car.

Just spoke to my brother and he said he has heard that sometimes if you get some bad fuel, then water could freeze in the filter. Having read through the forum I have discovered the fuel filter is actually inside the petrol tank, so do you think that its possible for either the filter inside the tank or the fuel lines to be blocked with ice? Its starting to thaw nicely here now so I'm going to try it again in an hour or so.

I'm based in Swansea

Many thanks

Hi,
the fuel issue is a possibility.. BUT cruddy fuel is pretty much a myth nowadays..,

MEP's suggestion is sound - won't throw up any errors as long as it's still electrically connected,

it's the slightly " intermittent nature " of the fault that may play a part in the diagnosis.

Is the battery fully charged?,

how many miles has it covered since the last work done..??

any other niggles before the "service " a month ago..??,

how many miles on the car?

Charlie

Update.

I have breakdown cover which doesn't cover me when closer than 1/4 of a mile from my house ( car was just around the corner) decided to give them a call and try my luck. Anyway guy comes pokes about a bit then jumps underneath hits something with a hammer gets up and starts the car. The car promptly cut out 20 seconds later. Turns out the fuel pump is sticking so he has towed the car home for me. Good call varesecrazy!

Next question, how hard is it to change the fuel pump?

melloyello said:

Update.

I have breakdown cover which doesn't cover me when closer than 1/4 of a mile from my house ( car was just around the corner) decided to give them a call and try my luck. Anyway guy comes pokes about a bit then jumps underneath hits something with a hammer gets up and starts the car. The car promptly cut out 20 seconds later. Turns out the fuel pump is sticking so he has towed the car home for me. Good call varesecrazy!

Next question, how hard is it to change the fuel pump?

Click to expand...

Two methods, first remove rear seat base and do it from the access point from inside the car, or drop the tank.First is normally the easiest.

melloyello said:

Update.

Turns out the fuel pump is sticking so he has towed the car home for me. Good call varesecrazy!

Next question, how hard is it to change the fuel pump?

Click to expand...

Hi ,
I thought I had a problem with my pump in the summer ( Warm + Dry weather),
spent an afternoon unsuccessfully trying to undo the big plastic ring - making improvised spanners etc,
was a right pain.., problem lay elsewhere too..!!
look at the guides or SEARCH section on here for tips,
good luck,
Charlie

Hi there , my friend had the same problem . Turned out to be a poor connection on the engine ecu multi plug . Had to have a new wiring loom and ecu . The symptoms were it would crank over but the padlock sign would stay lit up on the dash ..... Worth a check