Hello people, new to the fiat forum
The Mrs has a 1200 8v punto on an 04 that has had a funny starting problem for the past year or so now. Today in nearly left me in stranded in the airport after I'd paid the parking! It cranks over ok but sometimes just doesn't fire. As soon as it starts, which eventually it always has so far, it runs 110% fine. So I'm thinking dicky immobiliser maybe? Or would that not let it crank over? Or tdc sensor maybe? I know they can cause funny goings on sometimes but, like i say, it's been over a year now so I'm supprised it hasn't thrown it's hand in completely yet? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated folks! Cheers

1. Can you hear the fuel pump after contact (before crank)?
2. Key-Code lamp goes off few seconds after contact? - or not? (before crank too)

hi peeps,.....i think i have a similar issue,.....car seem ok till the 2nd switch on ignition,......then it tries to start but cant......ive been told it could be the immobiliser which is factory fitted,....can anyone help please....!.......PLUS there is a dashboard light that has started showing and it looks like a car with a lock around it?.....so i think its something to do with the factory fitted immobiliser............PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP

fiat punto 2004 said:

hi peeps,.....i think i have a similar issue,.....car seem ok till the 2nd switch on ignition,......then it tries to start but cant......ive been told it could be the immobiliser which is factory fitted,....can anyone help please....!.......PLUS there is a dashboard light that has started showing and it looks like a car with a lock around it?.....so i think its something to do with the factory fitted immobiliser............PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP

Click to expand...

............... Yes the Car with a lock = Immboliser........................
..........as to why you will probably have to get the fault code read........
....if you have any other keys (blue) try them first..............
...........if you have the Key Code Card, you can do the emergency Startup Procedure (using EML light + Throttle Pedal - read manual on howtodo).....


as for Dean
When it turns over does it sounds like a Buzz
or can you hear the engine actually turnning over?

Also No lights on dash? no Eml/Key Code?
I'd be checking for Sparks - first
Fuel / Fuel pressure

failing that - Crank Sensor giving a weak signal till it finally starts - not typical symptom but possible

Ziggy

Hi chaps, thanks for the input! I've been messing with it this morning and when it doesn't start the immobiliser light is on. So that's the immobiliser right? Is there anything to un-plug to effect some sort of temporary quick fix? Thanks

dean191 said:

Hi chaps, thanks for the input! I've been messing with it this morning and when it doesn't start the immobiliser light is on. So that's the immobiliser right? Is there anything to un-plug to effect some sort of temporary quick fix? Thanks

Click to expand...

If we were that lucky
The Whole point is to stop the car been nicked - if the Immbo was easily unplugged - then theives would be all over it as they know they can just smash lock and start car

I think you will need to get the fault code read - and see why the Immbo is Unhappy

Could not be Reading the Key's Chip
the immbo Might have a fault itself so locked the car out etc etc

Ziggy

I didn't know if there was something you could disable when it's running? Pugs and citroens just need the transponder unplugging when it's running, didn't know if fiats had similar tricks? I'll pop it down to my mate and get the codes up, both keys play up about the same so i'm guessing it's likely it's the immobiliser itself.

if your lucky and have the Key Code Card - then you can get the Immboliser to deactivate with the Emergency Start Up Process But only if you have your code or not

Ziggy

probably worth removing the battery, wait 10-20 mins then remove all leads from the body computer and ecu, then reconnect all then battery.

Most recent problem with immo and key code reading is immo antenna itself. Immo antenna is one plastic ring wrapped around starting key barrel, under plastic cover and connected to immo black plastic box. You can see attached pic from Fiat Panda, but immo, and immo antenna is the same as for the Puntos and other Fiat (Fix It Again Tonny).
Sometimes on places with wery strong electro magnetic ``smoke`` (such as telecommunication relays, airports equipment, high voltage transformers and high voltage lines etc., could make a problems with immo antenna and key code- reading-decoding. If you displace your car phisically some 50 meters from this places, could return your immo back into normal function. (keycode lamp will go off normally).
Sometimes if you have some havy metal chain or some electronic gadget attached to your starter key (some strong magnetic stuff, electrostatic discharger, mobile phone near immo-antena, some transporder, some CB station in nearby taxi driver car, etc..., could make a problem with your immo antenna and key code reading by immo antenna.
If you simply ask your Fiat service, they will advice you to completely change immo and new ECU paired with new immo for enormous charge, but checking immo antena and his contacts to the immo box, will be my first point. See pic attached. Cheers, Aca.

Ahhh that would explain the airport incident on sunday then! Today it acted up wicked at my mums but when i got home it started about 15 times in a row. So would you reccomend replacing the immob' antenna? I'll give fiat a quick buzz in the morning and see how much they want to rape me for one Cheers chaps, especially aca, you're a great help!

try a breakers or ebay

At first place and if you have red key (master key), pick up all of your keys with you (red master key and blue ones - everyday keys). Start the car with red (master key) first. Put the red key on contact position, wait code lamp to go off, and then start the engine with master red key. Turn off engine, and put the red key aside, and then repeat engine start - procedure with blue key(s) one by one. If you have more than one blue key start the engine with all of blue keys in order. Red key contain master chip inside, and only - that master key have possibility to shift immo code to next sequence of running codes, and then after - blue keys will be shifted to that new code sequence initiated by red - master key.......
If it not works, try to disconnect battery minus pole for one hour, reconnect battery and then start the engine first with red key, and then by all other blue keys, one by one in order. Only red key have possibility to shift immo code sequence to next fluctuating code level programmed in immo, and acceptable to wehicle blue (everydays) key(s). Be sure that alwaus - specially when start the engine with red key, firstly you will wait code lamp to completely - go off and than start the engine. Than repeat start engine procedure with all of your blue keys to enable all these blue keys to receive back from immo a new (shifted) code sequence initiated (shifted to next sequence) by red master key........

If its not working, then you should check immo antenna ring (not to be cnakered, damaged, etc..), check antenna connector (loose contact, oxidation, etc..), then check antenna ring position (should be secured around barrel), then antenna wire (not damaged, grounded to metal parts, etc). If you can, ask your Fiat service to check all this only with antenna at first- good, but they usually and promptly suggest to replace everything for enormous charges (``Fix It Again Tonny`` - become ``Finance Italy All Time``) :bang:.
90% of immo problem is key code sequence - shifting by red key or - antenna issue...
Due to that you should take blue key for everuday use, and red key should be keeped at secure case, just to shift code sequnce to next lewel followed by blue - everyday key(s)...
Antenna ring is simple peace of wire coil in plastic, and can be found with scrappers, and fits on almost all Fix It Again Tonny -models (Panda, Tippo, Sei, Punto, Stilo, ........)
Hope this will help !!!!!

its an 04 Plate - so its mk2b as the mk2 finished in 03/53

So its just 2 blue keys

Ziggy

I see, MK2b been delivered only with 2 master keys (black or blue both). So try to disconnect minus pole of batt, for half an hour. Connect minus batt ater half an hour. Give contact (only contact position) and wait code lamp to go off completely before crank it. If code lamp wont go off, then try with another master key, first contact and then wait for lamp to go off........
If second key turn code lamp off, then crank it, and start the engine. Stop the engine and put this key aside. Then put first key again, wait to lamp go off (to learn code sequence from previous key). Should be O.K.

If wont work with nither one key, then should check immo antenna, immo box, and conections with ecu as in previous posts..........