Hi all,

I am new here and was wondering if you guys could help. I have an intermittent electrical fault on my 1.2 16v punto sporting 51' plate. 19/20 the car will start no problem but occasionally when turning the ignition key the code light stays on and the engine will turn over but not actually start. I have had a mechanic scan it (at no cost) but I stupidly did not ask for the fault code. He said that the key needs to be re-programmed but Im not sure about this - the car starts most of the time and must be recognising the key. I have bought an Autel MS300 scanner off the internet that will be arriving in the next few days so I can try and detect the fault myself.

Any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Willerz86

put key in ignition turn to position 1
fit your seatbelt
try it now
this gives reader time to recognise your key
also make sure no other car type keys are on your keyring that might be chipped confusing your car ecu

I find sometimes when i start mine, if i'm in a rush shove the key in and just turn it right round to the starting position, it will start but the key code light will stay lit until the engine is turned off.

I find if i turn the key to position 1, you should be able to here fuel pump priming. Wait for it to go quiet, then start it.

Never thought of fitting your seatbelt after position 1 then starting, will do that from now.

Forgot to mention that the engine management light is on although had confirmed by mechanic nothing wrong with the engine. I have tried turning to position one and waiting a number of seconds but the code light just does not turn off. Definitely some sort of recognition problem I think.

If the light isn't turning off then the on-board computer has a code stored and telling you to check it, you can simply do this yourself with vag-com kkl lead a laptop and free version of MES (Multi ECU Scan) simply find yor car in the list.

Connect then check for errors it should be there if any note down, then clear errors and you should see the engine light turn off.

Simple as that

Benny

Yes when the Key-code light is on, the engine management light is also on

This tells you that the car is immbolised - It wont start at all

If the key code light was on and it started, but no EML - it'd suggest its getting a weak/partially broken signal but its satisfied to start

that 1 / 20 times could be a dying antena pickup ring around the ignition barrell, its rare, but a possibility

Ziggy

Ive downloaded multiecuscan but it will only read airbag and ABS faults for a 1.2 16v 51 plate punto. Surely mechanics in garages don't use laptops for diagnostics? They just use a hand held scanner? That is why I bought the Autel MS300 to try and get the fault code read and try to get to the bottom of the problem. The EML is on all the time when the car is running.

Just had another look at the multiecuscan software - my car is 1.2 16v 1242cc with 80bhp but I don't see this an option to choose from on the software?

Any help much appreciated! Sorry for all the questions.

willerz86 said:

Ive downloaded multiecuscan but it will only read airbag and ABS faults for a 1.2 16v 51 plate punto. Surely mechanics in garages don't use laptops for diagnostics? They just use a hand held scanner? That is why I bought the Autel MS300 to try and get the fault code read and try to get to the bottom of the problem. The EML is on all the time when the car is running.

Click to expand...

willerz86 said:

Just had another look at the multiecuscan software - my car is 1.2 16v 1242cc with 80bhp but I don't see this an option to choose from on the software?

Any help much appreciated! Sorry for all the questions.

Click to expand...

On a 51 plate meaning late 2001 / early 2002 makes you a mk2 punto
This means you need to select
Fiat - Punto '99 - 1.2 16V


However - your ECU is in red
Red = Full edition required

In garages, yes they use from basic hand-held generic scanners, which sometimes do the job nicely
To Some places having professional readers such as Snap ons diagnostic setup with adaptor boards to read the 1001 different plug combinations

it really depends on the garage

Ziggy

Try the other key as well!

51 plate punto should be able to be read by a generic code reader like autoscan
im surprised the free fes wont read it too though just for fault code analysis
i am fairly sure you need the elm lead though rather than the kkl lead as suggested somewhere else

Bought an Autel MS300 entry level scanner off the internet - currently waiting for it to arrive. Anyone got any experience of using this?

s and b said:

i am fairly sure you need the elm lead though rather than the kkl lead as suggested somewhere else

Click to expand...

that would be me...

i've used the kkl lead to read errors on my car and cleared the faults with no problems, sometime last year when i thought i'd hook my car up i found vehicle speed sensor malfunction error (never returned) cleared it. fancy answering that one?

benny

benny279 said:

that would be me...

i've used the kkl lead to read errors on my car and cleared the faults with no problems, sometime last year when i thought i'd hook my car up i found vehicle speed sensor malfunction error (never returned) cleared it. fancy answering that one?

benny

Click to expand...

easy one
you either have an aftermarket stereo still connected into the can system (bad)
or more likely you have something like a hawk remote locking system

do i win

s and b said:

easy one
you either have an aftermarket stereo still connected into the can system (bad)
or more likely you have something like a hawk remote locking system

do i win

Click to expand...

neither...

so i win!

probably