Hi guys,

I've just been out to my car and it wont start nor even turn over.

When I got in the car I put the clutch down and put it in neutral and at the same time I turned the ignition key. The engine turned over for a split second and then I heard a rather loud bang which sounded like it came more from the left hand side of the car.

I thought it was because I didn't have it fully out of gear when I turned the key and maybe it stalled so I turned it again and the engine will not even turn over.

I thought it may be the battery but it is fairly new and my radio, speakers, sub and amps work fine.

However when I turn the key I don't hear anything at all like the clicking noise it usually makes when its trying to start.

I have looked on other threads and tried what Ziggy122 suggested with rocking the car in gear and then trying to start but to no avail.


If anybody can help me out words cannot describe how appreciative I would be as I love my Punto

Thanks

Ash

Hi,
sounds electrical..,


the oil + battery lights,
when you try and start the car..do those lights dim..??

I wonder if the alternator is charging the battery?

Try charging the battery overnight. What happens?

Beg borrow or steal a multimeter. Set it to 20v DC. Take a reading across the battery terminals, engine off, engine running. Report back.

Fairly often the cause is just loose or dirty battery or earth terminals.

Hi varesecrazy,

The lights that come on are the oil and battery as you said and also the yellow engine light, is this normal I can't remember if it always comes on?

When I turn the key the oil and battery lights don't dim but the yellow engine lights does dim a little.


fingers99 I will have to buy both of those if I need it as I don't have them and I know of nobody that does.

In terms of the dirty battery terminals is there a guide you know of that shows how to clean these?

Thanks guys.

This is OK.

degrease then light sandpaper

fingers99 said:

This is OK.

Click to expand...

atom0007 said:

degrease then light sandpaper

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips .

In terms of the yellow engine warning light is that normal to be on when I turn the key?

AshleyL said:

In terms of the yellow engine warning light is that normal to be on when I turn the key?

Click to expand...

yes,
it's basically linked to the sensor in the exhaust.. normally would go out a few seconds after car starts..

it's NOT starting = so it's on

charlie

AshleyL said:

Hi guys,

I've just been out to my car and it wont start nor even turn over.



I thought it may be the battery but it is fairly new and my radio, speakers, sub and amps work fine.

However when I turn the key I don't hear anything at all like the clicking noise it usually makes when its trying to start.


Ash

Click to expand...

"music" takes virtually ZERO power

the clicking sound is normally linked with a poor battery / or bad starter,

best to get the battery checked,
or ideally swap YOUR battery with one from a car that runs - far simpler + cheaper

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

yes,
it's basically linked to the sensor in the exhaust.. normally would go out a few seconds after car starts..

it's NOT starting = so it's on

charlie

Click to expand...

varesecrazy said:

"music" takes virtually ZERO power

the clicking sound is normally linked with a poor battery / or bad starter,

best to get the battery checked,
or ideally swap YOUR battery with one from a car that runs - far simpler + cheaper

Charlie

Click to expand...

Ah I see well at least that stops me worrying as much lol.

Ok I'll have to buy some stuff to clean the terminals then get the battery checked if it doesn't help. And after that if no response I guess its starter motor?

In terms of the radio and stuff powering on does that mean the connections are 'fine' or might the connections need to be stronger to start the engine.

It's so annoying that I've moved due to UNI and my friend with a punto is an hour away so I have nobody to swap a battery out with.

So by what you think it is, it should still be able to be jump started? Might just do that and go to a garage and have them have a look and fix it. Would that cost a lot of money?

Just about any battery will do (similarish sized car).

Could still be duff connections. The starter motor draws an incredible amount of power (and needs it). The radio needs very little (unless you've a humongous amplifier in there).

a push (tow) start is o.k.,
as it should start immediately,

WARNING = your power steering wont work well, brakes will be poor also.., ( until engine starts..!!)

garage should be able to test charging of battery, AND output of alternator too,

where are you based now ?( we may be able to recommend a garage)

Charlie

fingers99 said:

Just about any battery will do (similarish sized car).

Could still be duff connections. The starter motor draws an incredible amount of power (and needs it). The radio needs very little (unless you've a humongous amplifier in there).

Click to expand...

Ok thanks ill get some stuff to clean them when I get paid and nah not very powerful just a 500w mono and 120w for the components.

varesecrazy said:

a push (tow) start is o.k.,
as it should start immediately,

WARNING = your power steering wont work well, brakes will be poor also.., ( until engine starts..!!)

garage should be able to test charging of battery, AND output of alternator too,

where are you based now ?( we may be able to recommend a garage)

Charlie

Click to expand...

I just jump started it worked fine as you said it would.

When it started I left my foot off the throttle to see if it would struggle like it has done in the past when I've drained the battery but it was fine. Does this maybe mean it was the battery but instead the starter motor?

After about 25 minutes of driving I parked up turn it off then turned it back on and it started no problem. What's happening there?

If you do know of a trusted garage local that would be wicked for future reference, I'm in London at the moment, postcode NW9.

Cheers.

My best guess would be a poor connection or a bad earth. You can't rule out a starter motor, but try everything else first!

Badly installed amps can drain the battery, BTW.

fingers99 said:

My best guess would be a poor connection or a bad earth. You can't rule out a starter motor, but try everything else first!

Badly installed amps can drain the battery, BTW.

Click to expand...

So that bad earth connection could be anywhere in the car?

Also what exactly do you mean by bad? I've had them for at least 1 year and 6 months and there's been no noticeable power loss in the battery.

Bad here just means too mucky, corroded or loose to transmit enough current.

It'll be either the battery connections, the big fat black earth cable from the battery to the inner wing, or the one from the other wing to the top of the gearbox. Unless you're very unlucky.

It's rarely the cable itself, just the bits on the end, so, just remove the bolt that holds them on, scratch the connection clean (sandpaper or even an old, but sharp, knife).

The best test for a bad earth here is to carry a pair of jump leads with you (always a sensible thing to have). If the car fails to start, attach a single jump lead to the battery negative (it must be the negative, marked with the minus sign) and to a solid, metalic part of the engine or gearbox at the other. Try again. If the car starts, you can be sure you have a bad earth.

fingers99 said:

Bad here just means too mucky, corroded or loose to transmit enough current.

It'll be either the battery connections, the big fat black earth cable from the battery to the inner wing, or the one from the other wing to the top of the gearbox. Unless you're very unlucky.

It's rarely the cable itself, just the bits on the end, so, just remove the bolt that holds them on, scratch the connection clean (sandpaper or even an old, but sharp, knife).

The best test for a bad earth here is to carry a pair of jump leads with you (always a sensible thing to have). If the car fails to start, attach a single jump lead to the battery negative (it must be the negative, marked with the minus sign) and to a solid, metalic part of the engine or gearbox at the other. Try again. If the car starts, you can be sure you have a bad earth.

Click to expand...

Ok sounds easy enough to check and clean them. I do indeed carry jump leads with me but didn't know I could do that so thanks for the heads up.

Thanks again guys for helping me out

Just to let you guys know for future reference it was the starter motor that was at fault in this situation.

I took it to a garage 2 days ago (because it wouldn't start by itself at all) and the loud bang that I heard when I started the car was in fact part of the starter motor breaking off. Every time I started it up after that I would hear a similar bang noise. The guy showed me the big chunk that had broken off.

So if you hear a bang each time you start your car get it checked so it doesn't end up like mine did!

He said due to this happening, the teeth on the flywheel have been slightly worn which may affect things in the future but at the moment it will be ok. Does anybody know how it will affect the engine in the long run and do you recommend getting it looked at and fixed asap?

Also is it true that a new flywheel costs ~£270? (1.2 8V)

Thanks

Ash

270 squid is probably for original fiat flywheel
scrapyard flywheel = 10 squid

I'd get a 2nd hand one
mk2 punto's dont warp flywheels, and there pretty much universal

Luckily the punto doesn't use a timed flywheel either So no issues there

It does mean - gearbox out and clutch off
SO if the clutch hasn't been done in a while / you've got no history / done say like 60k on it since it was last done, i'd seriously consider getting that done as well my friend

As it'd be no harder to change it over vs fitting the original back on again

It'd cost more in parts, but hardly nowt in labour

Ziggy