Hi guys,

I have a 2005 Fiat punto Mk2 1.2 active and I'm debating scrapping it. I've had the car for 8 years now, never had any issues at all until now, - it seems to have developed a major fault. Its only done 37000 miles as well which is hardly anything for a car that age.

As I was driving along one day in slow moving traffic the power steering light came on and all the power to the car suddenly went. It wouldn't turn back on at all, I had to get the police to push me off the road and called the RAC. About half an hour later when the RAC turned up it switched back on and worked perfectly. It was tested and came back with a fault on both coils but since it ran perfectly before and after I passed it off as intermittent. Then about a week later as I was stopped at a roundabout the same thing happened again. When the engine would switch back on I drove it to the nearest garage and they tested it and it came back with no fault codes, worked perfectly so they wouldn't do anything to it.

So then I took it to the nearest Fiat specialist to have it looked at properly. They said they thought the problem was that water had got into the ECU so they supposedly took it out and cleaned up the terminals and put it back in- said if it didn't work I would need a new ECU. It worked fine for about a week and then cut out again.

I bought a new ECU, new coil packs and had a mobile mechanic come and fit them. He tested it and again it came back with no fault codes and worked perfectly but a few days later it cut out again. This time the engine management light came on. I've tested it by driving it around the drive and sometimes it works fine, other times the engine management light comes on and it cuts out. There doesn't seem to be any pattern as to what causes it to cut out.

I just wondered if anyone had any idea what would be causing it to do this? I can't drive it to a garage in case it cuts out and I've now spent hundreds on trying to fix it and so far noone can even confirm what the problem is. I'm thinking of scrapping it unless there could be a cheap/easy solution, any help is appreciated (I'm also a bit of a novice with cars so in simple terms please )

Have they checked the basics such as battery terminal connections and engine earth strap?

You could buy an obd2 reader off ebay. Cost less than £15. Then read them yourself when the light comes on. Its likely to be stored anyway

A good shout there jon

But I'd go with buy leads and download m.e.s multi ecu scan..
A basic code reader might not delve into the cars problems that much..

Most 'code readers are only basic.

By a long, long way the most common cause of a random cut out will be the TDC sensor. But I'd investigate battery and earth terminals first.

When it cuts out, does everything electrical go dead? Etc.

We really need more information.

Old hammer, I'm new to fiat's must learn more about this m.e.s

My code reader is super basic. Have carsoft for other car.

Basic code readers are good for say basic codes
But they won't give you the ability to to look into the fault's/causes

M.e.s will
The leads are cheap ..and then you've got the option to work into other faults if
Need be..say airbags and elecy steering etc..

It works out as cheap as a code reader.

sweet thanks for that. I got my reader before my punto. Could really do with the more in-depth diagnostics as I'm sure there will be many other issues with it

Thanks for the tip

I would assume the battery terminal has been checked (although I could be wrong). I know they all tested the battery, not so sure about looking at the earth strap though - where is it located?

Not sure whether its worth buying a code reader. Part of the problem is it doesn't log any fault codes. I've had it tested by the RAC 3 times, 2 garages and the mobile guy and only once did it ever log a code (and that was the first time so not sure if it was just an old fault). If it was logging faults it would be much easier to figure out the problem.

As for more info on the electronics - generally a warning light comes up on the dash, the power to the engine cuts out but the radio still stays on and lights still work. If you try turning the power back on straight away though it won't work and the battery symbol comes up.

What I did was download m.e.s
Its free to download..

Install it to laptop or PC..

You can run it it in 'simulation' mode
So you can play about with it to see how it works before 'buying leads and using it on the car'

Try it and see...

Thanks, I'll give it a try where would I buy leads from and what kind of leads do I need?

dan1elle said:

Thanks, I'll give it a try where would I buy leads from and what kind of leads do I need?

Click to expand...

I'd look on website and see what interface works. I've just installed it so will borrow a mates lead. ebay will probably have one,


does it work with Bluetooth adaptor?


Jon

Full kit

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNT...iagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item25947f8d1e


There is cheaper leads..but as with all things made in china ..its a gamble.

oldhammer said:

Full kit

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNTO-DIAGNOSTIC-LEAD-CABLE-FIATECUSCAN-KKL-VAG-UK-AIRBAG-PAS-ENGINE-/161405177118?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item25947f8d1e


There is cheaper leads..but as with all things made in china ..its a gamble.

Click to expand...

That's brilliant, got a few bits to do first but will order them soon, hopefully will aid in solving my issues. the paid version is a bargain too


This forum is great

I recentley had a similar problem with my 04 1.2 Active. Intermittently cutting out and then refusing to start. Didn't log any fault codes although the engine lite came on.
Turned out to be the fuel pump. Must have got something stuck internally. When it won't start make sure you can hear the fuel pump come on when you turn on the ignition.
Also worth checking the throttle body is clean. Had similar problems on a pug in the past. That was caused by gunk in the throttle body a quick clean out with some thinners on a rag and it was fine.

I've got to clean a Hondas egr valve tomorrow so will take my TB off and do that also. I'm thinking of checking everything again just for good measure. Give me something to do. Probably missed the obvious

Well, you've still not told us the obvious.

When it cuts out does everything die? (Lights, radio, etc.)

When it cuts out, do you have a spark at the spark plug (any one will do) when the engine is cranked? When it conks out, are the plugs wet or dry after cranking?