(T) Punto Diesel 1.9 Starting Problem

Hello and help!!!

I have a Punto 1.9 Diesel that has trouble starting. The red engine warning light comes on and the only way to get the engine to start is to press the throttle to the floor. The engine revs hard and at this point the red engine light is off. When I release the throttle the engine revs reduce and the red engine light comes on and eventually the engine stops. During the engine revs reducing, it doesn't matter if I press the throttle again, it makes no difference to the revs, they still reduce until the engine stops. Does anyone have any ideas to what causing this problem?

Punto or Grande Punto?

Hello

Its a standard Punto Diesel 1.9 2001 model. Any ideas on whats causing the starting problem?

Hello

Its a standard Punto Diesel 1.9 2001 model. Any ideas on whats causing the starting problem?

so it starts with your foot on the throttle then stalls fairy quickly

can you get it to start without your foot on the throttle

if so then the cause is more than likelly the modified flow throttle has come lose and is blocking the air off

Without using the throttle, it starts and stalls even quicker than if I keep my foot on the throttle. Where abouts is the modified flow throttle?

it's in the intake manifold mounted on top on your model iirc if not then it will be somewhere in the intake system just follow the pipes from he manifold untill you come to an externally mounted vacuum pot with a pipe coming from it

it is controlled by a vacuum pot and an electronic solenoid controlling the vacuum to it you need to take it out or disassemble so you can see it if you find that it is lose and can close and open at it's own will or it is stuck shut then this is your problem

the valve is not a perfect fit so it allows air into the intake manifold just enough to start but not to run

i take it you have to leave it for a small wile before it will attempt to start again ie it wont strait after it stalls

I checked the Modified Flow Valve (Air Flow Meter as some people call it) and the pin was broke. I fixed this and the unit is working OK but my Punto still won't start.

At least you pointed to one fault but it appears that this is not the only fault stopping my Punto from starting.

Any ideas on what stopping my punto from starting? What should I check next?

erm first off check your work make sure you put everything back right

it's by no means an air flow meter it's an air shut off flap in the inlet but as ou found they have a habit of becoming detached from the little ball and socket it will probably or probably already has become detached again so worth checking this again also

they normally need replacing

I checked the air shut off flap and it and its OK.

Any idea whats stopping my Punto from starting?

To go over what the problem is again....When I try to start my Punto, the engine turns OK but won't start. The red engine light stays on when turing the car. The only way to start it is to press the throttle to the floor which sometimes gets it to start but as soon as it starts, the throttle has no affect on the revs and the revs eventually (very quickly) slow down to the point the engine stops. Before, this problem, I have been having battery draining problems where I need to swap the battery over with a spare every other day because the battery would drain. Not sure if this is connected to the starting problem but I thought you should know this as well.

Let me know what you suggest might be causing the starting problem. Thanks.

well the engine light will stay illuminated until the engine is started and idling so untill you can get it to run correctly for a few seconds you cant tell weather it's on for any specific reason althou it currently more than likely is

with the shut off flap problems you have had even thou you have now fixed it it may not be functioning as it should meaning the engine ecu will not allow start up i believe these engines like to use that flap on start up to control emissions and starting characteristic so if it is fully open it may not be happy

i would say it's time to let fiat have a look at it but tell them what you have found already they will more than likely have seen it before as i have

but before that you need to manually apply a vacuum to the pipe controlling the flap to make sure it opens and closes properly you lungs wil not be strong enough so you'll need a hand vacuum pump

as i say these flaps when they go wrong will need replacing as the ball will pop off again and they wont function properly due to the wear on the ball and socket