(T) Sluggish and problems starting in cold 55sx

Hi,
For the past month or so my Punto has been considerably slower in accelerating all the time and had problems starting the car in the cold.

Before Xmas there were several mornings where i'd try to start the car and after it failed once the battery would be dead. Anyway I replaced the spark plugs, put a new exhaust on (it was blowing) and later fitted a new battery, funnily after the battery was fitted the car was back to normal for about a week.

Now it is as slow as it was before, it is even slow in accelerating in 3rd gear at about 25-30 mph, which is unusual. Also it is having problems starting in the cold, however the battery hasn't failed me yet, so it does start eventually.

Does anybody have any ideas what may be wrong with it? The only solution I can think of (and I no very little) is that when the battery was replaced the Computer was reset which solved the problem for a while. But I have no idea. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ta

Hi m8,
My punto is the same. Ever since the weather turned cold the car has always struggled to start first thing in the morning and when the car has been left standing for a good few hours. When it does start in cold it just coughs and splutters low down in revs then becomes normal again.

Same with sluggishness!!! The car pick up after a long drive but now its gone back to being unresponsive and really hesitates low down!! Just feels like something is holding it back from its full potential.

Could the dodgy starting be related to alternator as usually when it does start the revs drop the the bare min where car is barely ticking over and lights usually go dim!!

The car has new sparkies, ht leads ignition coils filter and battery!!
ne ideas would be appreciated

Maybe someone would be good enough to give us some clues, I was thinking of cleaning air and fuel filters next, then maybe changing coils / leads?
What does everyone think?

I'd suspect wrong spark plug gaps, a clogged fuel filter (or blockage elsewhere in the fuel system), or a dodgy fuel pump.
It's also a possibility that the alternator isn't charging at full efficiency - if that's the problem then you can replace the alternator's brushes and regulator.

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Fart In A Tin
<font color="orange">1994 Punto 55SX, metallic red, small, Italian and beautiful! </font id="orange">

Thanks Jonny, would the fuel filters or pump be the problem on starting up when cold too? It starts fine when the engine is warm. They are similar spark plugs and I was having the same problem before changing them.
So you dont reckon its anything to do with the injector coils or something?

My best guess is that, because of the reduced fuel flow if the filter or pump is knackered, the car's starting will be affected as it needs to inject more fuel when starting from cold (similar principle to a choke on a carb'd engine). The filter's a cheap and easy part to replace and is a service item anyway, so I'd try that first. If that fails, you could try putting Redex in your tank - that can clear up clogged injectors.

It could be a fault with the injector(s) or injection system, but diagnosing that is a job for the dreaded FIAT dealer. [xx(]

One more thing I'd try is removing your car's battery and charging it overnight with a mains charger - if that cures the problem then your car's charging system isn't fully charging the battery and needs attention.

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Fart In A Tin
<font color="orange">1994 Punto 55SX, metallic red, small, Italian and beautiful! </font id="orange">

Thanks for the help Johnny-boy much appreciated m8!!

My dad suggested the alternator may not be recharging properly so will get that checked.

With regards to the fuel filter i have actually got one but when me and my m8 tried fitting it we couldnt disconnect the fuel lines. I wasnt sure whether you need to break the plastic connectors and then just replace them. The new filter came with plastic connectors which seemed different to the original.

With regards to the fuel pump would i beable to tell if its playing up or do you need to take volt readings etc.!!!

Thanks again

If it was the altenator, hence the battery not charging properly, why do we get no problems when the engines warm? Surely the battery will be charged just the same as from the night before?

Have you had your battery warning light come on at all when the engine's running? Generally if an alternator is going dodgy you will get anything up to a week's driving (assuming you don't use the electrics extensively) beofre it packs up with a flat battery.

I'm strongly suspicious of your ignition coils, given your symptoms. The Marelli ones (there are two on Puntos) have never been much good and in fact are the most common mechanical cause of Punto breakdown. Try spraying them with wd40 and see if that makes it any better. Remember that ignition coils don't get any 'better' even if the engine is fully warmed up and they do cause sluggishness and misfiring if they're going faulty.

If you think that's it, get two new coils and get them both done at the same time, as often both are rubbish when you take them off. You can do this for about £50-100.

Spirito di Punto | M-reg 55SX, black, 5dr. Clear repeaters. I'm fitting remote locking this week!!

Cheers Pritch m8!!
Just a quick question, is it fine to spray wd40 then on coils when the leads have been removed and can you spray into the ht lead!! where in the engine do you need to avoid spraying!!

Also i mentioned before that the car is also really hesitant low down in rev range where when u accelerate the car feels like its slowing and sometimes will pulsate then accelerated fine higher in the rev range.!! I have changed leads plugs both ignition coils battery air filter etc. Someone mentioned the map sensor and its vacuum pipe! where is this and what do i need to look for?
Thanks

(maybe not 'just a quick q-sorry!!)

You have a dodgy automatic choke! It is very common problem with small fiat engines. Sometimes they are stuck 'on' which makes it very uneconomical and unstable revs or sometimes it is stuck 'off' whereby it has trouble starting but o when warm

Welcome to the forum
fyo puntos dont have a choke all fueling is controlled by sensors and the ECU.