my fiat no longer starts. :bang:

it was taking a while to start--but strangely not on the first start of the day. when fresh, it would fire off nicely. but later, perhaps when i had stopped for an errand, i'd be running the starter for long periods before it would catch. eventually, it got to a place where it just doesn't catch no matter when.

have you had that happen? suggestions?

I have a similar issue with mine. It starts fine every time from cold (almost instantly) with a bit of choke. Once it's been running for a while, it fails to start without me blipping the accelerator as I turn the engine over. I'm wondering if the fuel line runs too close to the engine causing evaporation.

I had a similar issue with mine earlier this year, eventually wouldnt fire at all, traced the fault to the condenser even though I had recently fitted a new one during a service, refitted the old one & no problem since.

thanks! that's very helpful.

Hello and welcome!

This is unfortunately a very common problem with these cars, and equally unfortunately there are many, many causes!

Try a forum search on this subject and you will find several threads which cover this problem.

Can be very frustrating, and usually a long process of elimination!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi Cal;
Is the engine getting harder to start as the engine gets hot?---suffered such a problem on my 500 (with '126' 650cc engine fitted)---problem turned out to be a very small crack in the float in the carb. This had slowly allowed the float to fill with fuel, therefore the engine was slowly running richer and richer. I was lucky in the problem finally showed itself (engine stank of petrol) whilst I was at my mates garage (my turn for the cream buns) so he ran me the 3 miles home for me to collect my spare float. Fitment of the new (ish) float totally cured the problem---in fact the engine ran a darn site better as the overall mixture was now correct, obviously for the 1st time for some time.

Thanks Hobbler - just one of the many things that *could* cause the problem!

As I said unfortunately it's down to a process of elimination!

yes, it was a lot of trouble shooting. turned out not to be the condenser... but rather the compression. the valves were too tight.

thanks, everyone, for your replies!

Excellent!

As long as it has been resolved!