General Cold starting issue!!!!!

[marino]

I was unable to start my car from cold today, it turned over but would not start so i called out the recovery, the mechanic sprayed some easy start in the airbox and it started and run as normal, he said this is common with punto's and a sprayof easy start has got them started, he said it may be to do with the cold start sensor or something in this area, what could be causing it not to start when cold but starts every time when it is hot ,everything must be working ok as it runs as normal once it starts, my car is a seicento shuie also i had the diognostics check a while ago and no faults came up, should i buy some easy start ready for when it happens again or is there something that is at fault many thanks.

 

[rallycinq]

Easy start will knacker your engine if used too often. It washes the oil off the bores.

Have a proper diagnostic done on the car. The operator will be able to check all the temp sensors to find the one thats playing up.

Cheers

SPD

 

[marino]

Easy start will knacker your engine if used too often. It washes the oil off the bores.

Have a proper diagnostic done on the car. The operator will be able to check all the temp sensors to find the one thats playing up.

Cheers

SPD

Thanks for the info so far , had diogs check done at my local garage, no faults or problems found ,so they could not help me any further and suggested taking it to fiat's so i have arranged for fiat's to do there diogs check etc for next wednesday, mind u they will charge 42.00+ vat, thats before they do any other work, thats if they find anything wrong of course, whereas my local garage charged me zero to do the diogs check, so i am expecting a big bill from fiat's, thanks again...

 

[rallycinq]

You'd do better to contact a local autospark with an examiner clone.

Cheers

SPD

 

[marino]

You'd do better to contact a local autospark with an examiner clone.

Cheers

SPD

COLDSTART UPDATE. Have now had complete system test at my local fiat garage and was told it was 1 of 2 things, RPM sensor or ECU, but he said to replace the RPM sensor as a new ECU is around 200 pounds which i agreed, do u know if u can test if an ECU is faulty, although all the tests that were done today did not show any faults at all so he said 1 of these are the likely cause, so back it goes on monday to replace the sensor and hopefully no more starting problems although it's only not started 3 times in 14 months and the ECU was replaced about a year ago , many thanks so far...

 

[Pep0]

I agree with (purple) David above the coldstart will damage the engine it can Diesel and damage the head gasket.

The TDC sensor can be intermittent and will start working after the engine starts to run from the cold start, cause the engine is Dieseling without a spark, and the vibration will allow an intermittent electrical contact to be remade.

If the engine keeps on starting the ECU is ok they are more reliable than more normal ECUs, so you would have to be really unlucky...

You can carry a can of cold start but I'd be real reluctant to use it... unless you like replacing head gaskets.

Noel

 

[marino]

I agree with (purple) David above the coldstart will damage the engine it can Diesel and damage the head gasket.

The TDC sensor can be intermittent and will start working after the engine starts to run from the cold start, cause the engine is Dieseling without a spark, and the vibration will allow an intermittent electrical contact to be remade.

If the engine keeps on starting the ECU is ok they are more reliable than more normal ECUs, so you would have to be really unlucky...

You can carry a can of cold start but I'd be real reluctant to use it... unless you like replacing head gaskets.

Noel

Thanks for the info and No i don't make a habit of using the easystart as my car has only failed to start 3 times in the 14 months i have had it and on these occations were cold starts only, I have never had starting problems after engine has been started from cold, when i go back to the garage to have the sensor fitted i will ask if there is a test that can rule out an ECU problem, hopefully the new sensor will cure the random coldstart problem , many thanks so far..

 

[marino]

Thanks for the info and No i don't make a habit of using the easystart as my car has only failed to start 3 times in the 14 months i have had it and on these occations were cold starts only, I have never had starting problems after engine has been started from cold, when i go back to the garage to have the sensor fitted i will ask if there is a test that can rule out an ECU problem, hopefully the new sensor will cure the random coldstart problem , many thanks so far..

Update..... Had RPM Sensor fitted today and car seems better all round, more smoother and responsive and for the 1st time since i have had the car the tickover is smooth too, All that remains now is the random cold start to be cured, I thought the car was running well before but it's great now and mabe the MPG is better too, thanks for your help to diognose the problem...

 

[rallycinq]

sounds like a result

Cheers

SPD

 

[Pep0]

Hi

The random cold start is characteristic of a failing TDC sensor.

They can need vibration (to start) or fail in vibration, e.g. at 2500 & 5000 RPM, or at tick over or all three at once. I'm thinking about carrying a spare.

About 50 mpg during long run M or A class roads, the 35l tanl is a limitation, if you do big trips.

Noel