Lo all. It's bin a while but I have been busy rediscovering motorcycles! But now I have another problem with the Cinq so I'm crawling back on the blag for info again!

Occasionally (and I think it happens more often when the weather is cold but this might be my imagination) my Cinq refuses to start after being stood over night, or for a prolonged period. And when I say refuses to start I mean I get nothing, not a sausage, the engine turns over but doesn't even attempt to fire.

The immobiliser has definitely recognised the key, as the light goes out. It does it whether the injection warning light on the dash has gone out or not. Turning the ignition off and on and waiting to hear the sound of the fuel pump from the back of the car used to do the trick but this morning it didn't. I can always bump start it (luckily I live on a hill) so it can't be anything too terminal.

Now a while back I used to get a problem with the injection warning light coming on while driving, I was about to replace the lambda sensor to try and sort it when it stopped happening. I don't know if this is relevant but I thought I'd mention it.

The only modification on the car is a GSR induction kit.

Any suggestions gratefully recieved, 'cos I'll try anything before paying main agent charges for them to diag the ECU and tell me they can't find anything wrong!

Slow in... fast out!

disconnect the battery for 30 mins and reconnect it, chances are the ecu has popped a fault code in the memory and might be running lean on fuel mixture. Disconnecting the battery should hopefully clear the fault code and return it to normal running.

If that does'nt work there's probably something amiss somewhere and best get the ECU read by a fiat dealer to pinpoint the fault



There's a certain satisfaction you get from driving over a Sleeping Policeman

Tried that. No dice. Guess I'll have to try Fiat.



Slow in... fast out!

Just thought i'd report back. I had an independant fuel injection/tuning guy have a look at my Cinq yesterday. Did a full diagnostic check and everything is running tickety boo. All sensors okay, fuel pump etc. It appears that even though the little key warning light goes off on the dash to indicate that the key is recognized, the ECU isn't actually recognizing it. The diagnostic box kept coming up with a "Key not recognized" error every time. Tried the red key and (touch wood) haven't had any further problems.

So there you have it: don't believe everything you read on the dash. And always keep a note of where your red key is.

Slow in... fast out!

so after starting with the red key it now runs fine off the blue?

Sie

Black 96P Cinq Sporting
OMP Strut Brace, GSR F1i Induction, Pioneer ICE

So far...

The fuel injection guy said he had heard of such things before. He is not especially enamoured of Fiat/Alfa electronics if you know what I mean.

Slow in... fast out!

I have exactly the same problem with my sporting. Although by persisting I got it to fire but then it cut out. after about 50 times and several (runs for a few second and then cuts out) (good battery) It started and got me home.

The clicking sound seems to come from the relay type unit next to the ECU (possibly the immobiliser). I thought I must have a loose connection and disconected and reconnected the ECU and the relay type unit it started OK, but after an hour or so in the cold the same clicking returned and starting difficulties.

Just tried with the red key and it seems to be fine. but will let you know if its OK in the morning.

My Fto Isn't Asmuch Trouble

Nope, still got the starting problem, seems much worse in the cold than on a normal day. Replacing coils tomorrow. Hope it sorts it out.



My Fto Isn't Asmuch Trouble

Latest breaking news on this topic (for those who are interested). The starting problem has resurfaced and although it can sometimes be circumvented by the red key trick, sometimes it keeps doing it. I have now taken the second bit of advice the fuel injection guy gave me: replace the main relay unit. It's the little white plastic box on the right of the ECU housing for those that don't know.

I kept the new one up my sleeve until the car played up and then swapped it in while it was misbehaving. Hey presto, started first pull. It remains to be seen if this is a permanent fix.

Stay tuned (if you can be bothered) for further developments.

Chowder Out.

Slow in... fast out!

Hi, V. Interested in the outcome. Mine going in on Thursday for diagnostic check. V. similar problem to yours. but now will not start at all. I will post the result whn I get it.



My Fto Isn't Asmuch Trouble

[?][?][?]

Hi, my cinq is having similar problems. Once I put the key into the ignition it doesn't start first time but usually fires up second or third time. However the engine sounds weak and when coming to pull away from traffic lights it seems as if the engine is going to die and stall. Would this be similar to other peoples problems...does any one know what can be done? Thanks

Hi andies,

I would say your best bet in the first instance is to get a diagnostic run done. This will enable you to make sure all the relevant sensors and pumps are working. If the engine isn't running right once it's started I would imagine that there is a sensor out somewhere in the system which is preventing the ECU adjusting the mixture properly. Your local mobile tuning firm should have the necessary kit, and if they let you look over their shoulder while doing it it should be quite an educational exeperience. It was for me!

Chowder Out

Hi clam
I've just been reading somewhere that it has something to do with fuel injection as the warning light appears on my car just after the engine has started, when slowing down at lights and pulling away and when i'm above 30. Is this the case? How much is this likely to cost and would I need to go to a Fiat garage or would this problem be known by most mechanics?
Also I've heard that it could be something to do with the alternator or is this misguided?Any help would be grateful!

Andies

The alternator could cause a problem if the output was wildly innacurate. Its easy to check with a meter to make sure you have about 12V from the battery without the engine running, to 13.8V when engine running. The alternator would have to be producing over 16V for there to be a significant prob. As Clam Chowder indicates, it will be a sensor playing up somewhere.The theory is that the Fiat dealership should find the problem immediately, so although they are more expensive per hour, the shorter number of hours plus the right diagnosis first time could be cheaper than an independant mechanic guessing whats wrong and fitting loads of different parts to try and find the problem.

Cheers

D

Grumpy old git going fast downhill rather than downhill fast!!

So what is recommended should I take the Cinq to an auto tuner; will that solve the problem because I haven't got a clue!
Thanks

Anyone with the right electronic gizmo can do a diagnostic run. It's a little electronic box whichs plugs into the ECU. Anyone who does engine tuning these days will have one of these as most modern cars use electronic fuel injection. This will allow the ECU to self-test various components, injectors, pump, sensors etc without you having to take things off and swap them around.

When I investigated prices I found that a fiat dealer would charge £60 for the diag and the local auto tuner would charge £55. The nice thing with the local guy is that a) he comes to your house and b) you get to look over his shoulder while he's doing it rather than just taking his findings on trust which is what you'd have to do with a dealer (few if any will let you wander around the workshop while they are working for "health and safety reasons").

So in short, my advice is check the yellow pages for auto tuners who come out to you home address. Phone one up and check he has the right kit for a Cinq and see that he sound like a nice sort of bloke, and then book him. At the very least this will allow you to cross lots of things OFF your list of possible causes.

Chowder out.