Hi,

I was hoping someone might be able to help me.

I have a fiat cinquecento.

I had to change the head gasget. Done

Now I can't start the car. Every time i crank the engine, It keeps making a strange popping noise and cutting out.

Bought some new plugs, Injector is clean, Code light doesn't stay on. I'm now Completley stuck. I only bought the car a Month ago and so far has costed more than I would like to Admit.

NE ideas would really Help

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Is the cam timing ok, and have you refitted all the sensors ok - especially the multiplugs?

Pete.
1242cc cinq,turbo cinq,Cinqs&Seis Yahoo group,Clubcento

Yup.

All has been checked and should work. Petrol is flowing and sparks are well, sparking.

[!] I just don't know what it is.

It could be the ECU i guess?

Any ideas

how are you checking the timingas i would always check the things you've disturbed first,it sounds like the fireing is out,also watch as this could be putting unburnt fuel through the cat and thats very bad[xx(]

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs

Plug leads on the right plugs? Inlet manifold not loose? no air leaks?

If it's sparking I'd doubt the ecu was at fault.

Pete.
1242cc cinq,turbo cinq,Cinqs&Seis Yahoo group,Clubcento

Popping means the timing is out, either cam or ignition.

Cheers

D

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

Would that stop the engine from starting?

I didn't realise that the timing could even be changed on a cinquecento. Don't get me wrong, I really don't know but someone told me that the timing couldn't be altered. I hope your right because a new ecu was what he told be to get.

Or does the ECU controll the timing?

Two different parts to timimg.

If you have disturbed the cam timing when doing the head, the valves will open at the wrong time compared to what the crank is doing. The compression will be released before the spark happens and if the valve is still slightly open the spark can ignite the charge in the exhaust leading to a pop, or similar. You can have the timing marks lined up but be 180 degrees out as the cam turns at half the speed of the crank.

The ecu gets information about the timing of the ignition from the crank sensor. If the pulley has been disturbed the spark will happen in the wrong place too.

Cheers

D

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

Thanks,

Is that going to be hard to fix (and expensive). You've taken a whole load off of my mind though. Cheers.

Shouldn't be too hard or expensive to fix. You have fuel, you have a spark. I would take the plugs out, take the belt covers off and check the cam timing. Always give the engine a couple of full rotations to check that the marks come back to the right place. It might only be one tooth out. It is also a good practice as some engines don't have a hell of a lot of clearance for incorrect timing so turning over by hand finds the problem before the engine is started and valves are bent.

Cheers

D

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

i hope i got here in time!!! i had the same problem with my cinq n it was a simple case of flooding!!! i had a wee friend in the aa who helped, look in car manual n find fuse for petrol pump n remove it (bear with me cus all will b revealed!), now crank the car over for about a minute constantly, dont stop! this will force all excess petrol out, small price to pay on cat for starting car! pop fuse back in, turn key n away you go! i thank you!!!

"If it's broke, fix it, & if it breaks again.....SWEAR AT IT!"

Great advice,

I'll try it later and let you know how it went.

Cheers