T14086 said:

bolt to starter? its earthed through the mounting bolts, I dont see the point in this.

On these cars it's well known to normally be the battery due to;
1) its low capacity
2) ageing
3) cold

I'd chuck a 380A in there and hope there's no starter/flywheel teeth damage.

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i have a'56 plate GP and ive just now started my car and its just done a long grind. it almost sounds like rough metal on rough metal spinning around counterclockwise to eachother. if u get what i mean.

its done this forever. FIAT never found a fault

my battery is a VARTA 12V 40AH 300A (en2)

is this one of the weak ones?

im getting really bored of this horrible noise now and to be honest its embarrasing me when it happens in public and sh!ts everyone up and makes them stare at me.

im not willing to pay for a battery for it still to happen and then have to buy all manner of parts. FIAT have REALLY messed up with this fault and i dont think they give a ....

are you saying its done this for 4 years!

T14086 said:

are you saying its done this for 4 years!

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ive had it for 3 and its always done it.

both lookers and stonacre dealerships deinied any problems.

what do u think of that battery spec?

varta are a good make, maybe a 360 would be more suited however has the starter motor ever been changed?

T14086 said:

bolt to starter? its earthed through the mounting bolts, I dont see the point in this.

On these cars it's well known to normally be the battery due to;
1) its low capacity
2) ageing
3) cold

I'd chuck a 380A in there and hope there's no starter/flywheel teeth damage.

Click to expand...

you mean replace the battery for one for a vehicle with A/C. in my experience this works for a bit but its not a long term cure, where as the earth lead is a permanent fix.

T14086 said:

varta are a good make, maybe a 360 would be more suited however has the starter motor ever been changed?

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T14086, No its never been changed. the car is totally stock. nothing has been changed or modded.

are you able to help in anyway?

I have a '56 plate 1.4 and it's been doing this for the past 10 months. I'd like to get to the bottom of it also.

Strangely it has been fine in all of the snowy conditions we have had.

It does not happen all of the time but when it does, the noise sounds "sore" and it must be doing little good.

Has anyone had the battery changed to a bigger capacity and the problem has been cured?

Sorry I'm not offering anything in terms of cures.

personally, i cant afford to go out and buy a new battery just as an experiement and then it turns otu to be the starter motor.

i think its cheaper to buy a refurbed start motor and replace it before buying a new battery......

any thoughts T14086?

is it easy to replace a starter motor? what do you advise repalcing first (i cant afford to go out and by a battery if its not goign to fix it).

mine too is ok starting in the cold. there is no pattern to it or any reason i can see. very very very odd and SO ANNOYING.

a varta 390 battery is approx £60. a starter from breakers is £40

danielzieba said:

any thoughts T14086?

is it easy to replace a starter motor? what do you advise repalcing first (i cant afford to go out and by a battery if its not goign to fix it).

mine too is ok starting in the cold. there is no pattern to it or any reason i can see. very very very odd and SO ANNOYING.

a varta 390 battery is approx £60. a starter from breakers is £40

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What engine / model is it?

fiatTech199 said:

you mean replace the battery for one for a vehicle with A/C. in my experience this works for a bit but its not a long term cure, where as the earth lead is a permanent fix.

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I use one from bravo and never had a problem since, I have however changed starters and the fault remains. Remember some models were fitted with a starter relay and that has caused problems in the past hence doing away with it in later models. The fact you can induce the fault proves in most cases its the battery and can be proven as such by changing it.
IMO Fiat have always fitted under rated batteries to nearly all their models, stilo ring any bells!

danielzieba said:

T14086, No its never been changed. the car is totally stock. nothing has been changed or modded.

are you able to help in anyway?

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Fact it has been going on for so long means its possible starter and ring gear is damaged, afraid it needs to be 100% diagnosed by a decent garage using an amp clamp etc

well thats goign to cost me hundreds isnt it.

ive a 1.2 8v '56 plate.

im taking it to fiat next week for an MOT i will ask them to take a look.

danielzieba said:

well thats goign to cost me hundreds isnt it.

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not at all

T14086 said:

not at all

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why do you say it like that?

just been on the phone to lookers, stockport

a starter motor is £89 inc VAT

as soon as ai explained the fault the guy said its the starter motor.

I took the plunge and bought a new battery for my '56, 1.4 Grande Punto Active Sport. I got a 380 as suggested by T and this has worked in stopping the grinding noise.

I'm really happy as the battery is hardly a brand name and cost less than £50. The car starts sparkier also.

I have a 06 active sport punto 1.4 8v and had the same problem for the past year sometimes with the grinding noise sometimes starting without a problem and now something has eventually broke the car wont start but clicks when trying to start but nothing happens which led me to think it was the battery but wont jump start I then bumped it and it bumps fine which then turned to the starter but I removed it and took it to a shop that reconditions them and specifies in electricals on cars which he stripped down and said was fine I have the battery on charge just incase but have been told to take my car to him on thursday so hopefully will find out then .

R3GG4 said:

I have a 06 active sport punto 1.4 8v and had the same problem for the past year sometimes with the grinding noise sometimes starting without a problem and now something has eventually broke the car wont start but clicks when trying to start but nothing happens which led me to think it was the battery but wont jump start I then bumped it and it bumps fine which then turned to the starter but I removed it and took it to a shop that reconditions them and specifies in electricals on cars which he stripped down and said was fine I have the battery on charge just incase but have been told to take my car to him on thursday so hopefully will find out then .

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if it wont jump start remove the negative battery clamp from your car totally and ensure its not touching anything, put the neg clamp onto your earth post on the chassis rail (check the guides section for location of engine bay earths) and jump it from the the donor car will it start then? (ensure the clamps are very secure) if it does shut your car down and get a new battery its not unknown for a dead battery to go reverse polarity or get a dead cell or a dead short on it)

Hi all any updates on this very annoying problem. mine is a 06 plate active sport 1.4 8v. Mine also started ok in the snow but seems to do it more in damp conditions.

Anybody solved this problem yet

T14086 said:

could well be the battery (changed loads for this problem) as a starter relay was fittedand if voltage was slightly down it would cut out the starter often giving nothing or a grinding noise.

simply charge the battery (or go for long long drive) and try it again is easiest way to check or there is another way but thats my secret

ignition switch can also cause same symptons

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T - as always, you're the Man :worship:

I've been having this problem with my GP 1.2 8v 56 plate, on and off for about 18 months. I would say that I get the grinding sound when starting, maybe 1 in 150 times + worst in damp conditions (& always somewhere public & busy i.e. Morrisons Car Park, etc. etc.) :bang: :bang:

I'll try a new battery Varta 360/380 sounds good

Will keep you all posted