AJKelly said:

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

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Update as promised.

Took T's advice, ordered a new battery Varta 390 £57.50 from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Thompsons-LTD?_trksid=p4340.l2563. Ordered Friday 26th Feb, arrived 10am Monday 28th Feb - I promptly dropped it into my GP.

All I can say is what a difference It's like having a new car :worship:

It looks very promising - starts first time at the slightest turn of the key, better than anytime in the past - no screeching, stuttering, flashing mileage indicator on the dash etc. etc.

T14086 (Forum Moderator) :worship: Thanks once again

Do you think this would help with the Diesels? I am fed up of waiting for every light to disappear before I can start it. Really it should only be the glowplug light and now it is getting warmer surely even that should not be too much of an issue.

wlk said:

Do you think this would help with the Diesels? I am fed up of waiting for every light to disappear before I can start it. Really it should only be the glowplug light and now it is getting warmer surely even that should not be too much of an issue.

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I would go for it mate

I changed the battery & it has worked a treat (money well spent)

Don't see why it would be any different on a diesel

wlk said:

Do you think this would help with the Diesels? I am fed up of waiting for every light to disappear before I can start it. Really it should only be the glowplug light and now it is getting warmer surely even that should not be too much of an issue.

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T14086 said:

not at all

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T - Thank you mate

It was causing a stressful situation -well & truly sorted

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Cheers Mate

AJKelly said:

T - Thank you mate

It was causing a stressful situation -well & truly sorted

:worship:

:worship:

:worship:

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:worship:

Cheers Mate

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Still going strong - well & truly sorted

Before reading this thread had a new starter fitted to my 07 reg GP 1.2 but intermittent screeching of starter dog not engaging when starting remained. Since reading thread have installed new Bosch 42Ah 390 battery but still have the screeching happening from time to time. So, it is not the starter or the battery. Where to go now is the issue. Problem appears completely random but never when starting from cold, always when the car has run for a time. Anyone have any ideas? Oh by the way have also removed the whole earth cable and cleaned all the contacts.

Have got exactly the same problem with my 2004 Fiat Punto. Got a diagnostic done today at an In and Out centre. They say it is not the battery or the starter motor & that if it were the latter the problem would occur every single time the car is started. Evidently the starter motor engages with the crankshaft by way of 6 pins (I think its 6) springing into a ring gear that is attached to the end of the crankshaft. The problem you describe, which is mine also, occurs when teeth on the ring gear are broken. If the pins are lined up with a broken bit they will screech & if you turn the engine over two or three times they will eventually reach a bit of ring gear that is not damaged and spin the crankshaft & start the car. Sometimes they will be lined up with an undamaged bit of ring gear at the outset - in this instance the car starts straight away. I am not technically minded & do not know how to cure this yet but the above diagnosis from In and Out is a plausible one. Doing further investigation.

Starter and/or flywheel problems will occur if the fault isn't sorted with a battery,as previously mentioned.

enfieldpunto have you looked at the alternator & belt?

Guys thanks for your feedback. However, my investigations have shown that the intermittent screeching/grating is caused by the starter pinion not engaging in the starter ring on the flywheel before the starter motor begins to turn. This is because the engagement relay which pushes the pinion into the flywheel is not fully doing so. When this happens, turning the ignition key back and forth a number of times sometimes cures the problem. Have tested starting bypassing the ignition switch, ie hot wiring, but problem remains. Have also switched relays in the main junction unit. Only thing not checked are body computer connections. Not sure how alternator will affect starting as have fitted brand new battery. Do Fiat have a technical dept you can contact?

From what i gave read on here going from memory so i might be wrong fiat did away with the relay on later models

hi same problems got new battery/new starter /new flywheel/
new ig switch still does it was waiting to go back in when car
died altogher they said that fault was a earth wire from the battery its now been 3 weeks 4 days no more starting screetches
seems 2 have fixed the problem but 2 manny puntos have this problem

enfieldpunto said:

Do Fiat have a technical dept you can contact?

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Called a dealership

Mine was maing a noise when I got back of holiday my dad oiled and greased the started motor, took the car on a long run to work the grease in and has been fine ever since!!
Try that it might help.

car is booked into local dealership to see if they can resolve the starting problem. will update with outcome.

Dealership said flywheel teeth damaged so needed replacing but no suggestion of what caused it and never heard of problem before. Had that replaced at independent garage who showed old flywheel with badly chewed teeth. New flywheel and starter but after 2 weeks screeching returned once. Since then it has done it 2 or 3 times. Independent garage checked and said looks like starter pinion not fully engaging in flywheel starter ring. They have no suggestions of cause.
Has anyone managed to resolve this issue??

Somebody get to the bottom of this problem please, its driving me nuts

check the battery? check earth strap for high resistance and live supply to starter


have also read in the past about lubricating the shaft of the starter

I had a similar problem with my Grande punto with starting problems. I turned the key but it were making a clicking noise. I tout it was the starter motor. So took old one off and serviced it with loads of Wd40 and greased it up. But the car still didn't start. So I got it checked up and tested and the starter motor seemed to be turning well.
Last problem which I realised at the end was the battery was old and had insufficient power to turn the starter which made the clicks. This meant the starter didn't have enough power to turn. So I bought a much bigger battery and more power rating. The battery was big so I took out the plastic fitment out on the battery tray and then it fitted in. It now starts without a problem. Great. But make sure when fitting the starter in that the wiring is right. 3 wires. One from.battery second from engine and another to the alternator. But make sure the wire from engine is in contact with the plastic piece on the starter, because I got it wrong few and the car didn't start.
So anyone out there replacing the starter motor ensure your wiring is right.

hi I have a fiat punto grande 1.2 2006. I have been having problems with a dead punto and is not getting better. It first started with my lights randomly coming on without me even being anywhere near. Then my heaters stopped working, followed by my drivers window controls not working then the horn started to constantly sound. It was that bad it had to be disconnected. But now my ecu has been reset, battery check etc and car still won't start. Anybody have.any idea what it.could be. Thanks

Hi,

I've had my car for around 6 months now and has always made the grinding noise and like others have said it is so embarassing in public!

I check my oil level every month and have noticed that it has been drinking it like hell. 2ltr top up of oil to get it half way up the dipstick is unreal. However, after topping my oil up and a full tank it starts fine with no grinding? i dont know if its related but i need both these issues resolved as it's really p***ng me off! :bang:

Josh.