I have a 2007 1.4 Daulogic Grande Punto which has started having problems with starting. I go to turn the key and I get a loud "grinding" type noise and no start up. It seems to be an intermittent problem, as it works sometimes and not others. Sometimes you have to sit and wait and keep trying until it goes again.

Any advice, before I ask Fiat to check it out???

Bodatron

could be the starter motor - if it is it will get worse and eventually stop all together.

Go see the dealer and describe the fault to them. If you can replicate it even better.

I had the same starting problem. Car had been taking a few tries to start then one day after coming home from work (must've left the car for about an hour while getting changed) I turned the key to hear a massive grinding sound. Turned it off then tried a couple more times still grinding. Decided to push through the noise and it started with a warning that the engine temp was too high and to switch off the engine. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the starter motor and carried out a software update. Only thing was a few weeks later I also ended up back for a new alternator and temp sensor as well. Oh and its back in today again.

Mine does similar, has been clunking and banging into life every morning for about a year now. I have the 1.2 8v, which is basically identical to the 1.4 8v isnt it?

Only once has it ever grinded though. Must be a starter motor issue.

The knocking noise is sposidly the lower engine mount arm (if you look into the engine bay underneath the brake servo, you will see the mount going underneath the bottom of the bulkhead.

I kinda wobbled the engine to the left abit, and the knocking noise went. LOL.

It's booked into the dealers tomorrow - lets see what they say.

I also have a warning come up about the dualogic.........

Bodatron

Bodatron said:

I also have a warning come up about the dualogic.........

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IIRC you had some issues with this a while ago - how's that going?

Bodatron said:

It's booked into the dealers tomorrow - lets see what they say.

I also have a warning come up about the dualogic.........

Bodatron

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Well the starter moter came out, was re-lubricated and put back in..... lets see if that sorts it...

Bodatron

Bodatron said:

Well the starter moter came out, was re-lubricated and put back in..... lets see if that sorts it...

Bodatron

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fingers crossed

have you tryed the earth to and from the starter motor?? i was told that they suffer from earth problems.

utnut said:

have you tryed the earth to and from the starter motor??

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aint one (earthed out through starter body/engine)

I have the same problem with my Punto. Have had new battery, starter earths looked at etc. What is your running like now after the starter was looked at? Am desperate to get to the bottom of this!! Seems reasonably common.

I'm having the same problem. This first started about a year ago and is very intermittent. Now it's becoming a real concern as earlier when I was leaving from work, I had to try 4 or 5 times before it eventually started.

I was just about to ring the breakdown people as it didn't look good. My 3rd year warranty has expired by 5 days but I did report this to them a few months ago.

Also this car was an ex demonstrator and was told by the dealer at the time that I would still get 3 years from the dat eI bought it. If this is the case then my warranty should expire in April and not 31st January I got a little warranty card through from FIAT that says this.

How can my warranty expire before I bought the car and even so the warranty is taken from 31st Jan 2006 and the car wasn't offically released until late February?

Ah well will have some fun arguing with the dealer

I have a 1.2 57 reg that had a new starter 6 months ago, same problem
has returned car now requires another starter and a ring gear for the
flywheel

mine does it when its a cold morning, good job I live in sunny england.
shes still under warrenty but the dealer quoted me 40ish quid to look at it but if it is covered by the 3y warrenty i'd get my money back. But since its intermitent/rare problem i thought id keep my £40 in my pocket..

Anyone get this sorted, mines been happening for nearly 2 years. First time i took it back they replaced the starter motor and flywheel, then they said the battery needed charging, then it needs a new battery but i cant see how this is going to solve it as some times it starts first time even in cold mornings and other times it does that crunching/grinding, i am taking it back this week what will be the 4th time with the same problem wish ii would have saved my money now thinking about it

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

T14086 said:

there is another way but thats my secret

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Does it involve a Big hammer?


Sure fire way i used to start my FLT when it did this Till i went on holiday and someone decided they had seen my use the hammer and decided to beat the living carp out of the alternator and knackered it (his excuse was it looked like a motor )

Hi all, any more ideas about this problem before l try a new battery.

replace the earth lead from the gearbox to the battery and charge your battery, if the fault still occurs get an earth lead made up and attach it to the back starter bolt in my experience this works unless your starter and flywheel have had it.

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.