Technical A few Niggly questions....

[Ksmith284]

Hi all just a few questions...
1) my sunroof only opens halfway and sounds really rough when trying to open, is this something I can look at my self or is it a garage jobby?

2) second question, my 1.9 sporting has just been in for a service and as I left there was a glow plug flashing light on the dash and a message saying check glow plugs. As you can expect I was straight back in and the garage claim they cannot find anything wrong and it's an ecu fault.

Are they just trying to pull the wool over my eyes or has anyone else encountered this??

Thank you !!

 

[Rackham115]

Don't know what would cause either issue but with regards to the second, if the light wasn't on when you tokk it in I'd say you have a right to be suspicious. Sounds like they may have fiddled.

 

[james44422]

Could be the anti crushing system playing up. But I would expect it not to close rather than open if that was the case. Can you open it manually? Remove the plastic protective cap between the two sunroofs and use the screw wrench which should be in the boot to open. Before doing this check there are no obvious obstructions

 

[Ksmith284]

Ok so I've undone that and checked there no obvious obstructions, which there isn't. I can open it fully manually however I can't then close it with the motor so maybe that's the anti crushing ? But I don't understand why it won't open :/ any thoughts ?

 

[georgios1976]

There is a roof spoiler by the top of the windscreen. It's painted black and tilts up each time you open the roof.

1. Fully open the roof
2. Press the 'close roof' button and at the same time press down the above mentioned spoiler and keep it there until the roof closes.

If the roof does not fully close, grease both vessels (roof rails) and keep opening and closing the roof until grease does its job.

Also, you may need to reboot the roof mechanism. I'll have a word with a friend of mine who works at Fiat and text you the 'press button sequence' that reboots the sunroof as soon as possible.

If however you hear the roof mechanism groaning and moaning, you may need a replacement mechanism, I do hope however that by greasing the vessels, you'll have no further issues.

Hope I helped you.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

When was the roof last greased

 

[Ksmith284]

You wouldn't believe the amount of grease on everything and anything near the sunroof!! It's ok discovered the problem took the roof off and it's one of the linkages is completely mangled!!

Need a new linkage so calling fiat now to see if they have them. Cheers though guys!!

 

[Jordan92]

2) second question, my 1.9 sporting has just been in for a service and as I left there was a glow plug flashing light on the dash and a message saying check glow plugs. As you can expect I was straight back in and the garage claim they cannot find anything wrong and it's an ecu fault.

Are they just trying to pull the wool over my eyes or has anyone else encountered this??

Thank you !!

I had the exact same thing happen to my 1.9 gp. I also found the car didnt want to start 1st time and would sometimes take a couple attempts. turned out to be the glow plug relay switch which was not working as it should the mechanic I took mine to checked the plugs all ok swapped the relay switch 2 plugs not working so chucked a new set of glow plugs in while at it he was also kind enough to check the car the next day in the cold weather to make sure i would be ok and i'v had no issues since.

Jordan.

 

[rossul]

Sorry to hijack this thread but just quick question Jordan. Did your 1.9 start nearly all the time but just take a few cranks to turn it over ? Mine is like this. Had new battery, glow plugs, egr valve cleaned. Seems to be better but not great. Would lobe to know if this if it fixes problem.

 

[Jordan92]

Sorry to hijack this thread but just quick question Jordan. Did your 1.9 start nearly all the time but just take a few cranks to turn it over ? Mine is like this. Had new battery, glow plugs, egr valve cleaned. Seems to be better but not great. Would lobe to know if this if it fixes problem.

Yes exactly that mate. Key in let glow plugs warm up (light go off) try to start engine would turn over a fare few times then fire up with a puff of smoke (not black) from the exhaust and a message on the dash board screen saying "check glow plugs".
I would suggest getting a diagnostic reading thing done first as the relay switch costs about £90 + fitting came up to £270 or there abouts for me but mine was under warrenty at the garage I brought it from so I didnt have to pay

Jordan

 

[rossul]

Yes exactly that mate. Key in let glow plugs warm up (light go off) try to start engine would turn over a fare few times then fire up with a puff of smoke (not black) from the exhaust and a message on the dash board screen saying "check glow plugs".
I would suggest getting a diagnostic reading thing done first as the relay switch costs about £90 + fitting came up to £270 or there abouts for me but mine was under warrenty at the garage I brought it from so I didnt have to pay

Jordan

Sounds exactly like mine, I turn the radio and heaters off and after the element light goes off it has a faint buzzing noise once that goes I then try. Seems to do the job but its very annoying getting in car and turning everything off then waiting. I had the same problem with glow plug light to after they had been changed. Think I will have to get it a diagnostic reading, see exactly what is wrong. Mine isn't in warranty

 

[Jordan92]

Sounds exactly like mine, I turn the radio and heaters off and after the element light goes off it has a faint buzzing noise once that goes I then try. Seems to do the job but its very annoying getting in car and turning everything off then waiting. I had the same problem with glow plug light to after they had been changed. Think I will have to get it a diagnostic reading, see exactly what is wrong. Mine isn't in warranty

Yep I had to do same with mine its loads nicer not having to do all that to start a car lol. could be worse my gearbox just started whining and my warranty ran out in december :bang:
(sorry for off topicness)

Jordan.

 

[rossul]

Yeah I am surprised I never set the airbag off at times too! That sucks! My brakes are making a horrible crunching/grinding sound now! more money to the fiat!

 

[Ksmith284]

Ok here's an update turns out the part I need for my sunroof is the linkage retractor bit and the end of the runners. There's me thinking ohh thats not so bad shouldn't be too much, turns out fiat don't do them separately and you have to buy the runner set to get that bit £350+VAT!!!!!

After politely telling them no thank you.... I'm now stuck and wondered if anyone would know how to go about this part? Photo below.

Cheers

 

[martwho]

Have this on my 2009 Abarth. Only opens half way, thought it was normal?
Anyone have a photo of how far its supposed to open to?

 

[jameshobiecat]

Find a smashed punto with a run roof for the part? E-bay?

Sorry no photo but my sunroof retracts virtually all the way so the hole is clear.

 

[Ksmith284]

I'm going to have another fiddle with it in a bit, I can manually push it all the way open so ill post a pic up for you pal

 

[james44422]

Not the best photo but here is mine fully retracted...

EDIT: Better photo from inside

 

[jake06]

do you know where you can get the glow plug relays from and is it a easy enough job to do yourself? really becoming a pain to start when its cold and plugs been changed so thats the next port of call