Hi all, hopefully someone can help with an issue with my daughters Grande Punto 1.2 engine management light came on shortly after a cambelt change (1-2weeks Don't think the cambelt change is directly linked to the problem)

Car drives fine, but occasionally cuts out when coming to a stop, also apart from when the engine is cold it wont start unless the throttle pedal is pressed to give the engine some fuel. Well what actually happens is the engine catches but immediately dies unless given some gas.

Took the car to a local garage I know and trust to do a diagnostic test, result was 'unknown code' mechanic cleared the fault, light went out and has not came back on, but the car still wont start without gas and still occasionally cuts out.

Plan on giving the car a service, dont think it will cure the problem but wont do any harm.

So apart from taking it to a FIAT dealer, I'm stumped.

Hi,
probably the idle control,
or throttle position sensors/ circuit..,

shame you don't have number for the code that WAS there..,

Charlie

Unfortunately never got the chance to write it down before it was cleared.
Dont know it there diagnostic tool (A Snap-On device, looked like a big tablet) remembers the faults.
I could call tomorrow and ask.

Just another point while examining the car took the air filter off and there is grey gunge around the inlet on top of the throttle body, looks like aluminium paste.

Sounds just like my daughters GP which is also a 1.2. Had similar problems and found two problems with a fault that didn't kick a recognised code but did light up the engine management light. Our issues were:
1. Air leak on the intake. Both the small pipe from the airbox to the manifold and the rubber seal between the airbox and the throttle body were split and replaced.
2. The cambelt had been replaced (about 70k miles) and a phoenic wheel learn was needed (this sorted the engine management light) and bad running at motorway speeds) If I remember right you have to do the following:
i. With a warm engine.
ii. Rev up to 5,000rpm hold for 3 seconds.
iii. Let it drop down to idle.
iv. Rev to 5,000rpm hold for 3 seconds.
v. Drop to idle.
vi. Rev to 5,000rpm hold for 3 seconds.
vii. Drop to idle.
viii. Switch right off and wait a few moments.
Then you're done.

Hopefully one of the resident experts will drop by to confirm my memory of the sequence above.

Where did you purchase the rubber seal that connects the air box to the throttle body? In need of one

Spent some time searching and in the end could only get it from Fiat. 13 pounds for two (only available as a pair for some reason I don't understand) Can post up the part number in the morning

DGPunto said:

Spent some time searching and in the end could only get it from Fiat. 13 pounds for two (only available as a pair for some reason I don't understand) Can post up the part number in the morning

Click to expand...

Right I promised the part number. On the packet the number is 0071748095 and the seal is approx 6.5cm in diameter

Well engine management light came back on yesterday.

Don't think its a phonetic wheel learn problem as most threads on that say the light only flashes at higher revs.

So its back to the garage to see if I can get the unkown code for a Google search, failing that its off to the FIAT dealer

Gawd knows how much they charge for a diagnostic check.

Try the phoenix wheel learn, that's definitely what cured mine. The engine light came on and stayed on with mine just after the cam belt was done. Mine's been fine since.

Had the car back to the garage unknown code is 172H/370
Which is worrying as most codes start P0 ?!?!

Just pulled the car apart (again) looks like the cam timing is out by about 3 teeth
Just having a coffee break waiting for the rain to stop, before reassembling it.

QBTO said:

Just pulled the car apart (again) looks like the cam timing is out by about 3 teeth
Just having a coffee break waiting for the rain to stop, before reassembling it.

Click to expand...

I'm amazed a VVT engine would tolerate that..!!

or is the 1.2 still "old-tech"..??

the basic 8V as in panda + punto will run o.k. ( NOT well)
3 teeth out..I've done it

let us know how it goes,
Charlie

Its the single cam 8 valve engine. All back together now, started up ok let it heat up done the rev its tits off three time (phonetic wheel) turned it off and it restarted on the key, before you had to give it some gas to fire it up so it all seems ok.

Not test driven it yet, wifes cars blocking it in, and need to get the EML reset, I don't have the proper interface for ECUmultiscan , tried the cable I use on my MK2B Punto but I got a message saying it was the wrong interface.

MES set-up guide ( list on webpage )

should let you know which cables / interfaces for what,

charlie

Drove it over to my daughters tonight, drove like a dream. Then tried to drive it home and under hard acceleration it would die almost stalling, then suddenly come back to life.

Feels similar to my mk2B had a coil pack start to go only this is far more violent,split second total loss of power.

I can almost guarantee that it is your MAP sensor that has went. Same thing happened to me over the winter. Bought a cheap (£12.75) sensor, non-bosch obviously, it cured the poor cold starting problems and engine management light but would then stall coming up to junctions etc. Bought a genuine Bosch part. £95 or something along those lines... 5 second job to change, bish bash bosh ran like a dream ever since. I would also give the oil breather a change, might help with the mayo (oil and water mix you found) as well as a throttle body clean. You'll find the MAP sensor will be covered in it too. Hope this fixes things

Cheers I'll check that out.