General Struggle to start when cold

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General Struggle to start when cold

wik07

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Having real trouble starting my daughters punto from cold,have had it the garage twice in the last month when they replaced the temp coolant sensor on 2 occasions when the fault code showed that was problem but still having same issue,it seems that once I manage to get it started it runs fine and starts ok,but once engine cools down it will struggle to start once more. If I apply some gas whilst trying to start it really don't like that and lose revs and cuts out.
Cannot fathom out what the problem is have replaced plugs,all wiring checked and ok,has any body got any ideas or experience in this problem..
Please help.
 
Hi [who's talking, please present yourself before asking help, First_Name],

would be nice to know what engine without needing to go to the end of your message to discover that you replaced the plugs, BTW, sparks or glow ?? So we still don't know ...

Beside that, if coolant had been replaced (why twice ?) I would suspect the air temp sensor (either in MAF or MAP depending on what engine) ... Any engine code from the garage ??

Regards, Bernie

And as usual for beginners: if someone here helped You fix or understand your issue, hit the thanks icon (little smiley down-right), it's free and makes us happy ;-)
 
I have the same problem... 1.2 56reg. I have changed MAP sensor and temp coolant sensor... I have no clue what is going on...
 
Sorry thanks for response It's Andy
Fiat Grande Punto Active 1.2 06 reg
They replaced Coolant temp sensor again today as same fault code P0115 came up after Engine Management light came on.

They thought maybe a faulty one but think still gonna have same problem in morning.

They also replaced sparkplugs and leads.
 
Yeah pretty similar, can eventually start after about 10 attempts but if you try and put a bit of throttle it just don't like it

Engine turns over but just seems to lose revs and cuts out.

Once started it will be fine for a while but soon as cooled down is a nightmare to start once more.

Bought car for daughters first car after passing test in January but just problem after problem for her at moment resulting in this frustrating one.

Did have a coolant leak last month but that seems ok at moment,don't know if that would be linked to problem.:bang:
 
Yeah, when i put a bit throttle she is just dying. I had coolant leak as well. Somewhere next to thermostat... It might be linked. Couple the same issues and no solution.
 
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I could not locate where leak came from,but may be linked.

Just so frustrating trying to solve the problem.

Will keep fingers crossed for morning,but may have to investigate further that coolant temp sensor.
 
Hi Andy,

the water temperature sensor is located on the thermostat housing, a leak there COULD enter the connector and mis-inform the ECU about a failure (P0115 is for coolant T° sensor).
The engine management relies on this sensor to set up the correct mixture, but also on the air temperature sensor which is integrated in the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure). Any chance that you could get live data from your engine (FES / MES) ? What shows your dash temp indicator BTW ?
Finally, a bad ignition or distribution timing may cause the engine to slow down when opening the throttle (trying to go reverse...) during startup. This need to be Pro checked !

Regards, Bernie
 
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thanks Bernie.

Had same occur this morning so booked to go back in to garage this morning,they are going to check it back to ECU.
Ready to just cut loses if they cant get to bottom of it as cant afford to chuck any more money at it,as daughter is losing confidence in the car itself

The Temp gauge inside car reads halfway up when fully running.

Havnt got any live data from engine sorry!

Once its started it can run most of day with no problems at all unless its left for maybe 4/5 hrs,The garage said it had started each morning ok but they had It parked inside their workshop over night where at home its parked on driveway.
 
Hi [stil_no_signed],

You need to google for modified OBD, or FES/MES ready (they usually get the same patern sticker, but with greenish colors...). The nicer stuff is the multiplexed HW from MES... (but ££££/€€€€)

BTW, all of them are ok (unless DOA) to read Engine codes, communication problem occurs when trying to communicate with Body, Airbag and Gearbox CU's, basically when the Yellow adapter is required. This is NOT due to the adapter but to the different CAN levels used by Fiat on pins 1&9

Regards, Bernie
 
update on progress of Punto..
Garage phoned sarvo and said its most definitely the ECU sending and error and that Is the problem.
They are sending off to confirm this and then a fix of it I suppose costing around £200 they quoted..

Car back in a week or so!
Hopefully all sorted.
 
Hello guys!
wik07 if you will have more information about this problem could you let us know? £200... That is ridiculous :(

Kind Regards
Omen
 
200? just for the confirmation it is the ECU i suppose.

Because the ECU should really cost more that that even a second hand one (as it comes with other stuff)
 
Sorry,been qouted £60 to send off ECU to be checked and then £200 to get it sorted,now I presume they will re programme it,don't really know to be honest but will double check on Monday

Don't mind spending that on it if that's the case but if its any more or what you guys are insinuating then will just need a box of matches.
 
Sad... I don't want to spend so much money.. I hope there is other way to sort it out :(

Kind Regards
Omen
 
Hi Andy, you said temp gauge goes halway-up when running fine...

My question should've been "was what's the indication (in degrees) with COLD engine", just to check the ECU receives a decent information from the sensor.

Regards, Bernie
 
Hi Guys,have got Punto back today the garage have disconnected the MAP Sensor and it seems to have solved the issue so looks like that is what's been causing it to not start so problem solved in short term as started up first time when I picked it up,the Management light I still on but they said thats cause the MAP sensor is not connected..will see how she goes for next few days and get them to fix a new one in..unless its a nice job to have a go myself.
They did say there was a oil spill around original one and have cleaned that up..No Charge from Garage as they said I have had a lot of patience with them locating the issue..so good news there..but now a different problem,Lock or latch has gone on drivers door now and once shut you cannot get out drivers side,it will open from outside but not inside..i have seen its a fault in the fault section so another job to be going on with!?
 
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