First of all I would like to say hello to everyone, I'm in need of abit of help, I'll start from the top, as per topic title I have just bought my first car its a 2006 fiat punto active sport, I paid £900 with 70,000 miles on clock, it's however needed a new crank sensor wheel balancing and a new temperature sensor,all these have been fixed but there's still a problem with the car, whenever I start it up in the morning it cuts out 3 times, then works perfectly fine, I've been told a couple of things from garage, first thing I was told was throttle body, then I looked around and spoke to a few people and they rarely break as far as I've been told just need a clean here or there, I've also been told it's the ecu causing it to cut out if this is the case why only 3 times and why does it work fine after presumably it would just cease to work? Ecu ive been told is expensive about £800 kind of expensive, I don't really know the first thing about cars but I've been starting to learn does this sound like a serious problem? Did I get ripped off paying £900? The trouble is when you don't know what to look for its rather annoying when things go wrong when you've had it a day, the start up thing didn't happen when intest drove it just the day after


Thanks for all the help in advance

People who at first recommend expensive bits are best avoided. This is the equivalent of cutting off your leg instead of cutting your toenails.

From cold, the ECU adds extra fuel, to aid starting, and once running gradually reduces this extra fuel. It makes this decision based on air temperature, (sensor in air intake) and coolant temperature. There may be two coolant temp sensors, one for the gauge, another for the fuel system. Punto people on here will confirm.

If the ECU thinks engine is colder than it is, it will overfuel for too long. When it runs and stops, do you get a strong fuel smell from the exhaust?
If it thinks it is warmer than it is, it will not add enough fuel, so after the initial burst, reduces fuel too quickly. This is my guess from your symptoms.

Ideally you need to determine what the temp readings are, and also do a full diagnostic to read any other codes. There is some wonderful software called MultiECUscan (MES) that will do this. If you update your profile to show your location, there may be a Forum member near you with MES, willing to help. Meanwhile, search the Forum for MultiECUscan and MES to get some background.

Hi Dave,

welcome on board !!

just to confirm Nigel's post about cold start; the ECU controls the mixture in relation with air and engine (coolant) temperature.
If the temp reading at the dash is ok, I'd suspect the air temperature sensor, built-in the MAP...

Regards, Bernie

If someone here helped you understand -or better- fix your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right, it's free and make us feel helpy...

Hi there guys thank you for responses, I've started her up just and a message pops up each time it cuts out excess coolant temp stop and switch off engine then 4th time I start it not a problem with it highly annoying don't really want it to not start up when I'm out and about somewhere thank you

Hi Dave,

my understanding is that the ECU warns you about an abnormal situation, the poping messages are not always what they should, and after 3 attemps lets you decide to continue anyway...
This abnormality could be an incoherence between coolant and air temperatures; deffo need to hook an OBD reader on your car to measure the sensor values at start-up !

Regards, Bernie

Quite likely to be the coolant temp sender, but could just be connections between it and ECU.
As said above, get a diagnostic reader on it, ideally MES.

Thanks guys, with MES presumably I need a obd? Any paticular one? I was looking at Halford ones aswell do you think they'll be any good ? Says it only reads codes to do with orange light thought I think, I'm a total novice myself so I'll just end up finding problem and taking it to garage was going to get good old fiat to take a look ?

Hi Dave,

you're right, MES is the software thyat will communicate with your car's many computers (controllers) through the OBD port. To allow these communications, you'll need an interface (often called lead/cable on the net). Problem with those I/F is that a lot of them are clones that might be so poorly designed (wrong termination built-in resistor) that you'de be only able to connect to the engine and ABS controllers.
You have to go to a "MES ready OBD reader" + adapter cables kit ; adapters will allow you to access other controllers on your car (steering, gearbox, body, etc).
The license itself for MES is only 50€ ( http://www.multiecuscan.net ), I guess that's about what you would pay for a diagnosis at a Fiat Dealer...

Regards, Bernie

portland_bill said:

..... Meanwhile, search the Forum for MultiECUscan and MES to get some background.

Click to expand...

Dave4677 said:

Thanks guys, with MES presumably I need a obd? Any paticular one? I was looking at Halford ones aswell do you think they'll be any good ? Says it only reads codes to do with orange light thought I think, I'm a total novice myself so I'll just end up finding problem and taking it to garage was going to get good old fiat to take a look ?

Click to expand...

You've got to do some work yourself. As I said, search the Forum for MES, there are lots of posts showing what you need.
Here's one: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/352156-fiatecuscan.html

Hi peeps, I've ordered a new map sensor and giving it a change tomorrow (first time ever working on car ever) I've done some digging and asked a few pals who did some research and from symptoms suspect it's the map sensor as there's a sensor inside there so I'm going to replace that tomorrow I'll report back but no read someone post on here who decribed his problem which sounds alot like mine also did a good how to, so I'm suspecting from everyones opinions for it to be a dodgy map sensor lets hope so as she's taken about 10 times to start up over the last 3 or so days thanks guys

Hi guys, changed the map sensor yesterday, and no joy cold start still says excess coolant temp does this about 10 times and starts..... the temp gauge goes on a wobbler before sorting its self out i can leave it for a hour and still starts but after that just has a struggle again I'm at my witsend I've replaced crank sensor coolant sensor and map sensor I've got to say I'm rather getting pissed off think it's going to have to go fiat

You seem to have ignored previous advice.

1. Get a proper diagnostic, ideally MES, so that you can see any error codes and also read the temp readings as they happen.

2. There are possibly two temp sensors, you may have replaced the wrong one.

3. Connections can prevent correct readings, so check all connectors.

The answer is no longer here, it is with you.