Any advice please.
My Grande Punto 2007 1.2 Has developed a puzzling problem.
It will not start first thing in the morning when cold and damp. It is totally dead in regards to turning over. All interior lights work, dash lights etc but put the key in the ignition and turn? Nothing at all. When i return to the car later that day (when the weather has warmed) all is fine. I have replaced the battery with a new one..... Still the same problem.

Please help!!!

Possible earth strap problem. Check the earth lead is not obviously loose at battery and front of gear box. Next time it won't start,try pushing the earth lead toward the fixing nut on the gear box,if this cures the fault,your earth lead is starting to fail,and needs a new end soldering on or new earth lead fitting,as the wires separate under the cover where the terminal fits.Not saying this is the fault,but it's easy to check

el10 said:

Any advice please.
My Grande Punto 2007 1.2 Has developed a puzzling problem.
It will not start first thing in the morning when cold and damp. It is totally dead in regards to turning over. All interior lights work, dash lights etc but put the key in the ignition and turn? Nothing at all. When i return to the car later that day (when the weather has warmed) all is fine. I have replaced the battery with a new one..... Still the same problem.

Please help!!!

Click to expand...

Do the lights dim..??

If they dim..then the power is insufficient to turn the engine.

Hi, no the lights do not dim. if not enough power to turn the engine then what could the problem be? I've already put on a new bettery but have the same issue.

OK so and update this morning. Not so cold today if a little damp. Same problem, totally dead not even a click, however I kept trying and turning the ignition, it eventually sparked into life starting as soon as it turned over. Turned off and tried again, same problem but didn't eventually spark into life again.

I'm now thinking that it could be a bad earth as suggested by Multipete....

Could possibly make sense as recently had clutch replaced so imagine the earth strap was unattached at some point??? Will check this out at when i'm home. Is this a typical problem when damp and cold as there is no problem when starting later on in the day?

Hi Multipete, thanks for your suggestion, Please see my reply to Varesecrazy

el10 said:

Hi, no the lights do not dim. if not enough power to turn the engine then what ?

I'm now thinking that it could be a bad earth as suggested by Multipete....

Could possibly make sense as recently had clutch replaced so imagine the earth strap was unattached at some point??? Will check this out at when i'm home. Is this a typical problem when damp and cold as there is no problem when starting later on in the day?

Click to expand...

Progress..
The earth cable is needed to make an electrical circuit...

no circuit..no draw from battery to power starter.. no dimming of lights.

I had a wornout ignition switch that did similar.

But..as youve had the gearbox out.. connections of starter..and cables.. need checking.

I'd check for bad connection / moisture / oxydation @ connection-box Under the bonnet … Here's the drawing for start/charge circuit, just in case …

BRs, Bernie

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