Hi guys,


Been scouring the forum looking for answers but haven't been able to find something similar.


Here's a run down of the problem and what I have tried so far.


Wife has a 07 Grande Punto 1.4 8v, she complained that it was having intermittent starting issues, found the battery positive was a touch loose, tightened it up nothing more for a while, then one day she complained again and then it was stone dead. I tried it, there was nothing obviously wrong to me besides a possible flat battery issue, because a relay would just bounce and go nuts, but no cranking at all. Tried it again later, it started, but after that I just had the relay go mad.



So, got a new battery, popped that in and still the same problem of the relay just bouncing, thought it might be the key, so got the spare key out and that didn't make a difference. Checked battery terminals tight, the earth under the airbox and swapped the relay with one next to it, same outcome, turn key to crank, no starter just a relay bouncing all the time.


Has anyone experienced anything like this? Are there other things that I need to be checking also?

I guess you've already ruled out the well known and documented bad earth cable/connection ??
If it was verified ok, I'd next check for loose/roten connection underneath the distribution box where the bouncing relay sits. The starter control relay signal comes from the engine ECU, check connection there as well; finally the key ignition switch might also be at fault …

BRs, Bernie

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Agree definitely check all the battery cables at both ends for corrosion, even inside the ends of the cable where i's covered by plastic

that;s not enough.. the cable can be corroded internally, you won't be able to tell by visual inspection.

Need to to a voltage drop down test while having connected a big consumer (like the starter motor).

It can also be many other possible things. but we were't given enough details about the behavior.

aurick86 said:

that;s not enough.. the cable can be corroded internally, you won't be able to tell by visual inspection.

Click to expand...

This has been described many times, while we said "roten" and "under the plastic" ...

aurick86 said:

Need to to a voltage drop down test while having connected a big consumer (like the starter motor).

Click to expand...

OP said the starter motor won't crank, so you won't see any voltage drop, the best way is still to bypass the original cable ...

aurick86 said:

It can also be many other possible things. but we were't given enough details about the behavior.

Click to expand...

Fully agree here, most of the time important details come after a few replies with a lot of wasted time and energy ...

BRs, Bernie