General Car does not start on frosty morning

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General Car does not start on frosty morning

cnewton

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Hoping someone can help.. My dad's 07 punto grande..i have asked before but we have bit more information now.

Basically the problem is this..on a cold morning the car will not start, if the temperature is under 0 degrees the car won't even attempt to start. However as soon as the temperature warms up it starts first time all the time.

The battery is new and has been tested so its not that. However what we have found is when the car does not start if you open the bonnet and put a hair dryer on the box as shown in the pic for a few minutes then the car will then start.

What is in this box that could course the car to not Start until the temperature outside warms up? Any help would be much appreciated
 

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That looks like a fuse box, it makes sense if there is damp getting in there, the obvious answer is to open it up & make sure that all is as it should be under there, no damp & no corroded connections etc.
 
That's the thing. Damp does not affect it.. It can pour down for hours on end and be fine.. Its just when It reaches sub zero temperature that the problem starts
 
1. It does affect it. Fuse box is probably rotten at the bottom (wires under the fuses - must remove whole box to check it), that's why temperature now affects it. Water was (is) the primary cause/issue.

2. Something was damaged, like TDC sensor or others went bad (like MAP for example). Or it's the starter motor.

3. Problem is inside the cabin, body computer harness or ignition switch (contacts are susceptible to moisture - and moisture levels depend on temperature, so it's the weather in general, not one parameter only, like just temperature).

These are very common problems with Grande. You should know this (you've joined forum in 2009).
 
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But it's fine for 9 months of the year.. There can be a monsoon outside and car will always start.. Its definitely temperature related.. I will get someone to open fuse box up.
 
Will definitely do that

There is a guide in yellow section.. top of GP page.

Fuseboxes can have wateringress issues..

I suspect you have a joint - gap in something that is just too much in the cold.

Swap the Relays around.. I had a car that did this in the cold.. a relay swap cured it


Ps. Please explain what fails to function in the cold.. cranking..sparks.. fuel pressure.. immobiliser. ;)

Charlie
 
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There is a guide in yellow section.. top of GP page.

Fuseboxes can have wateringress issues..

I suspect you have a joint - gap in something that is just too much in the cold.

Swap the Relays around.. I had a car that did this in the cold.. a relay swap cured it


Ps. Please explain what fails to function in the cold.. cranking..sparks.. fuel pressure.. immobiliser. ;)

Charlie

Can you please direct me to the guide? i can not seem to see it in the guide section
 
Petrol or Diesel.

If Diesel are you allowing the glow plug lights to extinguish, and have you tried double cycling them.
 
Theyve yet to confirm what.. 'its not working' entails ;)

Firstly sorry i literally know nothing about cars, hence why i am not a forum asking for help. So forgive me if i dont give a 100% accurate account of the fault.

It is a petrol car. 1.2.

When there is a frost and a frost only (no amount of rain affects it) when my dad goes to start the car nothing happens, and i mean nothing, it does not make any noise, does not turn over nothing.

As soon as the temperature heats up it will then start first time, and continue to start first time until the temperature drops. It works fine all through the summer months and as soon as we had first frost last week it did it again.
 
Not in GUIDES ;)

AS I said.. at the top of the Grende section..

There are yellow ' stickies' : threads that are pinned to the top ;)

You want 'random electrical..FAQs

All the info..;

Fusebox.
Earth cable failure
Heater
Earth points

Thanks i will look :)
 
Firstly sorry ..forgive me if i dont give a 100% accurate account of the fault.

It is a petrol car. 1.2.

When there is a frost and a frost only (no amount of rain affects it) when my dad goes to start the car nothing happens, and i mean nothing, it does not make any noise, does not turn over nothing.

No problem.. :)

Ok.. the basics..

When you get in..does the mileage light up.. interior light on ceiling..by mirror?



When you turn the key.. does the dash light at all.. battery and oil lights.?


IMMOBILISER.. it shows a key-padlock..should then go out after @10 seconds when it has checked the chip in the key

Let me know if All ..or some.. of that worked.

If it all appears DEAD hit the triangle hazard light switch.. by radio ;)

Does that work??


Charlie
 
Problem still exists, had AA out this morning and they did some tests and found this

Patrol found the following fault code/s:System : Engine control 1 - 35K / IAW 5SF3-8-9 CAN Status :p0300 - Random/multiple cylinders. Error Message : Faulty operation. Error sporadic. Status :p0301 - Misfire detection, cylinder 1. Error Message : Faulty operation. Error sporadic. Status :p0304 - Misfire detection, cylinder 4. Error Message : Faulty operation. Error sporadic.Wont start, battery good. Engine fires but wont pick up. Started engine using a small amount of throttle, suspect engine flooded. Possible faulty ignition coil. Garage to check and confirm
 
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