My 2000 (W) JTD130 starts everytime from cold, but when starting from hot occasionally (usually happens at least once a day) the red injector light stops on and the engine won't start. If you leave the car for sometimes up to 2 hours it resets itself and starts OK. There is no lack of performance and when running the car does run well.
It's presently at my local FIAT dealers for the third time in three weeks with this problem. They initially thought it was the fuel cut off switch, but £185 later it didn't cure the problem, so I'm on a freebie at the moment. They've had the car for nearly three weeks in total and I think they're clutching at straws. They have been running around in the car with their mobile diagnostic kit hooked up and it has faulted on them, but I don't know what error code (if any) came up as the workshop guy seems to be avoiding me
Have you guys any ideas what the problem could be ??

regards, Maxi.

It sounds like the glow plug controller is shot. But that should be picked up by a diagnostic.

This sounds engine management related so it should have fault codes logged every time the issue occured. Your dealer (is it still Wentanes for Stockton?) should be able to pin point this easily if they have diagnostics wired up when the issue occurs.

I don't think it will be the glow plug system as a diesel engine doesn't actually need these to start during the summer (it will white smoke slightly but will still start up ok) and especially not when the engine is warm.

We had a similar issue with a Honda Prelude and that was the fuel pump relay not kicking in however it was not the relay at fault but the sensors telling it to work! This was related to the under bonnet temperature and basically opening the bonnet for a few minutes allowed enough heat to escape for the fuel pump to start working again.

I'd ask the garage to check the systems that tells the fuel cut off switch when to work and if they can by pass this circuit in the elimination process.

Yes it is still Wentanes in Stockton, but couldn't get the car in when we wanted, so it's at Vardy's in Darlington at the moment.
thanks for the responses, will pass them on.

regards, Maxi.

I hope Vardy's are a little more switched on now days. I can remember going in for some bits for my X1/9 about 8 years ago and not one of the staff in the parts department knew that Fiat had even made such a car.

In fact on the Marea, when Prelude1970 was asking for a CV boot last week, they replied 'which part out of the boot do you want love' (honestly)

I'll look out for your car with a taxi plate on the back running around Darlington whilst they try and fix it.

They'll probably need to use it as a taxi to get the money back for the hours they've supposed to have been working on it (not)

Maxi

the latest is that the car did 'fault' for the Vardy's technician whilst he had the diagnostic kit connected. But didn't produce an error code etc. Somehow they claim to have traced the fault to the RPM sensor and I was given some message relating to the wiring ? - heat shield and cohesion of wiring etc. They had the sensor on order and it was due in thursday or Friday of last week and as they only put in half a day on a saturday and I guess they'll be off today (bank holiday), I guess I'll not hear anything until Tues / Wed, assuming that they've cured the problem.

regards, Maxi.

I have had somewhat the same problem as you. When i drive alot of kms, and try to start the engine after that, it just doesnt start. When i leave the car (sometimes even with the bonnet open) it starts after that.
Had it read out at the local garage, and they said it was the RPM sensor... Changed it, and hopefully its gone (hasnt happend since...)

Hi Yuri,

I just got my car back from the dealer today and fingers crossed they've cured the problem. time will tell.

regards, Maxi

you had the RPM sensor replaced? RPM and temp sensor arent expensive replacements, so i might do that one too