Hello

We have a 2002 JTD 115 which usually starts first time, no problems, even when there's snow on the bonnet, and always starts when cold.

But just occasionally, when the car has been driven for a while, stopped to pick one of the children up from after-school club, the car won't start. The engine spins over nicely, and the engine is still warm, so why won't it fire up? Eventually it will start, but only after several attempts, and lots of moaning from the children.

The glow-plug warning light does stay on after it's started, so there is an issue of some kind with them, but I thought glow plugs just helped the car to start when cold?

Does anyone have any ideas why the car won't always start when it's warm?

Thanks

It may well be your glowplugs , they are needed every time you start it.
Some of the alfa romeos used to suffer with air temp sensors on warm days , they would read too high a temp and prevent startup.

Hello JTDman

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll get the glowplugs sorted at it's next service, and go from there.

Watch this space!

at warm engine don't need them . also direst injection starts without using glow plugs until -3 degrees. it apeers to be the high presuire pump or more of an injector the looses to much on return. see a dealer or a garage. on retur every injector must give max 28 ml in two minutes of idle, or max20 cm on a tube at starter rpm (250) five sec, pause 5 sec, other five sec. Quick, or you'll put your kid to walk.

I would get it in to the Fiat dealer for a diagnostic check. Sounds like a sensor problem. If you search through the forum you will find the exact details. Can't remember if its the crank sensor or similar.

corect! at old engines , RPM sensor at hot could have intreruption on coil for dilatation. if it starts after 10 min normal , it's the sensor

Hello Malin

Took the car for it's 60k service, and asked the garage to check the RPM sensor. Explained I had no idea what it did but read on this Forum that it seemed the likely cause of my non-starting problem.

"Of course sir, we connect the vehicle to our computer and any problems with sensors are identified"

Car returned with RPM sensor diagnosed as ok. Mmmm.....

Following day, car wouldn't start.

Returned to garage, insisted they double check...

"Ah yes sir, the RPM senser has in fact gone, but the car won't start"..... "I know! That's what I told you!!"

Sensor now replaced, and car behaving itself !

Thanks for your advice.

Fiat Forum has clout!

SWMBO was telling me the standard procedure for starting a diesel Multipla was (it may even be in the manual):
1) turn the ingition one click until the glow plug light turns off
2) then depress the clutch
3) turn the engine over

A former Fiat technician advised her to make sure she did this every time.

aeroadster said:

SWMBO was telling me the standard procedure for starting a diesel Multipla was (it may even be in the manual):
1) turn the ingition one click until the glow plug light turns off
2) then depress the clutch
3) turn the engine over

A former Fiat technician advised her to make sure she did this every time.

Click to expand...

Usually there are two reasons for depressing the clutch when starting a vehicle.

The first is a safety measure, so that if the car is inadvertently started in gear it won't leap forward (or back) - some cars have an interlock system which prevents the engine from starting unless the clutch is depressed.

The second reason is usually reserved for colder weather, so that when the clutch is depressed, the starter doesn't have the additional load of turning the gearbox as well as the engine while the oil is cold and thicker.

The glow plug 'coil looking light' also indicates that there is a problem and records error messages that can be downloaded to diagnose engine issues. Get that checked. I recently had a problem and have posted a question about loss of power and the glow plug light was illumiating and the garage I took it to told me it is the engine management errror indicator light.

HI PLANETPD, i HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING WITH MY JTD MULTIPLA (danm cap locks!!) I have been told numerous things and it has finally come down to the RPM sensor. Has yours worked fine since this has been changed?

Hello Francomultipla

With the RPM sensor changed, our Multi starts first time, everytime.

It would fail to restart if warm until rested for 10 minutes, but now always starts without trouble.

The sensor was about £40, but as I had it done as part of a service, I'm not sure how much a garage would charge to fit.

Worth getting it done.

The crank position sensor is a DIY job if you've a pair of ramps. It's just up the back of the engine and easier to get to from underneath.

I have had it done so fingers crossed it will start everytime now. Just need my wife to get her confidence back in the car

My Multipla JTD 115 had a similar warm start problem...

From cold it started every time without fail.
After driving around for 30 mins or more, switch off, leave for a few minutes then tried to start it, you'd be cranking for 10 seconds. Sometimes it did not start at all.

I changed the crankshaft sensor following advice here £25 - no difference, still bad starting when warm.

Finally had it diagnosed by Ron Wilkinson Diesel Service in Stockport.
They did an injector leak-down test and found that injector 3 was leaking excessive fuel back into the fuel return and this was lowering the fuel rail pressure. Presumably the injector leak was worse when warm as tolerances opened out.

Paid £90 for recon injector and £80 for fitting plus injector re-coding

Pretty knowlegeable place with good reputation. Had the car back within 4 hours

Starts great every time now.

CRANK/RPM sensor. £68 inc vat typical fitting. Not that difficult to DIY

Hi,

i had same problem car would start and run untill warm then conk out n not start untill cold again ,i done my crank sensor last week, although i have no macanical experience, the crank sensor cost me 29.95 from fiat and took me less than 1 hour to fit, my multipla runs fine now, i fitted my crank sensor with the help of this guide https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guides/147923-fiat-jtd-crank-rpm-sensor-removal-replacement.html




Kenny.

Thanks to the people who have taken time to share experience - brill stuff. Love the Multi but would have falen out without this site.

My 2202 JTD would not warm start in hot weather.
Followed same guide as Kenny and fitted new one.
I got the wrong part , from ePER they had me as a type CF3 engine - actually had CF2 type cranksensor with long wire attached to it fitted.<£30 delivered. (shop4parts also have photos)

Plastic clips are tough when doing on ramps on your back - would pay for garage to do if I had to play with it again



From talking to breakdown man it could be the wire running with the heavy electrics of start or alternator that is the issue. Could have tried wrapping foil around as a shield but did not try. He said some other makes brands can get magentic stuff picked up on to the sensor and wipe and clean can sort them out. You can get the snesor out easy on ramps it is the long wire that is the pig - so shileding and cleaning amy be worth a pop ?


Seems much worse in hot weather so very intermittent !!
A few days running fine now.