Good evening all hopefully one of you kind people will be able to help? I own a 2008 Punto 1.3 multijet diesel 119k on clock. I've had the car about 8 months and never had any issues till now. Hopefully I can explain this right. The car starts fine no issues no warning lights or fault codes registered or no rattles and bangs. Problems occur if you start it and pull away straight away the revs die (doesn't stall) you can put the throttle pedal to the floor and after a few second revs will begin to build very very slowly Then once at around 3k rpm it will rev ok and drive ok. but if you start it and leave it for a couple of minutes it's ok no issues with revving. but here's the but if you try to accelerate hard it will bog down like brakes been applied give it a few seconds then all ok (this can happen at random times) so before i start throwing ££££ at it is there any common issues with these engines that could cause this hopefully someone can help

Seems you got a fuel pressure issue that need to build up before delivering the correct amount of fuel ... A clogged filter (in the tank's primary pump) or the secondary pump (high pressure) regulator would be my favourite candidates. Have you tried disconnecting the air-flow sensor ? It might also be involved, as well as the MAP sensor. Definitely want to read the curves from them if you want to start a good troubleshooting...

BRs, Bernie

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Thanks you reply am going to change the big filter in engine bay don't know which that is where would other one be thanks

Woody345 said:

Thanks you reply am going to change the big filter in engine bay don't know which that is where would other one be thanks

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Thats the service filter.

The primary is built into the fuel tanks 'liftpump'

This problem has been reported before.. but I cannot remember the outcome


A tip :

When you turn on the ignition.. count how long the tank pump runs for..

Is it just a humm..or does it gurgle?

Charlie '07 gp mj (x2)

Thank you I will have a look it's a hum similar to petrol engine pump if that helps is the primary filter a changeable item or is it awkward fix thanks

Primary filter is just a mesh-wire style located directly at the pump IN the tank. The main fuel filter is under the bonnet, attached to the right wing. Picture of mine shows two pipes but yours might have a third one (return), doesn't matter. You'll need to (firmly) press on each side of the quick connectors to release them. You'll aslo have to disconnect the water in fuel/temperature sensor at the bottom, remove it and re-install in the new filter...

BRs, Bernie

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Thankyou I changed that all seemed ok for a couple of days now it's reared up again went to start it yesterday it started ok and the idle was uneven and chugging I pressed throttle and nothing so kept the pedal to floor and after a minute or so it started building revs very slowly (alot of smoke) the revs reached 2000ish rpm then revved as normal and ok again there was smoke as I drove down the road but baffled

A diesel engine (self ignition), unlike a petrol one (spark-plugs), doesn't need a proper air/fuel ratio for the fuel to burn.
On a petrol engine too lean or too rich mixture will simply NOT ignite.
On a diesel engine, the less the fuel is injected, the less the resulting torque will be, the excess in air (that did not burnt any fuel) is just expelled in the exhaust. If there isn't enough air to burn the injected fuel, the remaining fuel is expelled in the exhaust in a nice black cloud! e.g. if the turbo can't push the expected air into the engine (waste-gate open, cracked air pipe or intercooler, CLOGGED AIR FILTER, etc.)

Running MES on your car would give you a lot of interesting information about pressure, fuel quantity (expected vs delivered) ...

BRs, Bernie

ps: just to get an idea A/F ratio is about 14, which means 1gram of fuel needs 14 grams of air to burn completely, this is about 12 m³ !!

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Woody345 said:

Thankyou I changed that all seemed ok for a couple of days now it's reared up again went to start it yesterday it started ok and the idle was uneven and chugging I pressed throttle and nothing so kept the pedal to floor and after a minute or so it started building revs very slowly (alot of smoke) the revs reached 2000ish rpm then revved as normal and ok again there was smoke as I drove down the road but baffled

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Hi again.

Odd that your new parts made it run better..even just briefly


Did this happen before.. 'good and bad days'
Or was poor running a constant?

Charlie