Technical Multijet - loss of power after cold start

[pulhamdown]

Hi. Recently my wife`s Panda diesel has had a major loss of power within half a mile of starting from cold. It then recovers full power after a minute or so, and is fine for the rest of the day. This has now happened four times. The last time it happened was after driving in heavy rain the night before. It would appear to be fuel related - maybe a clogged fuel filter or a blocked vent in the fuel cap? But in these days of electronic fuel injection on diesels, it could be anything. Has anyone had anything similar happen? I`m reluctant to involve Fiat until I have a better idea of what`s going on. BTW, the car is 2006 (56 reg ) and has done around 11,000 miles. Serviced at around 7,000 miles. Any ideas welcome.:shakehead:

 

[wheresbertie]

Hi , I have a fiat bravo 1.4 active sport, it is 1 week out and just the same as you it just cut out no power, when i tried to restart it the low fuel light came on even thou their is over half a tank of fuel in the car. the RAC had to take me home, i could have died.

 

[Tweeker]

Hi

I have had EXACTLY the same issues as you have just described. I took my Panda MJ (2005) back to the garage and they prescribed changing the mass air flow cylinder. Luckily this was done under warranty. It made no difference though!! Mine still does it after rain or underuse and I suspect that rain is getting into the airfilter and clogging it up. The engine will be starved of oxygen and will die untill whatever is blocking whatever has cleared. Thats my guess anyway - its as good a guess as Fiats as they couldnt fix it!

i have written in more detail about it all in this link - hope it helps...

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-new/121180-poorly-panda.html

 

[Trimdoner]

Our MJ has done this occasionally from new - it now has almost 16,000 miles on.
From cold within the first couple of minutes, it will sometimes die for a few seconds, then recover. There is a road junction about 75 yards from where I live - the favourite spot for it to die after a cold start. It's only ever stalled completely about 3-4 times - usually it just fades and then recovers without actually stopping. Never happens at all after the first couple of minutes. Weather conditions don't seem an influence - wet or dry, winter or summer.

Reported this to the dealers on three occasions but there is a total lack of interest in sorting out problems which don't sport an error code.....

 

[Fiat_N_Fast]

I would say this really has something todo with the MAF sensors (air mass cylinder) on the car.

Is the problem happening alot around full throttle?

 

[ScoobyChris]

Another area that might be worthy of a look is the EGR valve which is responsible for recirculating the exhaust gases to reduce emissions. I've seen posts on other forums where a sticky valve can cause similar problems to what you're seeing.

Shy of getting the valve fixed a lot of people try and block it off to prevent the exhaust gases being fed back into the combustion chamber (and as a result leaving sooty deposits in the manifold). Blocking it also improves performance too as you always only have "fresh" air in the mix.

Chris

 

[pulhamdown]

I would say this really has something todo with the MAF sensors (air mass cylinder) on the car.

Is the problem happening alot around full throttle?

No. It happens on a small throttle opening, just accelerating gently towards a 30 mph limit. It also seems to happen just after getting into top gear. Once it clears itself, it`s fine for the rest of the day. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fuel supply. It`s almost as if there is enough fuel in the system to get the car going, but the supply from the tank is not getting through quick enough. I`m tempted to try replacing the fuel filter, since that is a simple job - once I discover where it`s located

 

[Tweeker]

I had my MAS changed by Fiat and it changed nothing!

 

[doblo]

I have had the same problem, I think it might be one or more of the glow plugs that have burnt out. I am not prepared to go to a garage because it is now out of warranty.

 

[Trimdoner]

I don't think it's glow plugs - I've had plenty of diesels, and the first indication of a failed plug is difficult or uneven starting. Mine fires up first time every time on all four cylinders - it's shortly after starting that it will fade.

The EGR valve as mentioned by Scooby Chris sounds interesting - the first dealer to look at our car muttered something along the lines of " it could be the EGR, but it's not showing any error codes so we can't do anything about it". (This was on the first return to the dealer at 800 miles, with complaints of poor economy, engine cutting out after starting, black soot on tailgate and the intermittent death rattle which it still produces at low revs)

 

[HP]

Temperature sensor fault?

 

[pulhamdown]

Temperature sensor fault?

I`ve been in touch with our local dealer, Arnold Clark in Perth, and the mechanic said he`d seen a couple of cars with similar symptons, which turned out to be a faulty sensor. The car is going in next week. So, here`s hoping.

 

[Wee Smurf]

Let us know how you get on. I too have occasionally had similar problems with mine. I don't like the feeling of turning out onto the main road to discover I've got no get up and go (but if it goes that way on mine it's usually fine again within half a mile). A couple of times I didn't even make it out of the driveway and died a couple of times before getting going.

Mine is just out of warranty, but I have had it into the dealers for checking on a couple of occasions before the warranty was up, and no error codes showed up.

 

[pulhamdown]

Let us know how you get on. QUOTE]

I took the car into Arnold Clark in Perth, and they have ordered a new air flow meter. It`s going to be fitted later on this week, so I`ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, the problem is becoming more frequent, and on one occasion, the car struggled to start.

 

[BJ20]

Let us know how you get on. QUOTE]

I took the car into Arnold Clark in Perth, and they have ordered a new air flow meter. It`s going to be fitted later on this week, so I`ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, the problem is becoming more frequent, and on one occasion, the car struggled to start.

Hi Pullhamdown,

It's been two weeks and no word: Any update on this?

Had something similar like this myself back about two years ago and it was down to a fuel sensor (sorted under warranty - not off the road). Kinda wondering if it is the same for you.

Stay safe.

BJ 20

 

[Cian]

My dad's MJ had this problem - it was a cracked manifold, car had to go back to Fiat Auto Ireland to be diagnosed in the end. Manifested itself more often on wet days. Cars been grand since although he's convinced its nosier - I think its because he's used to driving an MJ GP which would probably have more noise abatement!

 

[pulhamdown]

Hi Pullhamdown,

It's been two weeks and no word: Any update on this?

Had something similar like this myself back about two years ago and it was down to a fuel sensor (sorted under warranty - not off the road). Kinda wondering if it is the same for you.

Stay safe.

BJ 20

Well, the new air flow meter has been fitted, and so far no problems whatsoever. I`m still keeping my fingers crossed, just in case!

 

[pulhamdown]

Well, the new air flow meter has been fitted, and so far no problems whatsoever. I`m still keeping my fingers crossed, just in case!

Looks like I spoke too soon! Whilst I was shutting our gate the other day, I was standing behind the Panda when my wife pulled away. The engine faltered, a good puff of black smoke came out of the exhaust, the engine picked up and was then fine. So the new airflow meter has not made any difference, but something has caused the engine to overfuel. Perhaps a sensor fault? Oh well, back to Arnold Clark for round 2.:bang:

 

[Cian]

Due to being asked further questions by PM on what was fixed on my dads one, I asked him and dug up the service dockets. It was actually the input manifold *gasket* that had gone not the manifold itself.

 

[The Beard]

Mine had a sensor (can't remember which now) replaced, but unfortunately not under warranty. That only corrected poor fuel consumption as there was nothing particularly wrong with the performance. What it has done for so long I've begun to think it's normal, is to be reluctant to rev above 2,000 from cold. I wonder if it's the engine's way of protecting itself until the oil has warmed up and got moving round the turbo and other delicate parts. It also almost dies when I stop at the lights about 150 yards after starting up. Otherwise it still runs well and gives mid to high 50s mpg.