Hi all, My Panda 1.2 55 plate refuses to start easily.
When you go to start first time of the day or when been stood for a few hours, it takes about 10 seconds of cranking to fire up.:bang:
I have changed so far..

Plugs
Ignition Leads
Oil and Filter
Air Filter
Map Sensor
Battery


Once you get it started it will fire up first time every time. Just seems like it is taking a while for the fuel to get through altough i do dip the clutch and wait for the fuel pump to prime before cranking.
Any help would be appreciated....

Doesn't sound like fuel not getting through, more as though the cold start enrichment's not working - no idea where the sensor is as today's cars are so complicated. Stick a couple of twin choke Dellortos on it and give the pedal a couple of pumps.

Hi ,
that does sound irritating,

what state were the old plugs in?, that may hint at a fuelling issue.

out of interest if you give it 4 short ( 2/3 seconds bursts) instead of 1 x 10 second attempt,
does it start any better / quicker,
I'm tempted to say it sounds TEMP related, is it the same summer and winter? ,
I'm also thinking something may be out of tolerance , and needs a little heat / action to bring it in alignment.. - but that only an opinion..,

has it had it's codes read..??,
Charlie

PS - would it be in the £35 tax bracket with twin-choke carb's..??,
no but it REALLY would eat tyres..!! ; '}

Thanks for the input.

I have read the ECU (FiatECUscan) and there are no codes stored and the MIL light never comes on.

I filled it up with PREMIUM fuel ($$$) today in the hope that it could just be bad fuel. This might also clean out the injection system. Clutching at straws now..

I know fiats like to be revved and that is just what it is going to get if it doesn't behave!!!

babbo_umbro said:

Doesn't sound like fuel not getting through, more as though the cold start enrichment's not working

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how have you come to that conclusion??

Op As per post 3, next time you go to do a first start of the day, turn the key to prime the fuel system, when it's stopped turn it of and repeat 4-5 times before cranking. This should purge the fuel system and rule that out. If it starts first time after doing that then the fuel is draining back to the tank and the cranking is happening while it's being pumped through.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

how have you come to that conclusion??

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Because that's a typical symptom of insufficient cold-start enrichment, especially as OP stated it happens "When you go to start first time of the day or when been stood for a few hours" - thought I was making a reasonable and helpful contribution....

babbo_umbro said:

Because that's a typical symptom of insufficient cold-start enrichment, especially as OP stated it happens "When you go to start first time of the day or when been stood for a few hours" - thought I was making a reasonable and helpful contribution....

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I'm not saying you weren't, just curious as to how you thought that is different to a fuelling issue, is the change in enrichment is just a change in the air:fuel mix. Same sensors involved as when warm, just the ECU chucking in a different mix depending upon the reading of the sensors.

Did you use genuine plug leads? We had a seicento that would only start properly on them.

Check for splits in the map tube and consider coilpacks. Maybe crank speed sensor too.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

I'm not saying you weren't, just curious as to how you thought that is different to a fuelling issue, is the change in enrichment is just a change in the air:fuel mix. Same sensors involved as when warm, just the ECU chucking in a different mix depending upon the reading of the sensors.

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I think it's an issue of terminology - I'd thought of a "fuelling" issue as something like inadequate fuel supply to the injection system - pump failing, blockage, tank not venting, air entering system, and so on, rather than a mixture metering issue - so I don't think we disagree, but, particularly after my posting, you might give me credit for knowing what mixture enrichment is and spare me the "this is how you suck eggs, granny" piece.

Have a good new year.

Hi Guys, Thanks for all your help.

I filled it up with some premium fuel yesterday and took it for a good run.

I went out this morning (4 degrees) and she started straight away.

I can only conclude that the fuel in the tank was bad (supermarket fuel Mor***ons)

One to bear in mind for any future issues guys!!

Thanks again..

Taffyduck said:

Hi Guys, Thanks for all your help.

I filled it up with some premium fuel yesterday and took it for a good run.

I went out this morning (4 degrees) and she started straight away.

I can only conclude that the fuel in the tank was bad (supermarket fuel Mor***ons)

One to bear in mind for any future issues guys!!

Thanks again..

Click to expand...

Might be worth running a bottle of injector cleaner through with the next tankful.