Hi all,
Some advice please! I have a 2004 1.2 Panda that has a problem when the engine is warm.

First thing in the morning, starts first time and perfectly. When the temp is over the quarter line, starting up without using the throttle is a struggle, constant irregular misfire. On idle when warm, the car pops like crazy. Also under very light throttle, it kangaroos.
I did have error codes saying cylinder 2 & 4 misfire was detected, this always happens at around 2000rpm even with the new coil packs. I had a solid MIL before saying that the car was running rich (sorry I haven't got the exact code, I'll get this another time).

Things I have done so far:
- New timing belt and tensioner (correctly timed!)
- Full service inc New plugs (NGK), coil packs, HT leads

Things I am going to do:
- check resistance of fuel injectors (what are they supposed to be?)
- check for air leaks around the manifold and throttle body

Part of me is thinking that this is an ECU fault & also fuel rail/injector problem.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'll let you all know how I get on.

Update:
- MAP Sensor changed (had it anyway and thought it'd be worth a shot) - no change
- Resistance across all injectors are the same
- Plugs are clean, although 2 and 4 are slightly different to 1 and 3. I would have suspected a coil pack, but these are new, also new HT leads.
- Throttle body checked and cleaned.
- ECU plugs cleaned with electrical contact cleaner

I have whittled it down to a faulty ECU, I cannot find any reason to suspect errors elsewhere.

Is £200 plus £6.95 postage reasonable for a new self-coding ECU with 1 year unlimited mileage warranty?

J

when did the problem start ? was it after you fit the new timing belt as i had a punto 1.2 had some similar problems after belt was fitted caused miss fire when warmed up, fitted new leads as they lit up in the dark, but didnt cure it, turned out to be timing belt one notch out, started great but as it warmed up got all sorts of problems. ECU sounds good price but dont think will cure problem, for the cost of a cheap coil pack i would try change one of them ( 2 & 4 ) i know you said were new but could still be faulty. easy way to find out is swap them round and see if missfire moves to 1 & 3 if it does then is coil pack weak

jon

jon1612 said:

when did the problem start ? was it after you fit the new timing belt as i had a punto 1.2 had some similar problems after belt was fitted caused miss fire when warmed up, fitted new leads as they lit up in the dark, but didnt cure it, turned out to be timing belt one notch out, started great but as it warmed up got all sorts of problems. ECU sounds good price but dont think will cure problem, for the cost of a cheap coil pack i would try change one of them ( 2 & 4 ) i know you said were new but could still be faulty. easy way to find out is swap them round and see if missfire moves to 1 & 3 if it does then is coil pack weak

jon

Click to expand...

as the threads been resurrected - I will add that there was thread running a couple of months ago of a person in (Devon?) with a similar CHEAP ECU , who was fed-up of returning the vehicle @ 100 miles for "fixes" , then found the underlying ( similar to yours) fault in the end,
Charlie

any idea what solution was or link to thread ? would be nice to know.

I haven't yet managed to sort the problem. I strongly believe it to be the ECU.
I have found a company that will repair my ECU and with a lifetime warranty for £125. I will do this and report back if it has fixed the problem.

Sounds like a bargain, who are they ?