Hello,
I have a 2006 panda 1.2 with the old hunting issue at idle, it has been to fiat who changed the sparkplugs on the first visit and the throttle body/icv on the second visit but has made no difference. It seems worse with the headlights on while driving at night and while cold.

Has anyone got any insights or decent suggestions as I am now involving a friend who is a mobile mechanic as I can't afford to pay Fiat not to fix it again.

Thank you
steve

Whilst your car was in FIAT, did they carry out a diagnostic test & if so did it come up with any fault codes?

Maybe look at removing the airbox and cleaning the crankcase breather, particularly if you car completes a lot of short journeys, surely it'll be bunged up which won't help.

If the spark plugs have been replaced, then I'd also like to think they ruled out the possibility of a coil pack problems (misfire).

Matt.

They have carried out a diagnostic test yes, they said there where no codes stored on the first plug in and recommended the plug change, on the second try they said it had a faulty throttle position sensor making the idle control valve move when it shouldn't.

My friend has plugged in his diagnostic laptop and came up with nothing, he tried disconnecting the battery for 30 mins as a ecu reset afterwards but still no change.
I will ask him to check the crank case breather next time I see him.

Have you got towing electrics ? (for a trailer).

Check the earth straps are ok.

Hi. Not sure if this applies to the 1.2 engine, but...
My son's 1.1 Active had strange idling behaviour. Changed plugs & leads, followed by one of the coil packs. Made no difference at all.
Then someone suggested it might be poor connection to ECU.
So, disconnected battery, removed the 2 connectors to the ECU, sprayed them with Contact Cleaner (WD40 Specialist Contact Cleaner, not ordinary WD40). Left to dry for about 15 minutes. Reconnected ECU and then battery.
Problem has not returned yet (about a year) so might be worth a try.
Did notice that Torque app showed the throttle position as randomly changing without me touching the pedal. Contact Cleaner was the last hope before forking out for new throttle body, so glad it worked!

PS: it wasn't just disconnecting the battery - I had tried that a few times and it made no difference to the idle problem.

Hi,

You didn't put a volt meter across the battery with engine running and headlights on by any chance.

Just to see how the battery and alternator are performing. Its nice to rule out a possible component concern.

I wonder did Fiat check the fuel trims.

John.

Bundy31 said:

They have carried out a diagnostic test yes, they said there where no codes stored on the first plug in and recommended the plug change, on the second try they said it had a faulty throttle position sensor making the idle control valve move when it shouldn't.

My friend has plugged in his diagnostic laptop and came up with nothing, he tried disconnecting the battery for 30 mins as a ecu reset afterwards but still no change.
I will ask him to check the crank case breather next time I see him.

Click to expand...

Worth doing a phonic wheel relearn anyway.
Then attempt to improve electrical connections.

So..with it idling..what values for dwell.etc. did the laptop show?

Charlie . Oxford