Technical Punto 1.2 8v random power loss

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Technical Punto 1.2 8v random power loss

dtml

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I have a Punto 1.2 8v ELX with over 100,000 on the clock.

The temp gauge reads only 1/4 way while driving, yet it will go to 1/2 way when left idle, fan works.
Tried testing the thermostat in hot water and its opening and closing fully.

Also i am experiencing random short drops in power.
Feels like im driving into a strong headon gust.
It does this alot at motorway speeds, or around 60mph in 5th at full throtle.

Already fitted new plugs and ht leads, and as stated i have tested the thermostat.

Also i tried to read a fault code but fault code reader couldnt connect for some reason.

Im at a loss here.

All sugestions are welcome.
 
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Sounds ignition related. These little engines don't like to be laboured, and mine has a habit of arcing from the coil packs under heavy load, which causes a loss of power. Do you get a crackling on the radio when you have power loss? (The arc emits a broad spectrum electromagnetic pulse, which interferes with the radio signal)

If you can run the car in the dark, often a wide throttle opening from idle will replicate the problem, and you might well see blue flashes. Not sure what the cure is, I have surrounded the area that arcs with several layers of insulating tape, which seems to have solved that problem, revealing other problems which I assume were masked by the loss of power.
 
"Is the coolant fully bled?

You shouldn't need full throttle to do 60mph in fifth, does it go faster if you reduce the throttle opening slightly?"

The coolant is fully bled, no air bubbles seem to be left.
Driving at 60mph in 5th at full throttle makes the problem more evident, the car will drive with only a tiny bit of throtle at 60mph.


"Sounds ignition related. These little engines don't like to be laboured, and mine has a habit of arcing from the coil packs under heavy load, which causes a loss of power. Do you get a crackling on the radio when you have power loss? (The arc emits a broad spectrum electromagnetic pulse, which interferes with the radio signal)

If you can run the car in the dark, often a wide throttle opening from idle will replicate the problem, and you might well see blue flashes. Not sure what the cure is, I have surrounded the area that arcs with several layers of insulating tape, which seems to have solved that problem, revealing other problems which I assume were masked by the loss of power."

I havent heard any noise or interfeerance on the radio.
Ill tried looking for arcing but was unable to see anything.

The car seems to be getting worse as its starting to idle very choppy every now and then, to me it seems to be misfiring from time to time. A friend of mine said it could be a vacume pipe but they seem fine.
 
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The arc could be anywhere on the HT side of the ignition system. Eratic poor idling and misfiring is usually an ignition problem. The ECU problems usually take one coil out, so you get a major misfire on two cylinders.

Does it get worse in the wet? If so it's almost certainly a failure on the HT side, either plugs, leads or coil.

A vacuum pipe leak would be more likely to cause unexplained revving without throttle input than misfiring, as the lambda senses a lean mixture and increases the fuel to compensate for the extra air.
 
The arc could be anywhere on the HT side of the ignition system. Eratic poor idling and misfiring is usually an ignition problem. The ECU problems usually take one coil out, so you get a major misfire on two cylinders.

Does it get worse in the wet? If so it's almost certainly a failure on the HT side, either plugs, leads or coil.

A vacuum pipe leak would be more likely to cause unexplained revving without throttle input than misfiring, as the lambda senses a lean mixture and increases the fuel to compensate for the extra air.

I rang fiat about getting a new coil pack and they sugested that the problem could be the rpm sensor, and failing that it could be an intermitant fault with the lamda sensor.

They havent seen the car so they cant say for sure.

What would you consider more likely to be at fault?
The coil, the rpm sensor, or the lamda?
 
Changed the coil pack last night.
Drove 60 miles this morning and no problem's so far.

Ill let ya know how i get on.
Thanks guys.
 
The power loss os back and this time i have a warning light.
Orange one with a ! in the middle.

The car is behaving exactly as before.

I tried the OBD2 reder again and it wont see the car connected.
Is lambda sensor the problem or does anyone have any other sugestions?

Also the power stearing light came on and the stearing got very heavy.
It fixed itself when i turned the car off and on again. This has only happened once.
 
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