2001 y reg mk2 fiat punto

About a week ago, I went to start the car, it wouldn't start. It just done that struggle sound and gave up. Came back to it about a minute later and it was completely fine.

Well today I just went out, and the same thing is happening, but worse. When I turn the key, at first it gave that struggle 'erghhhhhhh' sound, but now it doesn't make any noise at all. When I turn the key, everything on the dash goes out and stays out, until I release it.

But the thing is, the battery seems fine. The central locking works perfectly (usually when the battery is weak it struggles to open the doors), and the radio/fans etc all work fine. It's just when you start it everything goes wrong.

What could it be???

it sounds like the battery mate when you crank the engine it takes alot of the power from the battery to turn it over which is why the car stops other things from working to allow full power to the starter motor, the radio ect demand much less from the battery

my punto did a similar thing to thing, 2 of the cells were damaged in the battery.
got a new battery and seemed to have fixed the problem, not happened in about 5 months now (which is when i changed the battery ).

i did the usual checks of checking voltage off, and voltage when switched on and they were always showing correct readings, and would always start first time from jump start.

Get a battery from another car test it out, if it solves your problem then look for a battery (not at halfords though :bang: )

Hey, thanks for the advice.

Now about to put a different battery in to see if it works.

Turning the key does absolutely nothing now, not even a little click sound. But tested the wipers and headlights which didn't work at all, not even a light on the dash, so it must be the battery surely!!

Just got to wait for the other battery to charge up.

sounds quite like what my car would do, everything would work perfectly fine, then turn the key, whole dash goes off untill i let go of the key.

I prob had to roll start my car every day haha...
Does sound like a faulty battery, how long you had it for ?

check voltage on the battery below stays 12.4v then its not holding
charge and needs replacing not just charging.
Check and clean all battery leads and earths if the copper
has gone green it's corroding and will reduce the power available.
Check battery condition first though just because the doors open
doesn't mean it's ok.

John

Tony123 said:

sounds quite like what my car would do, everything would work perfectly fine, then turn the key, whole dash goes off untill i let go of the key.

I prob had to roll start my car every day haha...
Does sound like a faulty battery, how long you had it for ?

Click to expand...

Yep it is what you said, a cell was damaged, completely dry.

It's less than a year old, but it was from a different car involved in an accident so maybe that damaged it?

olleh said:

Yep it is what you said, a cell was damaged, completely dry.

It's less than a year old, but it was from a different car involved in an accident so maybe that damaged it?

Click to expand...

Yer could have damaged it by leaving it to loose all its charge, then when you have come to get it and its been charged up again, its damaged a cell, same thing happened to my battery.

I bought one for £20 it was brand new, apart from some fella had it and drained the battery by leaving his lights on, and took it back under warrenty.
I had it about 6 months and it kept cutting out, took it back to the place i bought it from, and they gave me a brand new battery to replace it

Mine lost a cell but would still start the car. Then it would go zero dead flat when parked on a hill but be ok parked flat. Debris inside the cells was shorting out the charge.

As Puntos are fussy about battery quality, I got a Bosch Silver from about £60 on eBay.

hmm i didnt read all the posts just looked at the top one quickly is the engine turning just not starting the car? then later it will start?

if so could possibly be crank sensor on its way out?


edit: just looked up and read other posts, ignore me

its weird, how the battery wont start it first time
If it doesn't work first time - DONT keep cranking
all you will do is flatten it more

Give it 5 to 10mins - and you'll be surprised
IT MIGHT just start

Battery's ""relax"" after been worked, they seem to self recharge, ie voltage can go back up
Hence why it might let you start the car


Get a new battery - you've got a classic sign of Not holding charge

while the battery is off - give the Clamps a good clean
the main body earthing points too

Ziggy