Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and new to Puntos, so sorry if i say anything dumb! (I have a Mk1 Panda which I love to bits, and a Series Land Rover, which I also love to bits.)

Today I bought a 2001 Punto HGT which won't start. It turns over but just won't fire. There is no smell of fuel when it turns over, suggesting it isn't flooding?? and with the ignition on I can't hear the fuel pump priming. Should I be able to?

I've pressed the fuel cut off switch but no luck.

There is also an orange warning light with a key symbol and the word CODE. According to the manual, this should be doing one of three things:

1) One flash
2) Fixed light with engine warning light
3) Flashing

But this light is on continuously, *without* the engine warning light. Any idea what this could be, and is there any connection between this and the engine not starting?

Really smart car and i got it for a song from a breakers, so hopefully it's gonna make me happy! Any advice much appreciated!

Cheers

Forgot to add...

Both airbag warning lights are on, but I assume this is unrelated?

T

Code light is to let you know the imobiliser is active (proventing fuel and spark) has it got fuel in the tank?

Thanks for the quick reply!

Yes, the gauge reads quarter of a tank.

(This may seem daft but I'm not used to 21st century cars...!)

Should that code light be on then, or not? Think I read it's supposed to go off after 4 secs but it stays on when the key's at MAR.

Do you have 2keys?

Yes. I assume they're both correct, as they both make the engine turn.

Should I be hearing the fuel pump whir when i turn on the ignition?

I am going to assume given the problems you have only got the one key? you really need to be able to confirm if the problem it with the car or with the key. it maybe at some point the key has been lost/damaged and an uncoded key obtained to open the doors move it about etc

do you know of the car at any point having been started with this key,
if it is the remote key then it is possible to open it as see of the transponder chip is present which disables the immobilizer.

I have two keys, and they both have central locking buttons on them, but pressing the button (on either key) does not operate the central locking.

gimmiemorefiats said:

I have two keys, and they both have central locking buttons on them, but pressing the button (on either key) does not operate the central locking.

Click to expand...

Then you have two keys cut correctly for the locks, but not coded into the system to enable start-up.

Do you have the 5 digit keycode written anywhere or the keycode card?

I haven't been able to find the card anywhere amongst the stuff that came with the car, so I have no code.

According to the manual, if the key isn't deactivating the immobiliser the engine warning light would be on as well, but it isn't. Gahh! :bang:

Thanks guys for your help so far.

Not sure if the HGT has a seperate code box. Might he worthwhile checking that it is connected up.

Oor err. Where would I find that?

Haven't got a repair manual yet (that's another issue - anyone know where i can get a cheap haynes for this? can't see any for an hgt on ebay)

gimmiemorefiats said:

Oor err. Where would I find that?

Haven't got a repair manual yet (that's another issue - anyone know where i can get a cheap haynes for this? can't see any for an hgt on ebay)

Click to expand...

maybe near fuse box inside

Ok, thanks for that. I'll have another poke around for it tomorrow.

There's another thread somewhere from a guy with a similar problem in a different car. He was looking at the code ecu, but the thread tails off and the eventual cause of the problem isn't posted.

From what I understand is that the code system runs self test on startup if it detects a fault in its internal or external circuits it will present the code light and the engine light

Just the code light on its own confirms that there is nothing wrong with the system however it is not confirming the key as being the correct item and immbalizing the car

Open the keys and see if the chips are in them!

fingers99 said:

Not sure if the HGT has a seperate code box. Might he worthwhile checking that it is connected up.

Click to expand...

No seperate keycode ECU- code recognition is done by the Body Computer.

Clues are:

It's a 2001 reg, making it a mk2 Punto.
It's a HGT, making it a mk2 Punto.

All mk2 Punto's onwards have a Body Computer.


gimmiemorefiats- Check every inch of the owner's manual, service book, etc, as the keycode may have been noted down somewhere else. Failing that, you can speak to your local Fiat Dealer and get them to contact the International Security Register to obtain all the codes for your car for a small fee.

Once you have the keycode you can attempt the emergency start-up procedure and enter the code manually, after which (if the code matches what's stored in your Body Computer), the engine should start. Once you've established the code and keys are correct, you can then get the car to the Dealer, or anywhere that can code the keys in properly, and get them permanently stored into the system's memory.

From what I have heard, there are no Haynes manuals for the mk2.

AndyRKett said:

From what I understand is that the code system runs self test on startup if it detects a fault in its internal or external circuits it will present the code light and the engine light

Just the code light on its own confirms that there is nothing wrong with the system however it is not confirming the key as being the correct item and immbalizing the car

Open the keys and see if the chips are in them!

Click to expand...

Not always. Whenever the keycode light stays on, it means there is a failure in recognising the key, whether the engine light is on or not. The OP has not said if the engine lamp illuminates at all- maybe it's not lighting up because the previous owner/seller removed/covered the bulb?

All keys will have the RF transponder chips, remote or otherwise.

one has to ask
why was it scrapped

s and b said:

one has to ask
why was it scrapped

Click to expand...

it wont start

D4nny8oy said:

Not always. Whenever the keycode light stays on, it means there is a failure in recognising the key, whether the engine light is on or not. The OP has not said if the engine lamp illuminates at all- maybe it's not lighting up because the previous owner/seller removed/covered the bulb?

All keys will have the RF transponder chips, remote or otherwise.

Click to expand...

Both in the original post and in post 10 its stats *Without* the engine warning light.

Question: why would you go to the effort to remove a bulb on the dash when selling an already non-running car the bulb could have blown as a more reasonable idea but I think the theory is a bit far fetched and in any case the light will illuminate with the ignition to indicate if it is working or not then extinguish.

Remote keys can be opened allowing the changing of batteries but also the removal/loss of the transponder chip which is why its a good idea to check and see if its even there. normal keys you can't remove the chip without hacking the key to bits