I have a 2004 Punto Active 1.3 Multijet, it's done 113,000 miles and has a full service history. The alternator went at 80,000, and the battery dropped a cell at 108,000 (so not doing too badly).

But, when the battery went, the glow plug light started to flash too, I changed the battery and they stopped. I've just got the car back from my mate who borrowed it for a few months, and he said he asked the Fiat garage in Lincoln about the flashing light when it came back on, and they said as long the light goes out, there's nothing wrong...???

I popped out over to Norwich this evening, and on the A47 I wound her up to overtake, as soon as I hit 3000rpm, the car kinda "juddered" for a split second, the engine warning light flashed on for a second and the car dropped into limp home mode, it wouldn't let me rev above 3000rpm, and it felt like the turbo wasn't spooling up.

Has anyone got any ideas please? I've got a feeling it's the glow plugs that need changing but would that cause the engine warning light to flick on?

The glow plugs only get the little engine going, so they don't effect the running of the engine. I ran my 1.3mj for a month without working glow plugs I just took more turning over in the mornings to get the heat into the engine.

I would imagine you have some other problem most probably induced by letting a 'mate' borrow it for a few months I really doubt he was gentle on it

Might be of some help? link

Dan

Yup it wont just be a simple glowplug change

diesels run on compression
when you compress you increase heat

The glowplugs only activate sometimes onstart up when its super cold

Get the fault codes read, download Fiat Ecu Scan* - and a Cheap cable off ebay and read the codes yourself and post results back here

Ziggy

*Google it - Check car compaitibilty list, and find out if you need a paid for edition of not to diagnose your version of ecu
Some are free, some aren't

Ziggy

Thanks for your help. Yes I know the basics of glow plugs, and in the modern diesel engines they sometimes switch whilst the engine is running to increase the cylinder temperature to help reduce emissions. I thought that may have something to do with it, but thinking about it, glow plugs aren't essential to the running of a diesel engine.

Going back to limp mode, my mate (a different one) said that if the turbo doesn't cut in it could be because the waste gate isn't opening, but we went out for a blat and the turbo operates correctly up until you hit 3000rpm in 3rd or 4th gear. That's when the engine warning light flashes up and it switches into limp mode. So I can thankfully rule out a faulty turbo and waste gate.

BUT...something somewhere isn't working correctly, an air sensor prehaps? That's where I'm going to have to put it on a diagnosis machine. The thing still works properly anyway, until it cuts into limp mode, but you have to give it some for that to happen. Anyway, it's designed to protect the engine...

These have Egr valves?

Most probably blocked, or very very dirty. Try cleaning it and what it like then.

Cheers Craig

Right I changed the glow plugs today, took me all of 45 minutes as (thankfully) nothing was seized in etc. Started her up again, the flashing light was still on, but as I disconnected the battery I knew the ECU would need a bit of time to reset itself.

Went out for a drive half an hour later, the glow plug light wasn't even on for half a second, started straight up, no flashing light.

The best bit is still to come...as I popped to the shops, I thought I would give her a bit on the straight, expecting her to hit that blip and cut into limp home mode at about 3,000 revs...but nothing! I revved her hard in all the gears and she ran as sweet as a nut...strange that! The only thing I can think of is when I took the airbox off, I prehaps knocked the MAF sensor, and prehaps something stuck on it came off...I just don't know - but not complaining!

So I spent £29 on 4 new glow plugs, fitted them in 45 mins and cured TWO faults - cheers easy!

Glad to hear it's all working now the 1.3 mjet is a lovely little engine runs well and saves a fortune in fuel an tax (lets not tell those petrol lovers they won't understand)

AndyRKett said:

Glad to hear it's all working now the 1.3 mjet is a lovely little engine runs well and saves a fortune in fuel an tax (lets not tell those petrol lovers they won't understand)

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I know mate, we used to have a Grande with the 1.3 Mjet engine, shame the incompetant female t**t who had it before us managed to go through a clutch in 45,000 miles. She totally trashed that car and the garage who sold it us "forgot" to tell us how bad it was - the only decent thing left was the engine! Had to swap it for a 2010 Focus 1.6 TDCI (also £30 tax)

But yes, diesels are the way forward. £60 to tax 2 cars for the year, while it costs me £70 to tax my 660cc bike. Shocking