Hi guys!
I'm looking for some advice as I have a slight issue with starting my car. It is an 04 Punto Active Sport 8v.
I went through a larger than usual puddle on Saturday night, and the next morning it wouldn't start. At first it started to turn over but then faded and now doesn't turn over at all. Replaced all spark plugs, the battery is fully charged and all wires seem to be connected but it still shows no signs of starting. I get the feeling I've probably drowned the starter motor.

Any help on this issue would be much appreciated!!

Had the same problem with mine, my focus induction sucked up the puddle. I got home, few hours later, went to start it again and nothing. Managed to get it started after taking off the throttle body, cleaning it out and spraying wd40 in the ht leads.

Old air box back on. Battery reset because of eml was light on. Now its perfect

crikky22 said:

Hi guys!
At first it started to turn over but then faded and now doesn't turn over at all. Replaced all spark plugs, the battery is fully charged and all wires seem to be connected but it still shows no signs of starting. I get the feeling I've probably drowned the starter motor.

Any help on this issue would be much appreciated!!

Click to expand...

Hi , and welcome..,

When you turn the KEY to MAR , do all the usual check lights come on then go off..?? , just leaving the oil and battery symbol lights ??

if so, when you then turn the key the last position ( to start the car) watch to see if the battery symbol light gets dimmer / or flickers..!!,

if it gets dimmer , then there is DEF. power going to the starter motor,

if it does not dim - then double check both the battery connections AND the connections to the starter motor,

if it all looks good,
and all your test-lights go out at the MAR stage, then you should be able to safely tow-start the car,
remember if it doesn't start straight away , do NOT keep towing it as it could knacker the Catalyst,
all the best,
Charlie

Thanks Charlie
When you say the lights should go out, does that include the Engine Malfunction Light?
The fiat handbook says that it should only go out once the engine is started. Is that correct?

Not too sure on your model ( later than mine) is that the yellow Block ?( looks like a gearbox),
Charlie

Yes it is the yellow box

FiatNiko said:

Had the same problem with mine, my focus induction sucked up the puddle. I got home, few hours later, went to start it again and nothing. Managed to get it started after taking off the throttle body, cleaning it out and spraying wd40 in the ht leads.

Old air box back on. Battery reset because of eml was light on. Now its perfect

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:
That would be my guess. Check if your air filter is dry. If not dry it out or replace it.
Just a guess

jmckee4 said:

:yeahthat:
That would be my guess. Check if your air filter is dry. If not dry it out or replace it.
Just a guess

Click to expand...

it won't help if the filters wet.., but it was supposedly driven home o.k.,
( so the air passing through it would help to dry it out),

Still, sounds like a starter motor issue, after a tow-start it may fire-up on the starter with the extra charge from the alternator boosting the battery.

Pop the ecu connectors out and spray with a contact cleaner to drive any moisture out of it

If the engine survived going through the puddle, i'd be tempted to say the water was able to earth the starter motor main feed possibly frying the battery
But potential to wash the starter motor out, i'd be getting the motor out and testing the solonide, motor and combination

Ziggy

Hi guys!
Thanks for all your advice. Tried Charlie's idea last night and the car started first time, took it for a run and kept it idling for 15 when I got home. Fingers crossed it starts this morning or the tow rope will be coming out again!

Merry Christmas to you all!

think yourself lucky as if it was a pewgot most of them have the air trunking low down so sucking up water bends conrods in them
the art to driving through water up to the bumper is to keep the revs up but slipping the clutch a bit so not going too fast
or better still dont go through it
some insurers call it self infliction and wont pay out easily if fully comp even
it breaks cats too due to thermal shock