Technical Punto 04 Activate chugging/excessive fuel consumption

[robt]

Hi All,

Wonder if anyone has had a similiar problem. I've just had my Punto 04 Activate MOT'd and it failed on emmisions when running hot - turned out the thermostat needed replacing and now when driving it runs at normal temp. It then only just passed the emmissons test (or so they say!) But now when driving it lacks so much power, is chugging/missing, really bad fuel consumption - feels like a different car than before when it mostly run cold before faulty thermostat was replaced. I rang the garage up and they said it could be the lambda sensor on the cat? They charged me what i thought was allot to get it through the MOT (first time i've used this garage). If this is the fault - how much would it be to fix, or could it be something else? There are no dash lights coming on (eng management etc). Any help would be really appreciated as i have to get to a hospital every day to visit my mum! Also - is it dangerous to drive? Sometimes feels like it's going stop altogther. Many Thanks - Robert

 

[puntoFix]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUN...-Oxygen-Bosch-46750245-46751052-/332357880365

and a spanner to change the LAmbda.

But I would swap them over the pre and post ones to see if it fixes it first, you dont really need the second one working as it only reports the health of the cat.

 

[robt]

Hi - many thanks - do you think this is probably the cause? I was thinking of buying a fault finder to get any codes. Also would this cheaper one do - looks the same as your one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Rear-Lambda-Oxygen-Sensor-OS040-0377-4-Wire-BRAND-NEW-5-YEAR-WARRANTY/163047179286?fits=Car+Make%3AFiat%7CModel%3APunto%7CCars+Year%3A2004&hash=item25f65e8416:g:hiAAAOSwSw5a-YHL:rk:13f:0

 

[puntoFix]

It could be many things, a obd may tell you if its the lambda but swapping them with each first might fix it without buying a new one.

if its bad fuel consumption then it suggests to much fuel, take out spark plugs and see if any one is wet.

 

[robt]

Thanks very much for your response - I'll take a chance on the ebay lambda sensor.

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks very much for your response - I'll take a chance on the ebay lambda sensor.

Hi.

Bit late to this..

Before anything else..

Remove the battery negative lead overnight. It will let the ECU Clear all the 'learnt' errors from the cold running.

Once it is back on factory settings.. let us know what you find.

Charlie

 

[robt]

ok thx very much - i will try this tonight

 

[robt]

Hi - just thought i'd ask - is there a minimum time it should be left or just overnight - 12 hours or more? Thanks

 

[robt]

Hi - didn't work - thanks anyway

 

[varesecrazy]

Where is car based?

OBD code reading takes @3 minutes..

Scan of other stuff..around 20

No point paying a garage £60 to £110
For the same info..

 

[robt]

Car is based in Fleet, Hampshire. I've ordered lambda sensor from ebay. I reckon thats the problem because as i say, the car was running fine before thermostat change. If not then i'll get a code reader

 

[puntoFix]

Car is based in Fleet, Hampshire. I've ordered lambda sensor from ebay. I reckon thats the problem because as i say, the car was running fine before thermostat change. If not then i'll get a code reader

Whats the logical link between the Thermostat and the lambda sensor?

I dont understand how the lambda worked when you had a faulty thermostat. But now it doesn't?

A faulty lambda is a faulty lambda regardless of thermostat either being stuck open or shut?
Car will run badly on a faulty lambda but you are saying it was not bad before Thermostat changed. Sounds like they just fitted a faulty thermostat ?

 

[robt]

Hi - thx for reply. All i know is that now the car runs at proper temp (cos temp gauge now tells me that). When i explained the chugging problem to the mechanic, he said because car now runs at proper temp then it sounds like a lambda problem. What is the most obvious problem if the car chugs. bad fuel consumption etc after a thermostat change?I suppose i should buy a code reader tomorrow, Argos do one for £30

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi - thx for reply. All i know is that now the car runs at proper temp (cos temp gauge now tells me that). When i explained the chugging problem to the mechanic, he said because car now runs at proper temp then it sounds like a lambda problem. What is the most obvious problem if the car chugs. bad fuel consumption etc after a thermostat change?I suppose i should buy a code reader tomorrow, Argos do one for £30

A decent quality device will do more than offer generic codes..

I use a VS600 similar price.. but can read lambda function. Etc

SEARCH on ebay

 

[robt]

ok thx

 

[puntoFix]

Ideally you want one that plugs into your laptop Bluetooth or usb. So you can use the fiat multi scan software. Get one of eBay for 5£ I posted a link a few weeks ago which one I got.

But be aware diagnosing a lambda from obd reading is super hard unless you know what a working one should look like.

What values are right or wrong I don't have a clue!

 

[robt]

Hi, I checked the codes and have code P0130 01/01 - i looked it up "02 sensor circuit malfunction (bank 1 sensor 1) - i take it this is the lambda sensor? Many Thanks

 

[robt]

Sorry - replied to the wrong thread! Apologies

 

[robt]

No i didn't reply to wrong thread! Duh - dunno what happened there

 

[puntoFix]

Sounds like you got a bad sensor then!

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/418065-p0130-then-p0135-fault-codes-lambda.html