Technical Lack of Power

[Lockness]

Hello to all,

I have a 2001 Fiat Punto EXL 1.2 8v, and it current has an issue were it lacks a lot of power. This issue has only happened the last couple times I have driven it and usually does after the engine has been running previously.

For example if I were to get into the car and start it for the first time that day it will usually run fine, so then if I drove it to the shop and came back to it, starting the engine again this is where the problem arises.

When it idles it is usually 1,000rpm and the engine shakes a concerning amount, if I raise it to about 2,000rpm the shaking stops but the engine has no power.

Does anybody know how to fix this problem? Or know what the problem could be because at the moment I have no clue, many thanks

 

[kido resuri]

When were the spark plugs changed? What type of plugs so you use? HT leads and ignition coils should also be checked.

Worst case would be an ECU failure.

 

[Lockness]

When were the spark plugs changed? What type of plugs so you use? HT leads and ignition coils should also be checked.

Worst case would be an ECU failure.

I have changed, ignition coils and HT leads. And I believe spark plugs were changed in a service. Would ECU failure also cause key code errors? Since that was a problem that I had previously but it seems to have fixed after changing the key areial. Thanks

 

[kido resuri]

If the key code error is gone, than it was the aerial, it's usually the aerial or it's bad contact.

You should read out the errors from the ECU, to find out that there is ignition error on cylibders 1 and 4 or 2 and 3. Or ignition 1 or 2. Anyhow, after this you swap the two coils, and the error stays and next readout shows the same errors (same cyl. misfire or same coil) than it is your ECU's output port that died.

 

[kido resuri]

If you have a multimeter and know how to use it, you can do some measurements to check the ECU outputs.

 

[Lockness]

If you have a multimeter and know how to use it, you can do some measurements to check the ECU outputs.

Thanks. I have a multimeter and know how to use it. I do not know how I would check the ECU outputs, which outputs and I do not know what the measurements should be. Can you help further please ? Thanks

 

[kido resuri]

Measure these points on your ECU. If they are different vaues, eg. 400 vs 800 ohms, then one of the ECU's ignition coil outputs failed. (If the values are the same, eg. 400 ohms, doesn't mean that the ECU is in good working condition.)

 

[Lockness]

Measure these points on your ECU. If they are different vaues, eg. 400 vs 800 ohms, then one of the ECU's ignition coil outputs failed. (If the values are the same, eg. 400 ohms, doesn't mean that the ECU is in good working condition.)

Thanks very much, did this found out it wasn't actually the ECU but the ignition coils not power the spark plugs correctly on cylinders 1 and 4. Which is rather confusing since I did just change them not but a month ago, so bit mysterious why they have not worked as well, any ideas?

Thanks again for all the help diagnosing the ECU everybody

 

[kido resuri]

Well, that's bad, typical ECU failure symptom.
Try swapping the two coils, and if the same cylinders misfire, than it is the ECU, but if cylinders 2 and 3, then it's the coil.

What type of coils did you buy?

Also.. you mentioned earlier that the spark plugs were changed in a service. It is very important to know the exact type of the plugs, as this engine (or rather the ECU) requires NGK BKR5EZ, any other type, even NGK BKR5E, without the ending Z, can lead to ECU failure in specific situations.

(there are some cross-reference plugs from other manufacturers, but better use the one mentioned in the manual)

https://translate.google.hu/transla....puntonium.hu/2018/06/22/a-gyujtogyertyakrol/