Hi folks.

My trusty 1995 Punto 75 SX died on me whilst I was driving home yesterday. All was good until I suddenly lost power, and now it won't start :-( The battery is fine, and the starter motor is hammering away, but no dice.

It's got a full tank of fuel. That said, I noticed last time I filled it that I could smell petrol for a couple of days after filling. Then it stopped & I forgot about it. Problem with the fuel line maybe? Any resource online that's better than me the manual, in terms of diagnostics?

Any helpful thoughts much appreciated! My car is standed down the road :-(


Cheers,

DOM

check the basics first before going down the diagnostic line,is the fuel pump running? you should hear it when you turn on the ignition,check all the connections,leads etc ,if the fuel pumps running is the fuel reaching the engine.tell us what you have checked and get back

The Fiat Cinquecento
Fun While It Runs

hi ya
take your ht leads off one by one (so u remember where they go) and check them for splits, corrision or dirt etc plus give em a good blast wiv WD40. Check your spark plugs aswell cos have you changed them recently? if yes then the gap mite need setting or they my be too long. Next take ur distributer of and check the rotor arm aint damage and also blast that wiv wd40.
This hopefully will eliminate ur ignition system as the prob if i still dont start.
Good luck

FIAT!!! It Doesn't Move But It Looks Good!!

Thanks people. I fear I don't know enough about what lives where under the bonnet to deal with these problems :-$

custart boy - I'm pretty sure the fuel pump is working, as I can hear a familiar sound when I turn the key once. I can't see any signs of leakage anywhere.

The starter motor is making healthy noises. bhoywondar - I thought to check the spark plugs, but I can't even find the damn things. The owners manual is very big on telling me where the battery is (even I can find that one!) but not the sparks/distributor.

Next thing is, the spark light came on, on the dash - this is why I thought to check the plugs, but apparently it could mean a problem with the fuel injection system :-O I removed the snap-on cover for the air intake, couldn't see anything obviously wrong, then reattached it. Now when I turn the engine over, the starter is making a more high-pitched noise.

Arrrgh!

Get the feeling I may have to file my efforts under "muppetry" and call in a mechanic. If only I had a feckin clue what I was doing, eh? Thanks for your help though, guys - appreciate it.


Cheers,

DOM

It could be one of hundreds of things - from a loose electrical connection to a snapped cambelt. If you don't know much about engines then you're going to have to bite the bullet and get a mechanic to check it out. Or a mate who knows about cars - costs far less!

Hope you get it sorted.

------/F/I/A/T/------

Fart In A Tin
<font color="orange">1994 Punto 55SX, metallic red, small, Italian and beautiful! </font id="orange">

hiya mine broke down and didnt start try pushing the fuel reset button think thats what it is called the round button down the side of the seat think its at passenger side?? my problem was a blow fuse for the fuel system!!!

black punto

ECU is dead i bet. if one of the spark plugs didn't work it would start or nearlly start but it would miss fire if its ticking over but its not kicking in at all the its you ecu have a look behind your ashtray/stereo for your ecu see if there is any corrosion and waambamm thank you mam thats your problem.
new ecu please

Proud owner of a bravo HGT!! SO now for sale a very Cheap PUNTO for sale 74,000 miles midnight blue 1.6 8v sporting K&N induction kit, lowered 35mm, full system exhaust,tinted windows,cadamuro light brows,de badged front and de locked passenger side,

ECU is dead i bet. if one of the spark plugs didn't work it would start or nearlly start but it would miss fire if its ticking over but its not kicking in at all the its you ecu have a look behind your ashtray/stereo for your ecu see if there is any corrosion and waambamm thank you mam thats your problem.
new ecu please

Proud owner of a bravo HGT!! SO now for sale a very Cheap PUNTO for sale 74,000 miles midnight blue 1.6 8v sporting K&N induction kit, lowered 35mm, full system exhaust,tinted windows,cadamuro light brows,de badged front and de locked passenger side,

ECU is dead i bet. if one of the spark plugs didn't work it would start or nearlly start but it would miss fire if its ticking over but its not kicking in at all the its you ecu have a look behind your ashtray/stereo for your ecu see if there is any corrosion and waambamm thank you mam thats your problem.
new ecu please

Proud owner of a bravo HGT!! SO now for sale a very Cheap PUNTO for sale 74,000 miles midnight blue 1.6 8v sporting K&N induction kit, lowered 35mm, full system exhaust,tinted windows,cadamuro light brows,de badged front and de locked passenger side,

Thanks for all the replies, people. I had someone look at it (JonnyBoy, I knew the biting of the bullet was inevitable - still waiting on that "mate who knows about cars" ;-) ).

Apparently it was the the tensioner for the cam belt :-S (If I recall what the guy said - I'll find out exactly when next speak to the garage). It's being repaired as I write (I hope) and I'm told that as long as the pistons haven't mashed in to each other, there shouldn't be any bigger problem...

Hummmm... Anyone recommend a starting point to getting my head round all this gubbins?


Cheers,

DOM

Piston mashing in a Punto 75 shouldnrt be a problem...According to Steve C, the FIRE (and so SuperFIRE as in the 75) units are non interference designs- if the cambelt snapped- the pistons wouldnt hit the valves

Tom (AofB)

GrpN Catback Exhaust system is here...just need to get the bleeder on now!!

You're not wrong. Apparently the cam belt didn't snap, but the tensioner fell apart ("exploded" as he put it), causing the belt to go slack. The belt itself was a bit worn at the edges, and the cover was damaged. But yes, no piston/valve damage, so that's one thing that's gone right this week. Anyhoo, the beast is alive again - let's hope I can keep it going this time.

Thanks people. When I recover, I really must find that "Cars 4 Dummies" book. Right now, need drink...


Cheers,

Steve