I have a 2007 GP 1,9 130 hp Multijet, very nice car but I am having annoying cold starting issues for years now.
To avoid a very, VERY long post, then I am just going to highlight the main observations below:
- Sometimes the car starts perfectly when cold and sometimes it just doesnt. Engine turns for seconds but does not ignite and then misfires on 2-3 cylinders when finally getting alive, in a BIG cloud of smoke from the exhaust.
-It will often have to be preheated and cranked twice to get it started. Sometimes even more, then being really hard to get alive. But eventually it always starts in the end (at least so far)
- The problem is only seen when engine is cold or in the warmup phase. Often the problem is actually biggest when starting after having dropped my son off in the kindergarden 5 min. from home.
- No difference if 25° summer or -20° winter.
- Once started there are no problems at all. Runs perfect and pulls like a freight train.
- Once hot, no starting issues at all. Starts immediately, every time.
- When putting ignition on, then the glow plug lamp always lights up for maybe 1/2 second. Then it flashes (is turned off) for a very short moment, and then gets back on immediately. Then stays on, sometimes for longer and sometimes shorter. It ALWAYS does this, hot or cold.
- If Preheated twice (ignition on, glow plug lamp on, ignition off, ignition on, preheat lamp on and then cranking) then it tends to start right away even if cold.
- no errors from the ECU, neither shown in the display, nor in the ECU log. Except for only a very few times when I had the excessive radiator temp warning, but this was limited to maybe 3-4 occations, at which the engine was then also really hard to get started. But normally nothing, no glow plug errors etc.
- had the car for 5 years, covered more than 100.000 km (from 135.000km to now 240.000 km) Always had this issue, summer & winter, sometimes better, sometimes worse.
So far I have:
- exchanged the glow plugs for new original Fiat ones.
- exchanged the battery for a new expensive Varta one
- exhanged the black glow plug relay
- cleaned connectors atbboth ends of the earth strap, mounted between the gearbox and the left side of the chassis.
All of this seemed to have some effect, maybe only in my imagination, but even then only for a short while, then back to normal.
From what I read here on the forum, then theese kind of cold starting issues seems to be a common problem, unfortunately with no clear conclusions to be made?
Did any of you manage to eliminate the issue permanently?
Is this an issue related only to punto, or do all the bravos, alfas, vectras, saabs etc. with the same engine suffer from similar problems?
How do I get on? My feeling is that it is a problem somehow related to the glow plug system, but maybe I should search in a completely different direction?
Any specific advise or general opinons, or maybe a lead to somebody who actually solved this issue would be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mikkel
To avoid a very, VERY long post, then I am just going to highlight the main observations below:
- Sometimes the car starts perfectly when cold and sometimes it just doesnt. Engine turns for seconds but does not ignite and then misfires on 2-3 cylinders when finally getting alive, in a BIG cloud of smoke from the exhaust.
-It will often have to be preheated and cranked twice to get it started. Sometimes even more, then being really hard to get alive. But eventually it always starts in the end (at least so far)
- The problem is only seen when engine is cold or in the warmup phase. Often the problem is actually biggest when starting after having dropped my son off in the kindergarden 5 min. from home.
- No difference if 25° summer or -20° winter.
- Once started there are no problems at all. Runs perfect and pulls like a freight train.
- Once hot, no starting issues at all. Starts immediately, every time.
- When putting ignition on, then the glow plug lamp always lights up for maybe 1/2 second. Then it flashes (is turned off) for a very short moment, and then gets back on immediately. Then stays on, sometimes for longer and sometimes shorter. It ALWAYS does this, hot or cold.
- If Preheated twice (ignition on, glow plug lamp on, ignition off, ignition on, preheat lamp on and then cranking) then it tends to start right away even if cold.
- no errors from the ECU, neither shown in the display, nor in the ECU log. Except for only a very few times when I had the excessive radiator temp warning, but this was limited to maybe 3-4 occations, at which the engine was then also really hard to get started. But normally nothing, no glow plug errors etc.
- had the car for 5 years, covered more than 100.000 km (from 135.000km to now 240.000 km) Always had this issue, summer & winter, sometimes better, sometimes worse.
So far I have:
- exchanged the glow plugs for new original Fiat ones.
- exchanged the battery for a new expensive Varta one
- exhanged the black glow plug relay
- cleaned connectors atbboth ends of the earth strap, mounted between the gearbox and the left side of the chassis.
All of this seemed to have some effect, maybe only in my imagination, but even then only for a short while, then back to normal.
From what I read here on the forum, then theese kind of cold starting issues seems to be a common problem, unfortunately with no clear conclusions to be made?
Did any of you manage to eliminate the issue permanently?
Is this an issue related only to punto, or do all the bravos, alfas, vectras, saabs etc. with the same engine suffer from similar problems?
How do I get on? My feeling is that it is a problem somehow related to the glow plug system, but maybe I should search in a completely different direction?
Any specific advise or general opinons, or maybe a lead to somebody who actually solved this issue would be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mikkel
