Technical 2005 Punto Intermittently Cutting Out

[joepunto22]

I have just purchased a Fiat Punto Dynamic 8v (1.2). It's a 54 plate registered in 2005.

It starts and appears to run fine, but intermittently the engine cuts out and the car comes to a halt. At the time of the fault, no warning lights show and when you then try to restart the car, the engine spins over and doesn't fire. The only light that comes on at this point is a little car and a padlock (yellow), and therefore thought it might be an immobiliser issue after searching the web - but as the car tends to start fine (at least initially), not sure. Unfortunately I don’t have a manual for the car!

One other note- just found that if you remove the earth lead and put it straight back on, engine runs fine immediately. Bit of a novice but I was wondering if there were a few things I could try/ anyone had experienced an identical issue to give me a bit of an idea. Done a bit of a search on here and spotted quite a few immobiliser issues but not quite found the same problem/ or a solution. This looks similar, for example, but the third post sort of suggests it isn’t an immobiliser issue.

There’s another post suggesting it may be the ‘body computer’ – I don’t really know a lot about this or what the next step would be, especially as that thread doesn’t have any posts related to an outcome. Anyway, I wanted to check if anyone had any ideas before I go and end up splashing some cash on sorting it.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

 

[fingers99]

Try with the other key?

Does sound immob (on some level).

Other likely candidate would be the TDC sensor, but that would wouldn't account for the immobilser warning light.

 

[s and b]

because car cuts out this suggests engine ecu losing power ie earth
because on restarting speedo shows padlock this suggests key not recognised to engine ecu
cheapest thing to try is remove air filter find ecu and throttle body,remove small earth connected to throttle body ,clean bright the connectors,re tighten,also make sure ecu is bolted tight on throttle body as slackness here will cause same issue
report back

 

[joepunto22]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes it is the same with both keys, and unfortunately s and b's suggestions haven't worked. Conducted all those steps and gave the whole job the absolute best clean I could so it's sparkling like, then took it out and it lasted about 5 mins.

Any other ideas?

 

[s and b]

even though you say no code lights showing my next step would be an interogation of the body computer and ecu
ideally if you had a windows laptop and the elm27 lead and free version fiatecuscan you could drive the car and see whats happening in real time (total cost about £12)

check and clean bright battery terminals too but i think its more involved

 

[joepunto22]

even though you say no code lights showing my next step would be an interogation of the body computer and ecu
ideally if you had a windows laptop and the elm27 lead and free version fiatecuscan you could drive the car and see whats happening in real time (total cost about £12)

check and clean bright battery terminals too but i think its more involved

Thanks again S and B - done the battery terminals already but could you (or anyone else) possibly link me to the right lead/ fiat scan? Don't want to get the wrong thing here!

 

[s and b]

link
http://www.multiecuscan.net/

read what yani says about elm leads before you make a choice

 

[joepunto22]

My dad decided to take it to a garage and just get it sorted. Unfortunately, they have absolutely no clue what's wrong with it and have had a few blokes look at it.

Can't help but feel I've been mugged off. It didn't do it on my test drive (5mins down the road) but having cut out the first journey after I bought it I reckon the seller must have known about the issue. I did ring and tell him at that point and he said he wouldn't rip me off and maybe it was just a key problem or something but doesn't look like that

Going to see if the bloke will take the car back and if not I guess I'm going to have to find a Fiat dealer or something.

 

[s and b]

you probably were mugged off
nearest garage to me i see him constantly revving things to cure all maladies ,you might as well stick pins in your upholstery as get him to cure it,you need a garage with equipment that can communicate with the engine
i gave you the link to do it yourself
why pay fools