Technical 2012 Punto Easy 1.4L Check engine warning & stop start unavailable warning. And misfiring

[IsaacA37]

About a very annoying fault I’ve had for a while. The engine is randomly misfiring to the point where the car judders upon accelerating. It has only been doing this occasionally but this morning & twice previously in the last 6 months it gets worse & I get 2 warning lights on the dash. The first is the general warning accompanied by the ‘stop start unavailable’ message. Second is the check engine light which at first flashes briefly and then goes out but then becomes steady accompanied by a ‘check engine’ warning. In the past when I’ve had this happen I replaced the spark plugs and it went away. Then when it came back a few months later it disappeared on its own before I could replace anything. In between all three instances it has been randomly misfiring but not that much and not all the time. However when these lights come on its like driving a ride on lawnmower constantly.

 

[Zardo]

Run some diagnostics using https://www.multiecuscan.net/ or AlfaOBD. You need the software, a cable and an adapter. Or find someone near you who has the kit and is willing to have a look...

 

[8803surri]

About a very annoying fault I’ve had for a while. The engine is randomly misfiring to the point where the car judders upon accelerating. It has only been doing this occasionally but this morning & twice previously in the last 6 months it gets worse & I get 2 warning lights on the dash. The first is the general warning accompanied by the ‘stop start unavailable’ message. Second is the check engine light which at first flashes briefly and then goes out but then becomes steady accompanied by a ‘check engine’ warning. In the past when I’ve had this happen I replaced the spark plugs and it went away. Then when it came back a few months later it disappeared on its own before I could replace anything. In between all three instances it has been randomly misfiring but not that much and not all the time. However when these lights come on its like driving a ride on lawnmower constantly.

Did you get this sorted? I have EXACTLY the same issue??

 

[8803surri]

Run some diagnostics using https://www.multiecuscan.net/ or AlfaOBD. You need the software, a cable and an adapter. Or find someone near you who has the kit and is willing to have a look...

Not everyone can do this.....What's the most common solution?

 

[GrandePunto PL]

Be more specific. What is it exactly you "can't" do in Bulgaria?
You can't afford cheap OBD interface (ELM327 for example)?
Plus pirated software? In the country, where big Fiat forum has pirated books available for download?
http://download.fiatforum.bg/Books/ !
Most common solution? GOOGLE "Fiat start stop unavailable" or similar query. Problem is electrical (power, earths, connectors) most likely.

 

[8803surri]

Not getting anywhere, oh and has nothing to do with Bulgaria. SO Engine warning light on, not flashing, ODB put in and varies cylinder faults. Turn key of and on again fault disappears. ALSO on Blue and me, no option when pressing the media key for phone...only CD and aux. Also, Start / Stop DOES NOT work......tried spesific process, handbrake, brake, on off brake pedal etc etc and nothing! What a sh*t car!

 

[GrandePunto PL]

Car is simple. Perfect for DIY repairs. But most owners are "s_h_i_t", paraphrasing your words. Uneducated (lack of basics), lazy, sassy etc.
In Punto you have all "layers": classical mechanics, electrical stuff, a bit of power hydraulics (VVT), CAN network modules. That's all.
And a million videos on YouTube on how to tackle all those areas, systems of the car. Go there and learn something. Put "man-hours" into it.
You can't just demand answers, solutions. "Pay your dues" first.
So far there is no evidence of a real work done (checks, measurements, adjustments, repairs, inspections, parts swapped). No "hard data".

 

[8803surri]

Car is simple. Perfect for DIY repairs. But most owners are "s_h_i_t", paraphrasing your words. Uneducated (lack of basics), lazy, sassy etc.
In Punto you have all "layers": classical mechanics, electrical stuff, a bit of power hydraulics (VVT), CAN network modules. That's all.
And a million videos on YouTube on how to tackle all those areas, systems of the car. Go there and learn something. Put "man-hours" into it.
You can't just demand answers, solutions. "Pay your dues" first.
So far there is no evidence of a real work done (checks, measurements, adjustments, repairs, inspections, parts swapped). No "hard data".

Why are you making this personal and not helping me? Would you be kind enough to supply some links to said you tube videos. I unfortunately have no mechanical or electrical skill. I am a soldier. Please do be helpful. It might even make you feel better!

 

[Zardo]

There are algorithms for that.

Start with one symptom. Engine light is on because of "cylinder faults".

What's the OBD fault code?

What's Blue&Me got to do with it?

SO Engine warning light on, not flashing, ODB put in and varies cylinder faults. Turn key of and on again fault disappears. ALSO on Blue and me, no option when pressing the media key for phone...only CD and aux. Also, Start / Stop DOES NOT work......tried spesific process, handbrake, brake, on off brake pedal etc etc and nothing!

 

[AnthonyH]

I unfortunately have no mechanical or electrical skill.

It would take you months and years to learn the skills required to fix this, so you need to take it to a mechanic or garage.

 

[8803surri]

It would take you months and years to learn the skills required to fix this, so you need to take it to a mechanic or garage.

A quick use of Facebook "Fiat owners UK" identifies that The start / stop is a low voltage battery...I shall check. Simple answer that could have been provided "you cant play music from your phone with "Blue & me" again from Facebook Fiat owners club.

 

[YellowPuntoFiat]

Hi, I had a similar issue with my son's Punto 2007. I checked the battery but then checking the charge when the car was running showed that the voltage was not high enough. In the end, had to replace the alternator. But before replacing alternator, check all your connections to the alternator because they could be loose.
Not getting enough electricity from the alternator can create some weird issues with the Punto.
Good luck!

 

[8803surri]

Hi, I had a similar issue with my son's Punto 2007. I checked the battery but then checking the charge when the car was running showed that the voltage was not high enough. In the end, had to replace the alternator. But before replacing alternator, check all your connections to the alternator because they could be loose.
Not getting enough electricity from the alternator can create some weird issues with the Punto.
Good luck!

Many many thanks for this...Ahh the forums do work! What exact issues did you have?

 

[Zardo]

A rotten (oxydized) Earth cable can randomly trigger all kind of seemingly unrelated symptoms. It's basically a floating mass (negative) pole and this can totally make car electronics run amok in unexpected ways.

However, those symptoms could still have a direct cause each, especially in a neglected car

 

[YellowPuntoFiat]

Many many thanks for this...Ahh the forums do work! What exact issues did you have?

In my case, it was the power sterring. It would turn on and off intermittenly.