Idea Been awhile - 1.3JTD Frozen

[i love my idea]

Hi its been awhile since I posted on here and love the forum for trying to find answers.

I have a late 2004 Fiat Idea 1.3JTD Multijet (Same engine in corsa's, alfa's etc) last friday it refused to start after suffering -8c overnight. It tried to start and then made this god awful screeching noise and gave up. This was at 8am so I walked to work and tried it when I got home at 5pm after the sun had been shining on car most of the day. It started ok so I drove it around to charge battery as that had drained and reset computer data etc. Saturday it was ok but didn't start it till late morning and the same on Sunday. I had thought that since it had tried to get fuel and ran for a couple of secs on Friday that the fuel pump may have frozen or there was some wax build up. So I bought some diesel additive and put BP ultimate in the tank as they make changes to the fuel in winter. Anyway monday and tuesday car was ok but the weather was a little milder. This morning after at least -5c overnight it refused to start and screeches but won't fire. Again walked to work and came back around 5pm and it still wont start and the temp hasn't been above 0c. Listening for the noise it is from the drivers side of the engine around where the timing chain is. Better half looked tonight and he can see the pulley trying to go round but at the very bottom we think it is the compressor for the air con that has a wheel and the belt is slipping causing the screech. Is the air con compressor frozen? What is the belt that drives it? Will defrosting and then having the air con drained and dehydrated fix the problem? and more importantly have I done other damage?

The battery was changed in 2009 (although I had to have a smaller battery because the correct power is too large to fit the gap!)
The starter motor was replaced in July 2009
The earthing cable burnt through and was changed in Summer 2010

Any help will be appreciated. I didn't post on Idea forum as no-one looks on their and this is an engine issue and not a model issue.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

when i first read this i thought that maybe your water pump had frozen but i've not really thought that much about the 1.3 JTD to know if the pump is powered off the timing chain or the aux belt (i always assumed the chain?) so you might benefit from putting more antifreeze in if you think it might be possible the coolant is freezing in the engine block. that can do significant damage.

then you mention the possibility of the Aircon pump which is very easy to test for. when the aircon is turned off, the pulley will spin freely so if it happens again make sure the aircon is turned off in the car, if you find it is the air con then you might have to take it to an aircon engineer for a service which will involve a full regass and oil, because this is the only way to get excess moisture out of the system (your theory is possible)

if you have the means you could post a photo of the offending pulley so we could advise better but it sounds like you know pretty much what you're doing. i've not had the same problems with my 1.3jtd in the cold yet but my aircon is switched off all though the winter.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

after a quick look today it would seem that the water pump and air con are driven off the same belt, with the aircon compressor at the bottom and the water pump directly above it

 

[ivantate]

Could be the pump and the slipping belt is not letting the engine get enough cranking speed to start.

 

[ivantate]

Front bottom left of the engine if you want to try and turn it by hand. If it is frozen and there are not other problems you have been amazingly lucky.