Technical Fiat grande punto 1.9 sporting - trouble starting.

[d3vlinsp0rting]

I have a fiat punto grande 1.9 (06 reg) it's having a lot of troubles to start.

What I have done:

bought new glow plugs.
bought new battery.
bought new glow plug relay.

every time I try and start, it coughs and coughs but just won't tick over.

sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't.

might be important: I just went out to my car, tried to start it and it wouldn't start, a warning came up on the dashboard saying excess radiator fluid, turn off engine and start again.

I'm not a mechanic, far from it. just want to get it sorted!

Thanks.

 

[Bernievarian]

The Engine Control Unit (ECU) will not allow the engine to start if it sees over temperature of the coolant fluid. You've already changed the whole cold start system, was it blindly or after proving the components were dead ?
Bad grounding can cause such problem, I'd recommend to check the connection between battery negative and car body / gearbox ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[MrDerv]

Is the new battery the correct rating for the car? I seem to remember it needing at least a 60Ah capacity with the ability to provide at least 550CCA.

The battery in our punto was crap, i used to get the excess fluid temp when trying to start. Replaced the battery with an Exide 64Ah 640CCA and it has not appeared since. Starts first time.

Excess fluid temperature message can also appear if the coolant temp sensor is not an OEM one. Aftermarket thermostats come with a new one fitted, but the quality of the temp sensor could be crap, so may be worth fitting a new coolant temp sensor if the battery is ok.

 

[d3vlinsp0rting]

Is the new battery the correct rating for the car? I seem to remember it needing at least a 60Ah capacity with the ability to provide at least 550CCA.

The battery in our punto was crap, i used to get the excess fluid temp when trying to start. Replaced the battery with an Exide 64Ah 640CCA and it has not appeared since. Starts first time.

Excess fluid temperature message can also appear if the coolant temp sensor is not an OEM one. Aftermarket thermostats come with a new one fitted, but the quality of the temp sensor could be crap, so may be worth fitting a new coolant temp sensor if the battery is ok.

I went to my local car spares shop and told them what punto grande 1.9 I had and he sold me the battery and said it was a heavy duty one, can't tell you more than that.

Where do I check the rating for the battery?

The excess fluid temp only comes up now an again. it's when it's really having trouble to start, it bleeps and then gives out that message!

I bought the car second hand and it's always been a pain to start. normally I get in, put the key in the ignition, put my seat belt on and then try to start. If I were to get in, put the key in the ignition and wait for the glow plug light to go out, it would be hard to start. it's always been like this for me.

The Engine Control Unit (ECU) will not allow the engine to start if it sees over temperature of the coolant fluid. You've already changed the whole cold start system, was it blindly or after proving the components were dead ?
Bad grounding can cause such problem, I'd recommend to check the connection between battery negative and car body / gearbox ...

BRs, Bernie

Sorry, what do you mean by:

was it blindly or after proving the components were dead ?

?

it was having trouble to start and on the dashboard it said to check the glow plugs, we presumed they were dead and replaced them; still had the problem. my father tested the old glow plugs and they still worked. so I went out and bought the new glow plug relay, still the same problem. so again, went out and bought a new battery and it's still the same. the excess message comes up randomly when it's hard to start but it's not always coming up.

Any ideas and what to do next?

 

[MrDerv]

I went to my local car spares shop and told them what punto grande 1.9 I had and he sold me the battery and said it was a heavy duty one, can't tell you more than that.

Where do I check the rating for the battery?

The excess fluid temp only comes up now an again. it's when it's really having trouble to start, it bleeps and then gives out that message!

I bought the car second hand and it's always been a pain to start. normally I get in, put the key in the ignition, put my seat belt on and then try to start. If I were to get in, put the key in the ignition and wait for the glow plug light to go out, it would be hard to start. it's always been like this for me.

Rating for the battery should be on a label on the battery itself.

As a possible diagnostic, turn the ignition on, wait 5 seconds, turn off. Repeat 3 times, and on the third try, start the car. If it starts without hesitation, it'll be your glowplugs. I replaced mine with Bosch Duraterm as i found the cheap ones crap for starting.

Another point about the glowplugs, plug 3 is difficult to remove due to the high pressure fuel pipe being in the way. There's a possibility this plug wasn't changed with the rest of them since it's difficult to get a socket set to it for removal, which will give you starting issues.

 

[Bernievarian]

I meant have you checked the components before replacing them ... Could be as simple as a fuse or a relay ! Here's how it works.

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[d3vlinsp0rting]

I meant have you checked the components before replacing them ... Could be as simple as a fuse or a relay ! Here's how it works.

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

I've just booked an appointment at my local fiat garage to see if they can solve it.

Thanks to the both of you!

PS: all 4 glow plugs were definitely changed.

 

[Urbas]

Hi,

I have the same problem now for 3 years (summers). Only difference is that my car won't start only when parked on sun for 8 hours, after job. I just don't understand what the sun and high temperatures (25 degC+) has to do with it but it definitely has an influence...

... but temperatures are low now again, I am all OK for 7-8 months ...

 

[GPS130]

Hi there, first post here so a big hello firstly!

d3vlinsp0rting

No idea if you have sorted this yet but if your car triggers intermittent engine light when using 100% pedal then it'll be fuel pressure regulator on the high pressure pump. If not I'd be looking at the starter motor.
Not wishing to contradict anyone but glow plugs aren't even needed until outside temperatures drop below 5c. My last car (BMW 330d) had a faulty glow plug module and it still started without glow plugs at less than 0c.

Urbas

You have a different issue most likely Cam or Crank sensor. Hot start issues are usually one of those two things.

 

[d3vlinsp0rting]

Hi there, first post here so a big hello firstly!

d3vlinsp0rting

No idea if you have sorted this yet but if your car triggers intermittent engine light when using 100% pedal then it'll be fuel pressure regulator on the high pressure pump. If not I'd be looking at the starter motor.
Not wishing to contradict anyone but glow plugs aren't even needed until outside temperatures drop below 5c. My last car (BMW 330d) had a faulty glow plug module and it still started without glow plugs at less than 0c.

Urbas

You have a different issue most likely Cam or Crank sensor. Hot start issues are usually one of those two things.

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

I went to my local Fiat garage and paid £99 so they could have a look and diagnose the problem, they said to diagnose the problem it would cost more than the car is worth.

My father actually fixed it, he cleaned the diesel filters etc and he found a loose wire going from the battery to the ECG (not 100% sure it's the ECG, I'm no mechanic) but now it starts first time every time, just have to wait for the glow plug light to go out on the dashboard.

However, there is still a slight problem, the "engine" management light has stayed on but it drives fine and starts every time now.

No idea but I'm just glad it's sorted and I never scraped it.

Thanks all!