Technical Help. Engine died.

[AnthonyH]

My Grande Punto has just died.

I'm fairly used to suspension problems, bodywork problems, wiring, but now the car just won't start i'm lost. I'm going to be struggling to diagnose this.

It will crank OK but the engine won't start. The first thing I checked was the earth, which is OK, then the battery (i put another one across it).

The only clue I have is that the engine won't crank from ignition/dashboard on. i.e. if I turn the key from the off position to engine on it cranks, but if i turn the ignition on, and then try to turn the engine on, it won't crank. This may mean something, i'm not sure.

There is petrol. And i don't have MultiECUscan.

Now what?

I'm probably going to be doing this all weekend now, oh fun

 

[AnthonyH]

I'm thinking it might be a fuel problem. I tried checking to see if I could hear the fuel pump, but not i'm sure what it sounds like. As far as I can tell fuse 21 should be checked, but i don't know exactly how to get that out. I'm not keen on pulling hard unless I know it will come out as opposed to break. Its the black fuse in the bottom left of the picture, how do i get that out?

I'm currently looking at multiecuscan tools. I bought one of those recently that didn't work. Can someone recommend one that will 100% work on Fiats?

 

[Greasytrucker]

For a quick diagnosis I’d try a sniff of easy start or similar, if it briefly runs on easy start then it’s a fuel problem, if it still won’t run then it’s weak or no spark. It sounds to me like it’s trying to start. Just don’t spray too much easy start in as you risk hydro locking the engine

 

[AnthonyH]

For a quick diagnosis I’d try a sniff of easy start or similar, if it briefly runs on easy start then it’s a fuel problem, if it still won’t run then it’s weak or no spark. It sounds to me like it’s trying to start. Just don’t spray too much easy start in as you risk hydro locking the engine

Righto I'll get some easy start, that's a great name for the product i need, because this car is anything but an "easy start" lol.

 

[jackwhoo]

Does the imobilser light go off?

 

[AnthonyH]

Does the imobilser light go off?

All of the dashboard lights, immobiliser, oil, battery, eml, etc. stay on.

 

[jackwhoo]

All of the dashboard lights, immobiliser, oil, battery, eml, etc. stay on.

Key on ...wait....If imobilizer light stays on it means imobilser is not functioning correctly

 

[AnthonyH]

Key on ...wait....If imobilizer light stays on it means imobilser is not functioning correctly

Just now, I turned the ignition on, but didn't try to start the engine, waited 30 seconds and the immobiliser light stayed on.

*me scratches head*

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Just now, I turned the ignition on, but didn't try to start the engine, waited 30 seconds and the immobiliser light stayed on.

*me scratches head*

Have you got a second key you can try just to rule out the key being the problem ?

 

[AnthonyH]

Have you got a second key you can try just to rule out the key being the problem ?

I bought it with just one key.

How do I check if its the key or the car that is faulty?

 

[AnthonyH]

I think i'm going to have to get a new key. My question is this...

Can I take it into a Timpson shop and have them make a new key?

Or would someone have to come to the house and put a new key into the car and reprogram it?

 

[AnthonyH]

I'll take the key to Timpson today and ask if the key is working or not.

If its working it could be that the antenna in the ignition barrel is dirty and a clean might make the key work again. I got the idea for the clean from the video below.

 

[AnthonyH]

I took the key into Timpsons and the guy said the key is fine.

So i'm now going to try to clean the aerial/antenna in the ignition socket, its also possible there's a loose wire in there somewhere. This should be interesting, i just hope i don't break something else while i'm in there...

 

[jackwhoo]

Great news key Has been checked.
Sensible to check electrical connection to Ariel and clean contacts

 

[varesecrazy]

From what you said earlier,

THE ENGINE DIDN'T CRANK

That is a basic electrical issue,
Nothing to do with Immobiliser

 

[AnthonyH]

From what you said earlier,

THE ENGINE DIDN'T CRANK

That is a basic electrical issue,
Nothing to do with Immobiliser

Yesterday it was cranking as per the video I posted (although the crank did stop itself after a few seconds), so I went to try again just now, and the battery has died/drained. So i put a spare battery across it and the car cranks as per the video again, but won't start.

Last year I put a second earth cable on the car, and yesterday I put a jump lead from the battery negative to the engine, so it had 3 earths. I've tried starting it with 3 batteries now, so its not the battery.

*me scratches head again* lol

 

[AnthonyH]

I took the battery off to charge it, but it doesn't look like it needs charging. The current that should be used to start the engine is being stolen from somewhere unknown.

The only electrical fault i've noticed lately was an intermittent bulb warning light. It appeared to come on when the brakes were pressed but the brake bulb and all of the others were working. I don't know if this is related.

 

[varesecrazy]

I took the battery off to charge it, but it doesn't look like it needs charging. The current that should be used to start the engine is being stolen from somewhere unknown.

The only electrical fault i've noticed lately was an intermittent bulb warning light. It appeared to come on when the brakes were pressed but the brake bulb and all of the others were working. I don't know if this is related.

Unlikely,
That will be a poor connection at the rear light unit (I have owned these cars..)

Ok, so can you recap what has happened in the last week

Driving ok - how was starting, hot and cold idle?

Then "starting issues", what did / didn't work?

Where are you now with it..
What has improved.. Or been ruled out

 

[AnthonyH]

Unlikely,
That will be a poor connection at the rear light unit (I have owned these cars..)

Ok, so can you recap what has happened in the last week

Driving ok - how was starting, hot and cold idle?

Then "starting issues", what did / didn't work?

Where are you now with it..
What has improved.. Or been ruled out

The car has been fine over the last month or two, the last job I can remember doing on it was the starter motor...surely a brand new GSF starter motor hasn't failed?! Maybe something has come loose?! You did ask the perfect question there to get me thinking!

In the last week the car started first time every time, in fact it has since i put the new starter on. The driving has been fine, i've been doing around 800 miles a week, so a lot of wear and tear, but no problems.

Where i'm with it now, is i need to get under the car and check the starter motor, probably tomorrow now.

Thanks for asking such clever questions!

 

[jackwhoo]

Ignition on ...self check process...the orange code/padlock light does not go out ?