Technical Help Needed - 1.4 8V GP - Engine Fails To Start

[zhihao]

Hi all,

i reside in Singapore and bump across this great forum... not too sure if anyone can help me out on this

i suffer from an intermittent problem, at times my GP will fail to start until at least 7-8 attempts to do so, hence, i can safely conclude it should not be a battery problem else i shouldn't be able to start up the engine at all...

during the first few attempts to fire up the engine, i can see the usual engine block vibration together with a scary "drilling" like sound coming out from the engine block... few more attempts the drilling like sound disappears and you can hear the engine barely attempting to start (almost the same kind of behavior when your battery goes flat), you will also observe the tachometer moving slightly and all led display panel symbols lighted up as an end state, its like the whole car just gone crazy... a few more tries, you get closer to the proper engine start sound and around the 7th to 10th try i will usually manage to get it started...

i made a very important observation today, after my car gets started, all the settings gets lost -> eco mode off, air-con compressor off, city mode off, use internal air off...

my previous settings to all these were at the "on" state...

anyone can advice?

 

[T14086]

you mean starter motor is noisy

 

[Thomas_Si]

Can you check what the voltage is on your battery?

 

[Super Noob]

Hi

Don't mean to take over your post. But just didn't wanna start another with similar issue.

My GP sound like it had the same problem as your. This was the first time ever I experience this and started just after the big freeze (Dec 2010).



If I need to take a voltage, can I do this myself or take it into dealer..?

Thx

 

[Andy Monty]

I will stick my neck out and say its your battery measuring your voltage wont tell you much you need to have it load tested to see if its beyond redemption this simulates cranking the car and gives a far more accurate display of the battery health


but first check your battery clamps are tight just to rule that out a change is simple needing minimal tools and just a bit of care


https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/257103-grande-punto-battery-replacement.html

mine cost me a whopping £35 from the local factors (same battery is £45 from euro car parts)

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/F...32f48d6aaf174d2f8f895184d4e4963e8aee616e&BATT


comes with a life time warranty for what its worth

http://www.lionbatteries.co.uk/


many places will do free battery testing BUT be warned they will want to sell you a new battery so perhaps a print out of your best prices for a new battery and a smile and mutter words like "can you match this price mr?" might be a good idea

 

[TallTom]

I will stick my neck out and say its your battery measuring your voltage wont tell you much you need to have it load tested to see if its beyond redemption this simulates cranking the car and gives a far more accurate display of the battery health

Would agree with this, try some jump leads and see if it starts off of that, I had this behaviour when my battery was knackered as well!

 

[Super Noob]

Andy at the rescue as usual, thx a million. Will check on the battery connection this weekend. It all seem fine. Then I guess I be heading to my local garage to get a new batt.

Will try the jump leads also

I'm just glad it not the engine that playing up. Otherwise that gonna hurt my wallet.

 

[Andy Monty]

the one that is more likely to be loose is the negative post its quick release so open lever push clamp downwards then re tighten no tools needed to check if its green and/or furry clean it up with a bit of sand paper and put back together



i got one of these not pro quality but more than good enough to use as a guide to test the battery

http://www.mptools.co.uk/products.asp?partno=282625

 

[Super Noob]

Kool that a handy tool to keep around. Have order one. Thx Andy