Technical I am a newbie who REALLY needs help to start my Uno!!!

[HELENB]

Hello all I have just bought a Fiat Uno 70 SX IE, 1372, 5DR 1991, about 2 hrs ago!!

I really like the car but haven't managed to drive it yet as I can't seem to get the ignition key to work properly!!!

Getting a bit concerned

The key opens the doors fine so I know he has given me the right key but is there a special trick to start the car?!?!? There is a button near the ignition and when I press it the key turns anti clock wise and the dash lights come on but won't go any further!! I have tried phoning the guy but can't get through!!

Please help!!

Thanks xxx

 

[jjhepburn]

Maybe steering lock? Try wiggling the steering wheel while trying to turn the key.

Incidentally you have accidentally discovered how to turn on the park lights Many people go years not knowing what that little button does.

 

[dave]

you have to turn it clock wise to start.
like said above Try wiggling the steering and pushing the key in a bit as you turn

 

[Hellcat]

Yep as the cars get older the amount of wiggling of the a) Key and b) Steering wheel increases. Try wiggling the steering wheel while simultaniously moving the key in and out and turning clockwise (sounds complicated but it's no harder than ctrl+alt+del which I'm sure you will be a master of as you use a computer ), at some point the key will turn once and the electrics will come on, twice and it's ready to start, 3rd click engages the starter motor.

 

[HELENB]

:worship: :worship: :worship:
Thank You All So Much!!

I will try that wiggle thing in the morning!!

I was so paranoid and convinced that the bugger had ripped me off with a dodgy key!?! That's what I get for buying a car at 10 at night in the dimmly streets of Hackney!!!

Thanks again!

Hopefully/hopefully not speak again soon!?!

Once again...:worship:

 

[dave]

did you not hear it running before you bought it?

 

[HELENB]

Hi!
I was actually in the car when he drove it round to mine and was running perfectly!!
It's in great nick but I didn't drive it myself so having a paranoid moment...

...I was convinced he had swapped the key....was gonna come back and take it in the middle of the night with the original keys.....so I rushed home to put insurance on it incase he stole it back.......

....I seriously need to learn how to chill and cut out the tea eace:

I love smilies!!!

 

[Hellcat]

I had a moment a bit like that with my Tipo. Drove it all the way home and 'forgot' how to disable the immobiliser. Was convinced it was broken. Mega panic since I'd driven it 200ish miles home and couldn't get it started!

 

[thepottleflump]

I bet the insurance cost more than the car is worth!!!

It is perfectly possible to have a car with different keys for ignition, doors etc if the looks or ignition was changed at some point.

If he drove it round it is unlikely that he'd ripped you off and it is hardly worth it on an Uno. I prefer to go see a car before buying, not the other way round, I would be wary of anyone not wanting me to come round in daylight to view the car.

My Alfa has the same parking light configuration, the Stilo had a much better button on the dash. Never use parking lights though.

 

[HELENB]

YEP! The insurance was 200 quid more than the car!!

I have had my five and half hours kip and the sun is shining

So I am off to try the wiggle thing now....

...Fingers crossed everyone

 

[HELENB]

HELLO!!!!!!

It worked!!!!
Just taken it to the car wash and everything, gonna put my stickers on it and put my Sunshine Buddie in place!!!! I am not joking!


Thanks everyone you guys rock :slayer:

Just one more thing I assume these cars run on unleaded petrol!? Yet again can't get through to the guy!!!
The petrol door is a bit of a bugger to open but gonna go try it again with a bit more force, but don't wanna brake the key!! Gotta fill up the tank coz I need to go driving!!!!

:worship:

 

[thepottleflump]

Good to hear that the car is ok, I suspect the guy you bought it from has dissapeared forever. Did you get the V5 green slip?

Best wait for someone in the know to appear to answer your petrol question.

Got any pics?

 

[HELENB]

Hi there!

Yeah I am so chuffed!

Yeah I got the V5, mot & service history so that's all cool!!

I have about a quater tank of petrol and need to go to Halfords so I expect someone there should be able to help in some way!

Gonna take some pics soon!!

 

[peterp]

Helen
Good luck with your new purchase.
i'm a new Uno owner myself so still learning as such..but if there's anything you need to know or ask,please give us a shout.
I've had so much valuable info and advice on here-cheers guys..

Pete

 

[alexGS]

Hello HelenB, welcome to the forum!

The fuel cap (more a fuel 'plug') is usually really stiff to turn. Try spraying it with silicone spray when you have it removed.

Petrol: unleaded definitely OK, no additive. May run OK on 91 octane (you have a pretty late model there, y'know!) but handbooks always recommend 95 octane. No need for 98 octane, IMHO.

Now, what are you going to Halfords for? Haven't you spent enough money yet?

-Alex

 

[dave]

stay away from Halfords

 

[alexGS]

Come on Dave, there's just so many fun things to see and BUY!

I can just see HelenB's gleaming Uno 70SX with those fake aluminium checquer-plate floormats all round, tinted windows, big furry steering wheel cover, satellite navigation, in-dash DVD player, two 15" subs in giant box with chrome trim...

-Alex

 

[thepottleflump]

Petrol: unleaded definitely OK, no additive. May run OK on 91 octane (you have a pretty late model there, y'know!) but handbooks always recommend 95 octane. No need for 98 octane, IMHO.

We don't have RON91 in the UK. Standard unleaded in UK is RON95. Superunleaded varies a bit mostly RON97 in the UK but I think Tesco sells RON99 superunleaded, Shell Optimax is RON98 and BP Ultimate is RON97. A complete waste of money in an UNO but has been proven to increase performance and efficency in high specification engines.

Fuel prices are going through the roof at the moment, something to do with massive global demand i.e. China. So we get cheap goods but pay more for fuel, since I don't tend to buy lots of tat i'd rather have lower fuel prices. It is getting pretty close to £1 a litre, my earliest memory of fuel prices was my mum filling up on holiday at £1.73 a gallon or about 38p/litre and that was expensive fuel in the back end of Wales somewhere. I think I remember the price because my mum was complaining about how much it cost! I'm glad I sold the Stilo Abarth and bought a diesel Alfa last year, gone from 25mpg to 50mpg even though diesel is a few pence more for some reason.

 

[thepottleflump]

stay away from Halfords

Halfords is alright if you want something quick, my nearest branch being 5 minutes away so very convient. It is very expensive though. Must get down there and pickup some fluffy dice.