Punto (Mk2/2b) One Big Annoying Punto Problem!

[koalabear]

Hello All,

I have a 1.2 Mk 2 04 Plate Punto. I have had a problem with the engine light coming on and the car running rough while the light is on. I have changed the Ecu, The ignition Coils, The lambda Sensor, and put a new exhaust on but the still car lets me down. :bang:While the ecu light is on the car holds back and doesnt seem to tick over properly, until i reach about 4000 rpm when the car seems to kick in/ almost take off. When the ecu light isn't on the car runs fine no trouble at all. I have taken the car to the garage about this problem for diagnostics its came back with four fault codes to do with ignition. I was not supplied the codes though! Any advice would be gratefully received before i kill the car forever :yum:

 

[Ziggy122]

Idearly we need the 4 codes

The Rough running and doesn't clear till 4k rpm sounds with flashing EML means the car was detecting a misfire

Now this can be Either
Coil packs - HT leads - Spark Plugs or Ecu
Now i cant believe they replaced the ECU without changing the HT's and Plugs

Then coils.....

The Ecu only fails if a misfire occours and the energy burns back and takes the coil driver tracks out

Ziggy

 

[koalabear]

Hi Ziggy Thanks for your response, The HT leads and spark plugs were changed as well, forgot them in the list of things i've done. some days the car runs fine you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with it until the EML comes on, When it comes on it can be on for days solidly and then just turn off and run fine. I guess its a job for Fiat but after the money ive already spent im reluctant to do anymore with it.

 

[Restorer]

To be honest, rather than go to a Dealer i'd be more inclined to talk to a good independent Diagnostic centre for advice. They're normally a lot cheaper and actually look for the fault before swapping parts. If you give us a rough idea what part of the country your in maybe another member can reccomend somebody.


Andy

 

[koalabear]

Im near Bracknell in Berkshire if anyone wants to recommend anything Thanks Andy

 

[s and b]

why would you change parts nilly willy without finding the cause?
why have a fault code read that just might point you in the direction of the problem but not write down the codes
im sick of telling people go to basics like vacuum reads, compression tests,checking for sparks etc all basic and all attainable for minimum spend and an elm lead must be all of €10 on the bay

stop messing about and wasting time and your money and let a garage have a look for you seeing as you are clueless

clue of course is it runs like a bag of nuts under 4000 so probably boggin down in its own juices, so probably something as simple as a faulty map sensor

but hey keep chucking da monies

 

[Restorer]

Hi: Why was the ecu changed ? it's not something you'd normally change on the off chance. In fact from my point of view it would be the last thing i'd go for until I had solid evidence (Test results) that proved it was faulty.
As S and B says, Diagnostics first & then parts. Never the other way around, for 2 reasons: 1) Your throwing away good money & 2) By replacing parts like this you can actually cause more problems than you had in the first place.



Andy

 

[koalabear]

why would you change parts nilly willy without finding the cause?
why have a fault code read that just might point you in the direction of the problem but not write down the codes
im sick of telling people go to basics like vacuum reads, compression tests,checking for sparks etc all basic and all attainable for minimum spend and an elm lead must be all of €10 on the bay

stop messing about and wasting time and your money and let a garage have a look for you seeing as you are clueless

clue of course is it runs like a bag of nuts under 4000 so probably boggin down in its own juices, so probably something as simple as a faulty map sensor

but hey keep chucking da monies

I didnt change parts willy nilly lol. The ECU was changed because it was confirmed faulty. At the same time as changing the ecu the coils, ht leads and spark plugs were replaced too, standard practise i was led to believe. This solved the firing on two cylinder problem. The car then ran well fora little bit with no probs until a few days later the EML light came on again with rough running. I then changed The exhaust as it was blowing noisely and i thought maybe that could be having an affect on the ecu and fuel consumption. No biggy as it needed doing anyway and i just thought that maybe the ecu being a sensitive computer probably didnt like being run with knackered parts. I then still had a problem with the eml light and running rough and so took it to the garage in maidenhead to a place i have used before. They put it on diagnostics which returned 4 fault codes. I was told this when i returned to pick up the car, they also gave me a receipt saying the same. The receipt however doesnt contain the codes its literally says four fault codes found, refer to main dealer. No numbers codes or anything. All the guy in the garage said was that its was to do with ignition that he wouldnt touch it and i had to take it to fiat....that cost me 50 quid. Now at this point i was feeling a little frustrated and as you so kindly put it probably a little clueless, but what do you expect from a blonde newly divorced woman whos family and very mechanically minded dad live miles away and who also has two teenage children and a very tight budget. It was the that i found this website andstarted looking forhelp to my problem which was when i came across the lambda sensor. After reading about it and other peoples problems with their cars that were similar to mine i self diagnosed a lambda sensor problem....maybe rightly or wrongly but the way im looking at it is it prob needed a change after a 100000 miles anyway, according to the lambda website they only have a shelf life of around 50000miles. Since the car has had these things done it runs much more lovely than it ever did before and if the EMLlight isnt on the the car is a dream to drive, its only when it comes on i have a problem with th epower lose, the holding back then the kicking in/ taking off sensation which is at about 4000rpm when cold and maybe 2000rpm when its warm.and it seems to be coming on more and more. Now I have no idea about compression tests, vacum reads or even what a elm lead is but what i doknow is that my local garage were unhelpful and a waste of money, and yes i was trying to not have to pay the fiat dealership prices and save myself some very limited pennies. Anyway that is why i posted on here, to become less clueless, to get advice and recommendations . You cant blame a girl for trying...... anyway like I said before any recommendations on good garages or someone who can actually help me with out me having to sell a kidney I would be most grateful for.

 

[Restorer]

Hi Koala: Don't know if this is any good to you but there is a Specialist Diagnostic company in Finchampstead that covers your area. www.car-electrician.co.uk or email: [email protected] Tel: Phil James on 07768 205353. Might be worth you dropping him an email or giving him a call & explaining your problem.

Please note: I have never worked with this company so don't know them personally to be able to give their work a recomendation.


Andy

 

[AVANTII]

Hello Koala,

You might want to try Smart Mot in Bracknell (01344 86 86 80).
They do diagnostics.

Make sure you get the codes down on paper so that you can refer to them and you can put them on here and someone will tell you what they are associated with.

Ignore the rude people, they think because they know what they are talking about then everyone should, it doesn't work that way, we only learn by asking questions and by trial and error!

I hope you get it sorted out!

 

[Restorer]

Asking questions when you need help is something i can't argue with, but Trial and Error ?. Sorry NO that's something I never encourage, I've seen too many problems & too much Damage caused by people doing that to ever agree with it.


Andy