Technical Panda engine problem - poor acceleration and wont go over 80kmh

[fiatireland]

Hi All,

I have what might be a serious issue with my Panda engine and any advice much appreciated.

It had an interrmittent error code P0352 ignition coil fault - all HT leads and plugs and coil packs were replaced but the error remained after that.

The fault turned out to be a bent and damaged pin inside one of the ECU connectors and straightening this and cleaning the connector pins with electrical cleaner stopped the eror code and engine light from reappearing.

The car seemed to drive ok around town but today I took it on a mororway and the acceleration is poor and its wont go over about 80kmh. No engine warning lights or overheating but low power and poor acceleration.


Doe this sound like engine damage and has anyone experienced any similar issues before?

Many thanks

 

[koalar]

Check the MAP sensor for oil on the tip

Quite common

Worth checking first

Jerkiness on light throttle, esp when cold. | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

I'm experiencing jerkiness on very light throttle when the car (2007 1.2 Dynamic) is cold (also once warm but much reduced). It happens on the transition between being off-throttle and slightly on-throttle, as you gently feed fuel in to maintain speed after backing off to slow down for a low...

www.fiatforum.com

I normally find hard acceleration is poorly as the main symptom

If you have cable throttle the sensor is on the right near the throttle body, fly by wire on the left, when looking from the front of the car

One bolt, it normally comes out without removing the electrical connector

 

[eddyweird]

Do you just have a code reader or can you get live data?

 

[fiatireland]

Thank you - Unfortunately only a code reader which does not show any errors.

I dont have a live reader but can try to boorow one - any suspicions about what could be going on?

Thank you

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi All,

I have what might be a serious issue with my Panda engine and any advice much appreciated.

It had an interrmittent error code P0352 ignition coil fault - all HT leads and plugs and coil packs were replaced but the error remained after that.

The fault turned out to be a bent and damaged pin inside one of the ECU connectors and straightening this and cleaning the connector pins with electrical cleaner stopped the eror code and engine light from reappearing.

The car seemed to drive ok around town but today I took it on a mororway and the acceleration is poor and its wont go over about 80kmh. No engine warning lights or overheating but low power and poor acceleration.


Doe this sound like engine damage and has anyone experienced any similar issues before?

Many thanks

Which engine is this 1242 petrol..?

The 1108 runs on with the timing out

 

[fiatireland]

Sorry I did not include that- yes its 1.2 petrol

 

[varesecrazy]

Is it the same Hot and Cold consistantly

No good days?

 

[fiatireland]

It seems to be find around the village at slower speeds.

I only took it on the motor way once and that was this morning - it was very difficultas it tookabout 2 minutes to get to 80km h and i had to exit the motorway as It was dangerous driving slow.

I wonder if it could have caused some internal damage as it was driven a while with the misfire P0352 ignition coil fault.

Thank you so much for any ideas you might have

 

[jackwhoo]

Possible damage to catalyst (melting)

 

[fiatireland]

Possible damage to catalyst (melting)

Thank you - sounds ominously expensive!

Would that show any error codes or is there any way to diagnose it do you know

 

[eddyweird]

Ahhh that cat remark got the grey cells whirring .
Years ago the lining of the muffler collapsed on my mk2 astra, that made a lot of different to the acceleration and speed.
Hey the good old banana up the exhaust pipe trick.
Quick and easy to check.

 

[koalar]

Go to the rear of the car and listen to the exhaust

Is it misfiring

Post a video if you can do we can listen

How's the MAP look, post 2

Are all four spark plugs actually firing

 

[The Panda Nut]

If a 69hp try cleaning the VVT solenoid.

 

[fiatireland]

Thanks everyone
The check engine with is not On but when I checked again with a code reader the pesky p0352 error code shows again but this time also P0202 injector circuit open circuit.
Firstly will the Fiat Panda go into limp/safe mode with the code P0202? This might explain the limit of power?
I
Prior to this the P0352 code was there and engine at that time misfired quite often. Moving the ecu connector back and forward would stop the misfire so it seemed hopeful that the problem is related to bad connections.Cleaning the connectors seemed to solve it at first but maybe the intermittent problem still happen occasionally

Does anyone know if a P0202 will trigger the ECU to stay in safe mode

Wonder why the codes are present when read but engine light does not show on dash?

Any help gratefully received

 

[varesecrazy]

Yellow light is from the Lambda in the exhaust.. So only about emissions

 

[koalar]

Pending or active error codes

Pending codes will not show until two consecutive errors, no engine check light

When clearing codes you read and erase the codes
Switch the ignition off and wait several seconds for the changes to be written, re read the error codes to make sure they have really been cleared, here's from Chryslers Worksop manual

Active code will effect the running, active code will put the engine check light on, normally the injector is switched off

There's several different P0202 codes short to ground, open and so on, but it looks like you scanner only reading the first part

Check the MAP and check the plugs are actually firing would be my first checks

You can over think thing, it's much easier to physically check, we had a problem here but haven't actually checked if it's properly fixed before assuming it's another fault

Here's mine running on 4,3 and 2 cylinders

 

[fiatireland]

Pending or active error codes

Pending codes will not show until two consecutive errors, no engine check light

When clearing codes you read and erase the codes
Switch the ignition off and wait several seconds for the changes to be written, re read the error codes to make sure they have really been cleared, here's from Chryslers Worksop manual

View attachment 457757

Active code will effect the running, active code will put the engine check light on, normally the injector is switched off

There's several different P0202 codes short to ground, open and so on, but it looks like you scanner only reading the first part

Check the MAP and check the plugs are actually firing would be my first checks

You can over think thing, it's much easier to physically check, we had a problem here but haven't actually checked if it's properly fixed before assuming it's another fault


View attachment 457755

Here's mine running on 4,3 and 2 cylinders

View attachment 457759

Thank you Much appreciated

The car seems to start and idles fine with no shudders or misfiring. Only when trying to drive at speed is there power problems Any chance the Ecu stays in limp mode and is limiting speed because the error codes are retained ?

 

[koalar]

Thank you Much appreciated

The car seems to start and idles fine with no shudders or misfiring. Only when trying to drive at speed is there power problems Any chance the Ecu stays in limp mode and is limiting speed because the error codes are retained ?

No engine check light, no limp mode

there's no judder running on three cylinders

@20 seconds in the second video

Without testing anything we aren't going to get very far

No error code, does not mean it's firing on all cylinders

 

[fiatireland]

Thank you for all help. I left it with a local garage and the root of the problem seems to be a blocked catalytic converter.

Having so muany problems with my poor old Panda lately.

Not been changed yet but am expecting a hefty bill!

hanks again