Cinquecento Problem with my 97 Cinquecento 900

[Cento78]

Hi Guys, my name is Bill, I have a 97 Fiat Cinquecento S 899cc, it has quite a problem. It is difficult to start when it's hot and will cut out when coming to a stop at junctions, parking up, stopping at lights etc.
It will start if I leave it for 15 mins or so, any ideas?

 

[GeorgeDamper]

Sounds like crank sensor to me. They are usually about £3 - £5 at scrapyards.

Where are you Bill ?

 

[fingers99]

Crank sensor (check for fuel past the injector and spark when cranked after conking -- if crank sensor there will be no fuel and no spark) or engine temperature sensor (blue coded sensor on inlet manifold).

 

[Cento78]

Thanks for the info guys, where is the crank sensor located? And how easy is it to replace? Also, checked today to see if fuel was getting into the engine when cranking when hot, and it does seem to be. My thinking is that the engine is running rich and consequently causing the hot starting prob? I am located in Buckley, in North Wales.

 

[fingers99]

Cank sensor is at about 3 o clock to the alternator pulley, easy enough to replace, but there are caveats with the 899 engine. Haynes Cinq manual recommended.

They tend to play up when hot, but if fuel is dribbling onto the throttle butterfly (remove the bob to see) when conked, then it's not going to be the crank sensor. More likely the engine temp sensor (causes ECU to think the car is cold, so provides too much fuel -- like running on full choke).

 

[Cento78]

Thanks for the info "Fingers 99" that does make sense because when conked and am cranking it does sound like it's trying to start but just splutters and then cuts out again, and then all of a sudden after a couple more crankings it will fire up.

 

[Cento78]

Hi, I believe that the Cinquecento 0.9 engine has an Engine management Temp Sensor, could anybody tell me where it is please? Regards
Bill

 

[fingers99]

It's the only blue coded sensor on the car. But I'm boogered if I can remember where it is on an 899.

Some people call it the Engine Management (or even ECU) Temp Sensor because there's a seperate one for the guage/light. But it's the blue one you want.

 

[Cento78]

Ok, thanks, I'll have a look.

 

[David C]

I'm sure the ECU temperature sensor is on the thermostat housing.
The sensor for the gauge is on the corner of the cylinderhead at the belt end.

 

[Cento78]

Thanks for your response David, I'll be looking into it next week on one of my days off work. I've got a Haynes manual for the car, but it doesn't say much about it or show a picture of it's location.
Bill

 

[Cento78]

Hi all, replaced the engine temp sensor yesterday, now the engine doesn't cut out so often, but is still hard to start when it's hot. I checked one of the plugs to get an idea of the fuelling mixture and I was suprised to find that the plugs were dry and normal coloured, not black as I had expected, I am thinking, possible problem with the throttle body? Reason for that is if I put petrol in a small receptacle area in the top of the throttle body, the engine fires up after a couple of tries, any further ideas guys?

 

[fingers99]

Logically you'd expect it to need less fuel when hot. Still, old Cinqs don't always behave logically.

You might try swapping out the throttle body complete. I'm fairly sure that P55, P60, 1108 Cinq and SPI Sei are a straight swap.

 

[Cento78]

Thanks, I've managed to get a hold of a throttle body complete with injector and sensors through Ebay, so I'll see how it goes after replacing the throttle body.

 

[Cento78]

Is it possible to swap the red temperature warning light for a temperature gauge on the 899cc Cinqy? If so, how is it done?

 

[fingers99]

Yes, but you need a sender from a Sporting )or an aftermarket gauge and sender).

I think there's a thing in the FAQs/Guides.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Get this - https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=31735&cat=66

And follow this - https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento-guides/86286-temperature-gauge-fitment.html

Cheers.

 

[Cento78]

Cheers for the info! Your Cinqy looks good. Mine's a blue Cento S (base model I'm assuming) will get some pics on soon.
Regards
Bill

 

[David C]

Yes, but you need a sender from a Sporting...

Or from an 899 with a temperature gauge.
My 1994 899 always had a gauge (even before changing to a Sporting dash).

 

[Cento78]

Thanks Fingers99/David C I'll look out for one of them. Will a temp sender from a 1.1 sporting fit in the same place as the current sensor that is located on the left hand side of the cylinder head?