Technical problems starting engine

[fiat panda 54]

hello Panda Pals, Wonder if anyopne can help? I purchased a 2004 Panda 1.2 in Feb 2011 but already there's problems. Dunno if its the ignition barrel or fault on wiring somewhere that connects from ignition to battery? (My Brother works for the AA and narrowed it down to one of these but he can't do anything as recovering from surgery). To start the engine i have to turn the key to MAR for all lights on the dash to light up, if they dont all light up the car just purrs but doesn't start, if all lights on the dash display correctly then I can start car straight away. Usually takes 4 or 5 attempts of turning the key to MAR :bang: for the lights to display (battery/handbrake/oil/airbags/seatbelt/security padlock). On the 1st attempt the seatbelt light is very dim but is the only light displayed, on the 2nd attempt I can usually get another 3 lights on, the 3rd attempt 4 lights on and 4th or 5th attempt the final light to display is the security padlock, once this displays with all other lights the engine will start no problem. Sometimes when I drive, the car loses all power too but this is very infrequent and seems to be connected to the problem I have starting the car., when it happens just the dim seatbelt light shows on the dash. Anyone able to shed any light on it please? Thanks
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[Pandablues]

How come you have a seatbelt warning light then?
Sounds like the airbag warning light - maybe duff battery?
You can d/load a manual too by using the "Downloads" link at the top of the forum if you haven't got one.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Not aware of a seatbelt light.

How olds the battery? When was it last checked?

 

[fiat panda 54]

yeah there's a light on the dash that flashes when seatbelt isn't on on first starting the engine (or trying too). (I'm a woman so my terminology aint good ha ha) I replaced my battery as we thought that was at fault. earth fine, alternator fine., lots checked and my brother narrowed it down to either the ignition barrel or a wire that goes from the ignition through the engine to the battery but he couldn't get down to look as recovering from an operation. He Can't run diagnostic as not an engine problem so it wouldn't pick a suspected electrical fault up. A guy looked at it for me yesterday and he suggested the ignition switch??

 

[Pandablues]

There's no seatbelt warning light but, there is an airbag one which sort of looks as if it might be "talking" about the belts but, it's not.
No way to get the car to a garage which can run a diagnostic?
It may prove cheaper than replacing parts from guesswork..

 

[fiat panda 54]

Oh there's definitely a light for the seatbelt, i know the airbag light which comes up in red, the seat belt light flashes amber. Anyway, thats by the by. Just wanted to update that car is now sorted and it was the ignition switch, my car work's lovely again. However when i drive I now hear high pitch squeal from the wheels to the drivers side (I think), I hear it when i drive, and it not when i'm breaking, its just in general. Its not always there, it tends to appear when i've been driving on a dual carraigeway/motorway at high speed and once in a 30 zone it can still be heard. If after a long overnight rest I use my car in general around town roads, it isn't heard. So whatever it is it is sparked off from high speed driving and calm's down after rest. Quite bizarre. To be honest all these problems are making me think of selling on and buying a different model.
Thanks for helping me out guys, it is appreciated and any further info on the squelling wheel would be mostly appreciated, I need to get Flora Fiat sorted once and for all.

 

[D4nny8oy]

Oh there's definitely a light for the seatbelt, i know the airbag light which comes up in red, the seat belt light flashes amber.

Nope- seatbelt warning lamp is always red.

What you're seeing is the amber warning lamp which illuminates when the passenger airbag is disabled. Red airbag lamp is for when there is an error in the system.

The squeal noise sounds like a slightly sticking brake pad. Does the noise change/stop when the brakes are applied?

 

[50p]

Re - the air bag light.... 100% air bag light. If you have a look in the glove box you'll see the same symbol by the air bag switch

 

[Jerseywurzel]

Yep, I have a Red seat belt light in my car, bottom right hand corner of the screen. Comes on when the engine is on and the driver's seat belt is not fastened.

 

[fiat panda 54]

The squeal noise sounds like a slightly sticking brake pad. Does the noise change/stop when the brakes are applied?[/quote]

Hi, no the sqeal isn't when i'm braking at all otherwise i'd of thought of brake pads, its as i'm actually driving, without braking. Because it happens when I drive its hard to listen to where the sound is coming from but definitely sounds to be located around front wheel or back wheel. It doesn't squeal when i'm driving on main town roads at 30 mph, it starts once i have driven at speed 60/70 mph then continues when back on a 30mph zone until the car rests overnight. After rest there's no squeal again. Its very strange. It has that pitch to it as though it could be brake pads but its never when i'm braking. What I have noticed is if I turn my steering wheel ever so slightly it will go off, but of course as i can't keep turning the wheel to the left everytime it returns. Your help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[blod65]

It sounds like your brake calipers need a clean out.
Brake calipers when working properly "float" which means they have a small amount of lateral movement so that one piston operates both sides of the caliper and allow the pads to stay clear of the disc , but over time dirt and brake dust builds up around the pads and this stiffens the floating action.
What is happening is that the pads are lightly dragging on the disc making the noise(just like trailing your finger around a wine glass)but when you turn the wheel or apply the brakes it alters the level of contact between the pad and the disc.
Its not a big job for someone who knows what they are doing and I think it will solve your problem........hope this helps !

 

[D4nny8oy]

The squeal noise sounds like a slightly sticking brake pad. Does the noise change/stop when the brakes are applied?

Hi, no the sqeal isn't when i'm braking at all otherwise i'd of thought of brake pads, its as i'm actually driving, without braking. Because it happens when I drive its hard to listen to where the sound is coming from but definitely sounds to be located around front wheel or back wheel. It doesn't squeal when i'm driving on main town roads at 30 mph, it starts once i have driven at speed 60/70 mph then continues when back on a 30mph zone until the car rests overnight. After rest there's no squeal again. Its very strange. It has that pitch to it as though it could be brake pads but its never when i'm braking. What I have noticed is if I turn my steering wheel ever so slightly it will go off, but of course as i can't keep turning the wheel to the left everytime it returns. Your help is appreciated. Thanks

This is what I meant- if a pad is sticking, the longer you drive, the more it heats up which increases the pressure it applies to the disc until it starts to squeal. Often applying brake pressure will change or stop the noise temporarily until the pad settles in it's place again and squeals. Once it cools down, the pad to disc clearance returns and the noise stops until a few miles are driven.

Failing that, I'd suggest checking the disc backplate isn't too close to it and rubbing once the disc warms-up.

 

[lol55]

have you sorted your starting problem as i have the same symtoms... my seat belt light which is amber does not stay on for as long as it should do... and my car starts most of the time but hates the shopping stops... will not start after used then left for 40 mins... dash lights up but nothing happens,,,, then if im lucky she starts,,, if im unlucky then we blown the ignition fuse. this has happened twice in a month... upgraded to a 25 amp??

 

[varesecrazy]

have you sorted your starting problem as i have the same symtoms... my seat belt light which is amber does not stay on for as long as it should do... and my car starts most of the time but hates the shopping stops... will not start after used then left for 40 mins... dash lights up but nothing happens,,,, then if im lucky she starts,,, if im unlucky then we blown the ignition fuse. this has happened twice in a month... upgraded to a 25 amp??

What have you uprated it from?? 15A..??

the problem with your uprated fuses are they won't blow until there has been a sustained 25 A demand, you may well fry something important before that happens..,

yes you have a problem,
but I think your blowing fuses is a good indicator of where the fault lies,
a good Auto-electrician should find it quickly ( cheaply) ,
a safer bet than risking setting fire to the loom in my opinion.

I suspect a dodgy relay, as that's what stopped our JTD from starting,
unless the temp changed,

I hope somebody can give you the definitive answer you need,
good luck,
Charlie

 

[lol55]

fuse was a 20 amp... which relay is it

 

[D4nny8oy]

have you sorted your starting problem as i have the same symtoms... my seat belt light which is amber does not stay on for as long as it should do... and my car starts most of the time but hates the shopping stops... will not start after used then left for 40 mins... dash lights up but nothing happens,,,, then if im lucky she starts,,, if im unlucky then we blown the ignition fuse. this has happened twice in a month... upgraded to a 25 amp??

Read above- it's not a seatbelt light if it's amber.

The problem is probably the ignition switch. It's the same design carried over from the mk2 Punto, and would burn the contacts which meant intermittant non-start and occasionally no dash lights at key-on except the passenger airbag exclusion lamp (usually glowing dimly).

If it's failing to start when hot (turns over but doesn't fire until a few minutes have passed and it's cooled down again) it sounds like the crank/rpm sensor breaking down with heat.

 

[lol55]

thanks for that,,,, i read the handook and realized the amber flasher is to do with air bag.... dont seem to have a seat belt warning light????? have ordered the ignition switch.... hope this resolves my problem.... did have an electrical dianostic no fault found.... but the ignition is intermitant so points towards the switch.... thanks for all your advice