General Punto engine light on

[jim6881]

My 03 Punto Active 8v 1242 cc engine management light started flashing today on way to work today. The light will also go off during the journey sometimes (i think when i do not have my foot on accelerator) Also judders when in neutral at lights etc. When i start car up it also sounds very horse (like a tractor)

Anyone point me in the right direction of what the problem may be and to getting it fixed and doing it myself as cant really afford a hefty bill this side of christmas.

Cheers

 

[fingers99]

Get the codes read (or download the software, buy a lead and do it yourself).

My guess is that the plug leads are on their way out. Start the car up in the dark, peer under the bonnet. Any blue flashes?

 

[barts96]

coil pack mine was doing same
lack of power ,nearly stalling at lights etc
replaced it on monday and cured asap
£27 on ebay

 

[jim6881]

thanks for the words of advice, will have a look at it tomorrow night to see if their are sparks etc

where would i find this software to download and buy leads?

I dont seem to be losing much power but problem just started, is the coil pack easy to replace on your own?

cheers

 

[jim6881]

Barts was it something like this you bought?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/F...e611555324756dc0e58615454fb7c48463eb76&000197

Thanks

 

[barts96]

easy x4 bolts
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNT...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f070b8059

 

[s and b]

easy x4 bolts
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNT...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f070b8059

from the link

WONT REPLACE MODELS WITH 2 SEPERATE COIL PACKS*

so it might be useless to the OP
to be honest i wouldnt buy any components till like fingers says the problem is confirmed

 

[thelad]

The link is for 16valve coil packs OP has an 8valve so wont be correct, best to read the faults before spending money on parts you dont need.

 

[Ziggy122]

If the EML is flashing and its rough runnings
its mifiring - clear to see

As to cause
Plugs
HT leads
Coil Pack
ECU
Crank sensor
Wiring

Start at plugs and HT leads, check for sparks
If 1 and 4 spark and 2 and 3 dont then its a coil pack (or visa versa just the other coil pack)

Ziggy

 

[jim6881]

If a buy a vagcom cable online and run free diagnosis software will this point me to the exact problem, am new to fixing cars and dont wont to spend money and time sorting something that isnt the problem!

also i take it i will find on here or other places on internet how to check to see if its the Plugs or HT leads or Coil Packor ECU or Crank sensor or Wiring and hoe to fix this myself

 

[barts96]

yes as other op state
the 8v model is a single x2 coil pack not same as mine but still give same issues trying to stall
etc
jim you going down right track with a fault coder reader
on ebay from £18

 

[Ziggy122]

If a buy a vagcom cable online and run free diagnosis software will this point me to the exact problem, am new to fixing cars and dont wont to spend money and time sorting something that isnt the problem!

also i take it i will find on here or other places on internet how to check to see if its the Plugs or HT leads or Coil Packor ECU or Crank sensor or Wiring and hoe to fix this myself

HT leads either break and prevent a Spark or Short via a shorter route
HT's look at night for blue flash's along the cables, if you see blue flash's, its HT leads

If the Spark Plugs are unknown history - get them Changed, there only £3 to £4 each
So £16 can help keep the engine running sweet as a nut
To Test tho, im pretty sure you just touch the Rocker cover? and look for a spark

Coilpacks - Look in the guides section, there is a guide by Dave how to test

Crank sensor - usually fails when hot = unable to restart till cool - not your symptoms

Wiring - Means when coil packs have been tested and the fault remains in same place i'd be checking for burnt wires

If everything else checks out - its a ECU problem

Ziggy

 

[jim6881]

HT leads either break and prevent a Spark or Short via a shorter route
HT's look at night for blue flash's along the cables, if you see blue flash's, its HT leads

If the Spark Plugs are unknown history - get them Changed, there only £3 to £4 each
So £16 can help keep the engine running sweet as a nut
To Test tho, im pretty sure you just touch the Rocker cover? and look for a spark

Coilpacks - Look in the guides section, there is a guide by Dave how to test

Crank sensor - usually fails when hot = unable to restart till cool - not your symptoms

Wiring - Means when coil packs have been tested and the fault remains in same place i'd be checking for burnt wires

If everything else checks out - its a ECU problem

Ziggy

Thanks Ziggy

checked when home from work so no blue sparks,

next stop tomorrow out to buy 4 new spark plugs, car has now done 69000 and i am responsible for about half of these and i haven't changed spark plugs in that time.

ordered a vagcom cable that should arrive tomorrow to diagnose if the change of spark plugs doesn't do the business.

 

[thelad]

Have you tested it by takeing a plug out at a time with the ht lead on hold the plug on the metal cam cover and check for a spark, do this 1 at a time with each plug. Hold the plug with a thick glove thow as you may get a shock.

 

[jim6881]

Quick update

I have purchased vagcom cable and waiting for this to arrive so i can run diagnosis and bought 4 spark plugs to change these i i have never replaced in whole time owning car 3+ years and 35000 miles however on sat had a family emergency where i had to use car for 50 miles round trip on mostly motorway, on my way home the light went off and hasnt came on since (drove it to work today just to see) and although it didnt drive perfectly was a lot smoother than last week. I still intend to change plugs asap but does this mean that its my ECU that has an intermittient fault, hope not as they aint cheap to replace are they?

Cheers

 

[fingers99]

I doubt that it's an ECU fault. The horrible micro ECUs generally fail and cause a very specific type of misfire which is anything but intermittent. Yours sounds more like a sensor issue.

But, if the light doesn't re-appear, the car runs fine, and the code reader picks nothing up, I'd be inclined just to fit the plugs and forget it for now.

 

[twinkletoes]

my W reg 16v punto engine light has also come on with a slight loss of power. I had the fault code reading which said either wiring fault or faulty throttle position sensor which could be at either the throttle chamber or at the accelerator peddle. Has anyone had to change either of these components? If so, how big a job is it and about how much would the parts be? I have replaced both the plugs and HT leads and may replace the coil pack if after checking the plugs to see if any are not firing.

 

[s and b]

im not into these 16 valves but if it does indeed have fly by wire on this age then the throttle pedal sure could be a culprit due to age water ingress
i would suggest ignition off disconect pedal and wiring loom to irt and check for greeniness on the connector pins
10 minute job
not saying this will cure your problem though because flies would normally pack in basically altogether