General Starting problem! - fiat uno 1.0ie

[pecpec]

Ok guys. This is doing my head in and if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Basically, my fiat uno in the last 2 months, has gone from being a car which started first time everytime...to absolutely no life.

Its been a progressive problem, but initially the first problem my car had was that it would begin to start only after 2-3 goes and then work well. So, at this stage I replaced all 4 spark plugs, fuel filter, distributor car and rotor. However, this did not fix the problem, and not long after, my car was begining to cut out when I was sitting at traffic lights iddiling. I would have to keep tapping the accelarator to avoid the revs droping if I was to avoid stalling the car. When stalled at the lights, the car would however restart.

Then, with a few weeks of this, I then began to notice that the car would have real difficiluty starting...I would get a ticking over when turning the key, but no ignition....HOWEVER, if a freind came and pushed the car whilst I was in second, the car would then get going as normal. Even if i then stoped the car, turned the iginition off, the car would start well again!!! However, coming back to the car again the next day would be a 50/50 gamble as to whether it would start...but eventually i would get it going with some patience.

However, right now, Iv now reached the stage where I was driving car having pushed started it, and it cut out on me on a roundabout, refusing to give me any revs before it died. It was litterally like the accelatorator was non existant.

The car now does not want to start and it seems the battery has worn down as its not even ticking over when i turn the key.

Guys, is this a simple case of a dead battery or something else!! As I say, I replaced the sparks, distributor and cap and had the coil tested, and that is working fine...Im lost here! Can it simply be a case of the battery reaching the end of its life? And does this make a car stall when it is idle?

In the words of the beatles, HELP!.

 

[dzogi]

Well, car should run with bad battery when started, assuming that your alternator is OK. So, no, bad battery won't make running car stall. I guess there's no red warning light lit on the dashboard with battery drawn on it?

Of course, it's easy to check battery, put someone else's in and give it a ride, or use 'jump-start' cables to see if it'll start with better current...

There are more potential problems, but it all comes down to lack of spark or fuel...

Also, you might want to change the cables (sparks' cables) too, if you've changed all parts you mentioned.

 

[Kozmos]

like dzogi said lack of fuel. maybe you should check the fuel pump. when you turn the ignition only to have contact, can you hear a short buzzy sound? you should hear it, it's the fuel pump, also you should check the relays of the fuel pump, when you pop the hood they are on the right under a small black cover but i'm not 100% shure so someone should correct me if i'm wrong

 

[Ucof]

Tried increasing the idle speed at all?

 

[Peggy2]

i have the exact same problem with mine.. have charged the battery, spark plugs etc checked air filters but due to check the fuel filter which i have no idea where it is any ideas??

 

[Chas Uno]

i have the exact same problem with mine.. have charged the battery, spark plugs etc checked air filters but due to check the fuel filter which i have no idea where it is any ideas??

SPi fuel injected Unos have a filter connected to the fuel pump, which is inside the tank. These rarely get blocked though. You can access it via the access hole under the rear seat (driver's side on UK cars). Pull up the carpet and you'll see an oval plastic cover. Remove this and you'll see the top of the fuel tank, the fuel lines and the top of the fuel level sender and pump unit. You'll have to undo the nuts/ bolts to remove this unit.

I think there is also a fuel filter in-line to the throttle body, which is a service part. I'm sure one of the other owners will tell you where to find it and how to remove it. I thinking it has banjo unions that have to be unbolted.

Hope this helps!

 

[Galuno]

Hello,

My mechanic adjusted the distributer, by rotating it slightly, and till now it is switching OFF without making the noise.

Thanks
Johann

 

[dzogi]

Basically what Chas said, but with one note. Fuel pump can get blocked due to the dirt in fuel (or tank). as mine did a 4-5 times , since we have awful fuel around here...

Yes, there is a fuel filter (plastic or metal part) on totally right (or left, depending on model) side under the hood, placed (naturally) on the fuel line . You should just change it, cause they're bargain.

-If you find out the pump is not working (no buzzing sound after turning the key!), try cleaning it by reversing the + and - poles on it, and turning the key to activate it. It should 'spin' in opposite direction and spit out accumulated dirt, instead of sucking it in, anymore. If you find out that works, take some time, pull th pump out, and 'spin' it outside the car for couple of times, to clean it better. Also, consider cleaning the tank.

 

[tattyoldvan]

if the fuel pump isn't pumping continually could be a blockage. it seems to be a common fault on all the fuel injected unos. I've now replaced my pumps with ones from a 4.0l cherokee. true the fuel wizzes round like crazy, but have no starting issues or flat spots, plus the filter on the bottom was a far better design and less likely to get split.

 

[Ucof]

if the fuel pump isn't pumping continually could be a blockage. it seems to be a common fault on all the fuel injected unos.

I've never heard that...

I had a fuel pump completely pack up on me once. Replaced it with a new one, then months later when I wanted to test the old one, I found it works fine.

I was thinking of using it as a water pistol, but the only drawback would be hacing to lug the bettery round with me

Good point about swapping the polarity around, Dzogi, to back pump it clean


There are two fuel filters as suggested. The one around the fuel pump is bascially just a sock and as siad, rarely gunks up. Also as said the secondary one is in the engine bay, I assume in your case it is on the left hand side. Easy to spot, its a round cylinder that usually says "fuel filter" and can often be found roaming wild, grazing on the plains of Africa with the elephants.

 

[dzogi]

its a round cylinder that usually says "fuel filter" and can often be found roaming wild, grazing on the plains of Africa with the elephants.

Please note that it can also be much smaller plastic part with no marks whatsoever. It is usually made of transparent plastic, with filter-paper inside. But, it always gets too dirty to see through, so keep that in mind

NOTE:
Today, my pump stopped working. Almost with smile on my face (remembering this thread), I switched the wires and thought I solved it. But nah. It just wasn't working. Even after I pulled whole unit out it wasn't working, so I was worried...
After detailed inspection, and oddly enough, I found out that pump was OK, but just when TOTALLY removed from all the plastic casing and DC'd from it...
Believe it or not, the metal spike on which the pumps "male" connector goes (one of two metal spikes that are in "female" part of the pump connector and conduct current to wires below plastic cover) was not conducting current to the wire below ... Still dunno why, it's made of 1 part .

I moved it around a bit, and it's working fine (for) now...

So, just a reminder to (Who said Ucof?!) not to throw old pumps unless you are 100% positive it is dead.

 

[Chas Uno]

Please note that it can also be much smaller plastic part with no marks whatsoever. It is usually made of transparent plastic, with filter-paper inside. But, it always gets too dirty to see through, so keep that in mind

That sounds more like the fuel filter for the carburettor models. The fuel injected under bonnet filters I've seen in other cars look more like a silver aluminium barrel, though saying that I've never seen one in an SPi Uno.

 

[Ucof]

My sentiments exactly Chas
You not seen my engine bay? Remind me the next time I see you and I'll give you a quick flash

The carbed ones usually have a clear filter, the SPI ones having the metal cylinder one.