General UNO won't start

[extremevo]

Hello,

First of all, I'm new to this forum so I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong forum.

Secondy, I'm asking this on behalf of my sister. She has bought a Fiat Uno FIRE a few months back and it is giving us some big arse trouble. She was out with the car when suddenly it stalled on a Stop sign, and it wouldn't start, nothing will light up. I connected the leads with my battery starts. So I thought something was wrong with the battery or the alternator as the alternator light is always on and I thought the battery wasn't being charged. On the way home while driving behind my sister the lights were like christmas tree lights, going on and off, and it stalled again when getting the car in the garage.

Today I have bought a new battery and connected it, but still no sign, when turning the key nothing in the dash goes on, but this time the horn, and the hazard lights (but staying without going on and off) work but nothing else.

Also, I have noticed a few weeks back that sometimes, when turning the key the lights on the dash goes on but when you turn the key to switch on the engine everything goes off, like you have switched of the key, could that have been a sign of something?

So the problem isn't coming from the battery, might still be the alternator or some electronic problem? where do I stand?

Sorry for any grammer mistakes.
Thanks in advance,
Chris.

 

[Chas Uno]

All the symptoms you have point to an earthing problem in my opinion. Check that the battery earth lead is securely connected and that the terminals are clean and not corroded at BOTH ends. Also check the engine earth strap, which from memory connects at the lower end of the gearbox to somewhere on the body (can't remember exactly where!) Also check that the multi pin plugs at the back of the fusebox are also securely connected.

Fingers crossed one of those will be the cause of your problems.

Welcome to the forum by the way, and feel free to continue posting any to do with Unos. We're all happy to help keep a Uno on the road and running

 

[Rob-mint-mk1-uno]

All the symptoms you have point to an earthing problem in my opinion. Check that the battery earth lead is securely connected and that the terminals are clean and not corroded at BOTH ends. Also check the engine earth strap, which from memory connects at the lower end of the gearbox to somewhere on the body (can't remember exactly where!) Also check that the multi pin plugs at the back of the fusebox are also securely connected.

Fingers crossed one of those will be the cause of your problems.

Welcome to the forum by the way, and feel free to continue posting any to do with Unos. We're all happy to help keep a Uno on the road and running

Hit the nail right on the head mate i think... it sounds like the earth lead, the main one coming off the battery follow it untill it meets the body and check its not loose, and it might be worth un bolting the lead from the body and cleaning up where it bolts onto it might be rusty.
One other possiblity is water has got into the fuse box, just check its all dry inside there if its wet u will have to dry it out - maybe a hair dryer or if your good enough with cars then remove it and place it some where warm..
Keep us posted and welcome to fiat forum.... rob

 

[extremevo]

went to check the fuse box, everything seems connected fine, as few days ago she have changed the speakers, could it be that a wire was cut or a fuse was burnt?

checked also if there is an corrotion with the battery learn, there isn't any sign of anything but still did it with a bit of sandpaper.

can anyone points me in the right direction where is the engine earth strap please?

Any idea's what to check more or to do? an electrion is coming to check it on friday, hopefully.

Thanks 1986Uno45S for your advice's and the welcome

All the symptoms you have point to an earthing problem in my opinion. Check that the battery earth lead is securely connected and that the terminals are clean and not corroded at BOTH ends. Also check the engine earth strap, which from memory connects at the lower end of the gearbox to somewhere on the body (can't remember exactly where!) Also check that the multi pin plugs at the back of the fusebox are also securely connected.

Fingers crossed one of those will be the cause of your problems.

Welcome to the forum by the way, and feel free to continue posting any to do with Unos. We're all happy to help keep a Uno on the road and running

 

[extremevo]

Thanks rob for the advice's, I'll go and check the earth lead that connects with the body or what it is.

Thanks for the welcome rob

 

[Rob-mint-mk1-uno]

Thanks rob for the advice's, I'll go and check the earth lead that connects with the body or what it is.

Thanks for the welcome rob

No problem mate, ur more than welcome... we all like to keep the uno's alive so im just doing my part.
Let us know whats what and if my advice was any good if the fault is still there ill tell u a few more places to start..

 

[extremevo]

I have check the earth lead from the battery to the body, seems fine. but I have found this wire disconnected on the other side of the engine, no idea if it have anything to do with it tho.

could it be something related? where does it should be connected?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[Rob-mint-mk1-uno]

Bingo, thats the altinator charge wire
on the back of your altinator you should have one thick red wire and one small thin wire, if this thin wire is not on there then this wire belongs on there..
Mine was off the other day and i couldnt see where it went on the altinator because its such a tight squeeze on the turbo so i removed the altinator and then it was easy to connect the wire, then i just refitted the altinator with all the wires in place already.
But on a 45s u should have plenty of room to throw a party under there lol so you should have no problem seeing where it goes.. take a look and let me know... rob

 

[Rob-mint-mk1-uno]

Or it could be off the starter motor, this to has one big wire and at least 1 small wire.
The small one is the switch wire with out this the car will not start, it might well be from the starter because it will never go at all with this one dissconnected...

 

[extremevo]

oh well, I found 2 red wire's, the ones coming from the battery, then one goes under the air filter and no idea where it goes as I can't see it and the small one goes on the right to the back. I have also found a small red wire (near this wire I have found disconnected) but there is also a big green wire, could it be this one? Sorry but I have no idea where the alternator is on this car and my hands are to big to pass between the pipes and wires lol.

Could just this wire causing all this mess? as I just can't belive it is just a wire lol

Will do a better look tommorow as I have to be up at 5.30 am to leave to college :bang:

Thanks alot guys, you've been very helpful and I do feel home
Chris.

 

[Rob-mint-mk1-uno]

Sounds to me like it would be better to get the vehicle electriction in to take a look, i think u said hes coming friday so id wait for him then he will fix it with no probs.
Still check the starter and altinator for the small wires just in case u can see the altinator in the photo u took of the wire its just below ur hand..
rob... oh and good luck

 

[premrajeev]

Hey...

Also check your Ignition switch connections as this may also lead to such an erratic disorder ...Or may be the ignition switch itself is faulty...Try shorting (!) the ignition switch wires --if u know which ones to short..I recon one of my friends has this problem..

Let us know the outcome...

Good luck !

 

[extremevo]

Or it could be off the starter motor, this to has one big wire and at least 1 small wire.
The small one is the switch wire with out this the car will not start, it might well be from the starter because it will never go at all with this one dissconnected...

I had a talk with my dad and he said that is it probably the starter, and will have a look at it, can you please let me know where the starter is? as I would like to save some money and spend it on something better then giving it to the electrion for a few minutes job hehe

Hey...

Also check your Ignition switch connections as this may also lead to such an erratic disorder ...Or may be the ignition switch itself is faulty...Try shorting (!) the ignition switch wires --if u know which ones to short..I recon one of my friends has this problem..

Let us know the outcome...

Good luck !

If its not from the starter, I'll check the ignition switch.

Thanks alot guys,
Chris.

 

[Rob-mint-mk1-uno]

Where the gear box is on the car the starter will be bolted to it some where, as the fly wheelis at that end and thats what the starter engages on when u go to start, it will have a big thick red lead coming from the battery to the starter, and one from the battery to the altinator.
Just follw the red wire coming of the battery and it should go round towards the gear box side and at the end of this wire will be the starter..
There should be a big wire on the starter and a little wire which is called the switch wire without this little wire it wont start..
Good luck bud

 

[(CZ)enda]

https://www.fiatforum.com/uno-techn...rter-motor-fire-engine.html?highlight=starter

 

[jjhepburn]

That wire looks like the wire for the fuel cut off switch on the carburettor. That might explain your problems on idle as it may not be getting any fuel.

A faulty starter motor would make a clicking sound as the solenoid tried to engage or no noise at all (these are also noises made when you have a flat battery)

I would suspect the earth strap (on the end of the gearbox) or the fuel cutoff switch, or the alternator.

 

[extremevo]

An Update.....

Is this car made in China, or Italy works like China? Only joking, don't won't to offend any Italians and/or Italian car lovers.

I tried to start it again with the jump leads, with no success, my father told me that seems he is convinced with the battery position... so we changed the battery the other way round (up side down), and the wires are't long enough so we put it on a side and connected the wires boom everything worked... but still sometimes it won't start or when turning the key to start it it goes off, which is probably the key switch that is on its way out or already out and need replacement.

So, the wire is not from the starter and probably from the alternator as the alternator light is always ON.

Thanks alot guys for your help and for your time in reading my posts.
Regards,
Chris

 

[alexGS]

OK, I was staying quiet as the others had said everything worth saying Welcome to the forum!

I agree with Rob in that the wire (grey/yellow) is your 'warning light wire' off the alternator! If you shine a torch (flashlight) on the back of the alternator, you should see a small spade terminal that the wire pushes on to. This will solve your warning light problem and possibly improve the charge rate of the alternator which may extend the life of the battery.

I also agree with Chas' diagnosis in that you had (and probably still have) a loose battery connection - that's what causes it to cut out when turning to the start-position. It's possible for the switch to be faulty, but not all that likely (you're looking at the symptom not the cause, I feel?)

I think what you are trying to say is that "Italy is the Taiwan of Europe" Yes we all appreciate that these are cheap cars often made without much due care and attention. You will find this out if you take a number of Unos apart and compare the wiring, factory paint, etc. But they are a clever design and they work well on the whole! As far as the Italians are concerned, most Unos should be safely off the road by now. They were never made to live this long...

Incidentally, Chinese build quality in electronics etc. is often now the equal-best in the world - it all depends on who built the factory (there are still some shockers out there... China is vast...)

Oh and you CAN'T put a car battery on its side! But I guess you know this... sooner or later, the acid will leak out.

Have fun,
-Alex

 

[(CZ)enda]

I tried to start it again with the jump leads, with no success, my father told me that seems he is convinced with the battery position... so we changed the battery the other way round (up side down), and the wires are't long enough so we put it on a side and connected the wires boom everything worked... but still sometimes it won't start or when turning the key to start it it goes off, which is probably the key switch that is on its way out or already out and need replacement.

I must have missed something here... what did you do with the battery
Did you try to put it in "upside down", i.e. with the plugs facing down, or did you put it in "the other way around", i.e. rotated it 180° with the plugs facing up? Both is wrong .

The length of the cables is designed to help the foolproof installation of the battery, i.e. to prevent (+) cable connection on (-) battery terminal and vice versa.
Red cable goes to (+), black one goes to (-).

I suggest you should get Haynes manual from a fellow FF member and read it thoroughly:
http://www.zone.ee/eatmyshiit/unomanual.pdf

 

[unogirl45]

Hi,
I had exactly the same problem with my little car uno 45 fire. Now she was a brilliant car. That little alternator wire would come off every month or so and it was really tricky to get it back on. You could compress the fitting a little so that it's a tighter fit, I did it and had absolutely no problems from then on.