Hi,

I have a 94 Uno 1100 Mia. Never had any big problems with the car since I bought it 6yrs ago. Suddenly one day the car died while driving with all the dashlights on when the engine stopped turning. When you try to start it again sometimes it start with the first try, other times maybe it will try to start as if it got a spark but dont. then suddenly start for a few seconds before dying again or run for a while without problem. it does the same thing hot or cold. When checking for spark with a plug to any of the leads at that time there is no spark. Sometimes it will spark then for a few times before its gone again.

I fitted a new complete distributor, coil, fuel pump, sparkplugs and plug leads but the problem persist. I checked the wires that go to the distributor and there is always around 12volt on each of the 2 wires.

There are 3 wires that go into the coil. Is it possible that the wire supplying may be faulty? There was a time that the car wont start at all and after checking and moving the wire harness around it started and went for a few days without problem but its back again and very frustrating.:bang:

I have read the other posts but could not find a similar problem.

Thanks

You could have a faulty kill switch. It should be in the passenger foot well or on the side of either foot wells. It's a little black box with a rubber top. That could cause the issues you describe.

Sounds like it is a low tension ignition issue.. Either a broken or earthing wire, poor connection in a connecting plug, or, a bad earth. Also, does it have an immobilizer or alarm fitted? If so, one of those could have gone faulty. Fuse box internals can give problems after this amount of time too.

You`d probably be best to check wires with a sharp "dart" type circuit tester when it occurs, working back from the distributor wires, through the coil, back to the fuse box, maybe including the ignition switch.

Also check the engine earth strap, between the chassis & gearbox end plate (wouldnt hurt to run a second one between them)

I had a similar problem with a Fiat Tempra 2.0, it turned out to be the wiring inside the distributor rubbed through & occasionally earthing, but seeing as you`ve changed the dizzy, its unlikely to be anything inside that, or the ignition module (mounted on the side of it).

Liquid Knight said:

You could have a faulty kill switch. It should be in the passenger foot well or on the side of either foot wells. It's a little black box with a rubber top. That could cause the issues you describe.

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Liquid Knight I have looked everywhere for that kill switch but cannot find it

a73uk said:

Sounds like it is a low tension ignition issue.. Either a broken or earthing wire, poor connection in a connecting plug, or, a bad earth. Also, does it have an immobilizer or alarm fitted? If so, one of those could have gone faulty. Fuse box internals can give problems after this amount of time too.

You`d probably be best to check wires with a sharp "dart" type circuit tester when it occurs, working back from the distributor wires, through the coil, back to the fuse box, maybe including the ignition switch.

Also check the engine earth strap, between the chassis & gearbox end plate (wouldnt hurt to run a second one between them)

I had a similar problem with a Fiat Tempra 2.0, it turned out to be the wiring inside the distributor rubbed through & occasionally earthing, but seeing as you`ve changed the dizzy, its unlikely to be anything inside that, or the ignition module (mounted on the side of it).

Click to expand...

a73uk, I have checked the wiring but cannot find anything wrong so far. I have found that when I wiggle the wires at the fuse box I get it to start in some time. Sometimes more quickly when others. I have unplugged the fusebox and cleaned everything before putting everything back again. The problem remain. What baffles me is that I have unplugged it yesterday while the car is idling. Every wire was unplugged and I was standing with the fusebox in my hand. But the car did not stall. Put everything back again, the problem remain and after just touching some wires at the back of the box the spark is back. Im starting to think this little Uno is evil!

Hello, sounds like the same/similar problem to what I had with my Uno. Turned out to be the ignition module which sits on the side of the distributor; cost me £12 from eBay (new) and about 10 minutes to fit it

aidanhd said:

Hello, sounds like the same/similar problem to what I had with my Uno. Turned out to be the ignition module which sits on the side of the distributor; cost me £12 from eBay (new) and about 10 minutes to fit it

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Hi AidanHD, already exchanged the entire distributor with the module twice but no luck. I found that if I wiggle the wires under the dash either the car stalls or start. It must be one of the wires and will keep this post updated what I found after stripping the dash away. I think its a broken wire. Have found a wire in my pickup for the central locking solenoid that stopped working without the wire casing broken. I want to cut open that wire and see whats going on inside out of curiosity. Think the Uno have the same problem. Only issue will be to find the wire between the lots and lots of wires running with it, but will start from the ignition itself.

Hi MorneV

I am aware this thread is 5-6years old and i find myself here as i am experiencing the excaxt same issue with my 1400 Uno.

The cable to the coil which suppliers lower loses power, revs drop to zero and car dies.

I have to switch off and start again to get the car going.

Did you eventually find the issue and could please anyone advise.

MorneV

beat said:

Hi MorneV

I am aware this thread is 5-6years old and i find myself here as i am experiencing the excaxt same issue with my 1400 Uno.

The cable to the coil which suppliers lower loses power, revs drop to zero and car dies.

I have to switch off and start again to get the car going.

Did you eventually find the issue and could please anyone advise.

Click to expand...

Hi Beat. Changed the distributor and after about 20min idle again same problem. Then I got another distributor and the problem was solved. I am starting to think there was a loose connection somewhere that I corrected without knowing it while changing the distributor. At that time the new battery was also loosing power from just a week without driving that also stopped after the last distributor change. Think the best will be to check all wires individually and change if it is damaged before looking further

Thanks Morne

Good info for beat

It think lots of ECU repairs/ replacements have the same gain..

Charlie

Thank you MorneV for the feedback it is very useful.

On my car while it is idling, if i wiggle the wiring coming from the fuse box. The car continues to idle and does not die which leads me to that this issue is related to the distributor and its wiring.

I will investigate this issue futher and provide feedback.

Thanks again and continue enjoying your UNO.
I am still loving my Uno even after 13 years of ownership just this issue that is irritating but will sort it out.

Hi Guys

I am back again.
So i replaced the distributor and ignition barrel with new ones. The car drove and behaved perfectly fine for only 2 days and issue is back again.

I need to trace where the power wire which goes to the coil comes from, as i am not sure if it comes from ignition switch or else where.

Any thoughts as this issue is frustrating.

beat said:

Hi Guys

I am back again.
So i replaced the distributor and ignition barrel with new ones. The car drove and behaved perfectly fine for only 2 days and issue is back again.

I need to trace where the power wire which goes to the coil comes from, as i am not sure if it comes from ignition switch or else where.

Any thoughts as this issue is frustrating.

Click to expand...

Did you can be the switch operated by ignition key

You mean the Ignition switch jackwhoo?
I replaced it with a new one and car was fine, but today it started again.

beat said:

You mean the Ignition switch jackwhoo?
I replaced it with a new one and car was fine, but today it started again.

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Yes I did , well done changing it.

It appears that working around ignition switch changed something.
I would be tempted to uncover the ignition switch again, start car and wiggle wires trying to get it to cut out. If you do get fault to appear doing this you are wiggling the faulty wire/part.

jackwhoo said:

It appears that working around ignition switch changed something.
I would be tempted to uncover the ignition switch again, start car and wiggle wires trying to get it to cut out. If you do get fault to appear doing this you are wiggling the faulty wire/part.

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True

Seems like there is a wire that is faulty around the Ignition Switch wires.

I will do exactly what you suggested and give feedback.

Hi Guys

*Please Help*
I am still experiencing an issue with my Uno 1400 randomly dying while idling or driving. It does it when cold or hot.

Please note that my car is Fuel Injected and i am using thr distributor module any more.

Things i have done:
1. Put in a new coil
2. Found and replaced part of the orange wire to the coil for power in the engine bay that suppliers power to the coil as it was brittle.

3. Wired in a relay to the coil for the orange wire that powers up the coil from ignition switch.
Orange wire from Ignition switch goes through the relay then out to coil.

4. Unfortunately i am still experiencing the issue with the car losing spark as it dies randomly idling or driving. I can restart immediately and get going again but sometimes when trying to start again it would continuously crank crank and then eventually start up again.

5. Distributor and ignition switch are 8 months old.

*i am frustrated*

Hi Guys

*Update*

So after the issue continously and randomly kept on occurring.

I decided to spend more time with wiring and stripped it to find the source of the issue and to fix it permanently.

Upon stripping the wiring, i discovered that the orange wire from the ignition that goes and joins to the Ignition Module and the other part of that wire goes to the coil to supply power was faulty.

Replaced it and i can say the issue is resolved.
I have been driving the car for over a week and it does not die or stall anymore.

It starts instantly and no more more issues dissapearing.