Technical Car doesn't always start at once

[Moskis]

Hey! I have a punto from 2001 and I've had this problem for quite a while. When I turn my key it doesn't always start at first. It all sounds normal and the "stutter" a car makes when you turn the key is fast paced. It just doesn't 'ignite' if you know what I mean. I can hold it in the ignition position for 10 seconds+ without anything happening. Sometimes I can make it on the first try and some times it takes me 5 tries.
At first, two years ago, it happened frequently. Once-twice every week. Then it disappeared for 3 months and came back for a few weeks. Then it was all okay again for a couple of months and so on. I just recently changed my clutch and starter motor and this problem came back.

Does anyone recognize the problem?

 

[jackwhoo]

When you turn key does they yellow light on shape of a key on dashboard always go out?

 

[Moskis]

When you turn key does they yellow light on shape of a key on dashboard always go out?

I haven't really thought about it. From what I can recall, everything is normal. The car just doesn't really start. I'll try to think about it the next time it happens.

 

[jackwhoo]

Turn key to on , wait for yellow key symbol to go off then try to start. It may make no difference but try anyway.
Good luck.

 

[Ziggy122]

So the car has crank and a good pace of cranking
However your not getting ignition to actually ""start"" the car

This is telling me a few things
- starter and earth is good
- battery can sustain an extended crank

So its telling me to look at fuel pressure?
Can you hear the fuel pump prime up on first key? Does repeat turning the key help it start?
The keycode / car and padlock going out??

Is the fueling been messed up due a faulty sensor?
Such as engine temp sensor

Is th fault worse when its hot? Or is it jist random?

Ziggy

 

[Moskis]

So the car has crank and a good pace of cranking
However your not getting ignition to actually ""start"" the car

This is telling me a few things
- starter and earth is good
- battery can sustain an extended crank

So its telling me to look at fuel pressure?
Can you hear the fuel pump prime up on first key? Does repeat turning the key help it start?
The keycode / car and padlock going out??

Is the fueling been messed up due a faulty sensor?
Such as engine temp sensor

Is th fault worse when its hot? Or is it jist random?

Ziggy

I can't really make anything out to be different when it works and doesn't. Repeating works, yes. It mostly works on the third or fourth time if it doesn't start at once. I think it's pretty random. At first I thought it had to do with it being moist outside as it happened a lot when it was raining outside etc. Last couple of days have been dry and nice though, but it still happened.

 

[jackwhoo]

Check earth lead where it joins to car body.
Check fuel pump fuse for hairline fracture.

 

[s and b]

get those worthless koroners out and give it a service

 

[Ziggy122]

Check earth lead where it joins to car body.
Check fuel pump fuse for hairline fracture.

But its cranking for perlonged periods of time fine
That kinda tells me it aint the main gearbox to body earth

If anything it'll be the throttle body ecu earth, but i dowt its that!

Ziggy

 

[jackwhoo]

But its cranking for perlonged periods of time fine
That kinda tells me it aint the main gearbox to body earth

If anything it'll be the throttle body ecu earth, but i dowt its that!

Ziggy

Take it Easy Ziggy ,

If it has the earth lead that goes from battery -ve to body, then on to gearbox, the body connection can be poor and it will still crank no problem.

Jack

 

[Moskis]

Turn key to on , wait for yellow key symbol to go off then try to start. It may make no difference but try anyway.
Good luck.

For now, this has worked. Only tried it like 4-5 times though with a 100% success rate.

 

[jackwhoo]

Fingers crossed remains working for you. Thanks for letting us know.
Jack

 

[Moskis]

Fingers crossed remains working for you. Thanks for letting us know.
Jack

Still going strong! Why would this work though. What could be 'wrong' with the car?

 

[jackwhoo]

Nothing wrong with car it just needs a second to communicate with the coded chip inside the plastic part of key and recognise the code is stored in ECU as authorised to start the car.
It is good to check warning lights are working, fuel level etc before starting car anyway.

 

[s and b]

this wont get better as the transponder in the key is not working to full capacity
its usually a poor copy key think those footwear people who copy these things at great cost
or
more likely the proper key has been dropped and the internal glass ferule has broken and corrosion is working its way into the coil
another reason why you shouldn't let your grand kids suck your keys as their parents raid your fridge

 

[Ziggy122]

Ive had to have a new key by 3d auto keys (notts based company)
There copy keys work spot on
I literally can jump in and turn key from locked to start and it works instantly just like oem keys did before 1 died....

Ensure there are no other keys / id taghed cards / house /gate fobs on key set too

Ziggy

 

[Moskis]

Ive had to have a new key by 3d auto keys (notts based company)
There copy keys work spot on
I literally can jump in and turn key from locked to start and it works instantly just like oem keys did before 1 died....

Ensure there are no other keys / id taghed cards / house /gate fobs on key set too

Ziggy

this wont get better as the transponder in the key is not working to full capacity
its usually a poor copy key think those footwear people who copy these things at great cost
or
more likely the proper key has been dropped and the internal glass ferule has broken and corrosion is working its way into the coil
another reason why you shouldn't let your grand kids suck your keys as their parents raid your fridge

Nothing wrong with car it just needs a second to communicate with the coded chip inside the plastic part of key and recognise the code is stored in ECU as authorised to start the car.
It is good to check warning lights are working, fuel level etc before starting car anyway.

Thank you all for the answers. Hopefully this is the 'problem' then.

Edit: Also, about the fob thing on my key set. I have like five fobs hanging from my key set. I assume this could cause some problems?