Technical Couple problems with the new (to me) Punto Grande

[ZacharyCar]

Hi all,

Obviously new this and not even sure if this forum is still alive. I have been looking through a couple threads but since there is so many im finding it hard to find the answers to all my problems so I thought I would put them here.

I have a 2007 Fiat Punto Grande 8v 1.4L Active Sport (Thats what it says in the door). 5- Speed manual
I had a automatic at home and dont have much experience dealing with Standard vehicles

I am originally from Canada where I am almost a fully licensed mechanic so I kind of know what im talking about.

I have a few issues with my vehicle and dont know to much about EU vehicles so thought I would come here. Some of them seem to be connected but not sure

- Amber light on my dash saying a light is out when I checked all my lights and none seem to be out.
- When I have my front wipers on and go to put the vehicle in reverse by pulling up the collar and pulling it over to the right the rear wiper blade goes off but only when the front wipers are on. (Is this a weird EU feature?)
- I have an occasional jolt in my engine when idle but doesnt seem to be big enough to be a misfire.
- When I am driving in any gear under very light throttle the vehicle starts to shake almost violently (Clutch slipping?)
- My cigarette lighter works but only very occasionally and not sure why

I know this is alot but i appreciate any help.

Thanks

 

[PuntoHowTo]

- Amber light on my dash saying a light is out when I checked all my lights and none seem to be out.

Often with these cars it can either be the wrong bulb. LED lights being fitted where they shouldn't or a poor earth to the lights. Usually on start up there is a message telling you which bulb is the issue.

- When I have my front wipers on and go to put the vehicle in reverse by pulling up the collar and pulling it over to the right the rear wiper blade goes off but only when the front wipers are on. (Is this a weird EU feature?)

It's been a long time since I had a Grande, but I seem to think when you put it in reverse with the front wipers on, the rear wiper is supposed to speed up for better visibility

- I have an occasional jolt in my engine when idle but doesnt seem to be big enough to be a misfire.

Intermittent things are notoriously hard to replicate and fault find. I would be inclined to put it on a diagnostic scanner and see if there is anything showing in the stored fault codes.

- When I am driving in any gear under very light throttle the vehicle starts to shake almost violently (Clutch slipping?)

Maybe? but you would expect clutch slipping when pulling away rather than light driving. More than likely you're letting the revs get too low for the speed of the car and gear and its beginning to struggle to keep going.

- My cigarette lighter works but only very occasionally and not sure why

If its been used often the lighter itself, will have some damage to the coil of the lighter. Another reason can be damage to the socket. you'd be best to probe the contacts in the socket with a metre and see if it is registering the right voltage and if it is a good connection.

 

[ZacharyCar]

Often with these cars it can either be the wrong bulb. LED lights being fitted where they shouldn't or a poor earth to the lights. Usually on start up there is a message telling you which bulb is the issue.

It's been a long time since I had a Grande, but I seem to think when you put it in reverse with the front wipers on, the rear wiper is supposed to speed up for better visibility

Intermittent things are notoriously hard to replicate and fault find. I would be inclined to put it on a diagnostic scanner and see if there is anything showing in the stored fault codes.


Maybe? but you would expect clutch slipping when pulling away rather than light driving. More than likely you're letting the revs get too low for the speed of the car and gear and its beginning to struggle to keep going.

If its been used often the lighter itself, will have some damage to the coil of the lighter. Another reason can be damage to the socket. you'd be best to probe the contacts in the socket with a metre and see if it is registering the right voltage and if it is a good connection.

Hey Andy thanks for the response!

Amber light: Havent had a chance to check out the bulbs and all that but I will definitely take a look at those. Nothing seems out of the ordinary but its a 2007 so someone has got to been messing around with it at some point

Rear wiper: I have since searched it up and it does appear to be a design on the vehicle so thanks for bringing that to my attention.

Jolt: Going to have to get it scanned somewhere hopefully cheap aha.

Vibration: So it happens pretty well all the time under light throttle/accel, no matter when. Its basically when I am trying to keep a speed. I can be in 5th going 70 at 3000 revs or in 3rd gerar at 1500 revs. Very weird.

Cigarette lighter: I have done some research and it appears it is an odd size or something like that. I just mess with it and it seems to work. I was also using a for lack of better words "aftermarket" Iphone charger and it seemed to be a bit of a problem as well.

Thank you so much for the help and if you have any other insight or learn anything else please let me know!