Technical mis-fire 2013 Panda 1.2 Pop

[series2a]

Advise please. I've searched the threads for a similar problem but can't seem to find a solution.

My 12. Panda is just out of its warranty by 1000kms. However just before the warranty expired my Panda developed a horrible misfire which I isolated to the number one cylinder spark plug. If i disconnected the plug lead the misfire remained and only got worse if I removed any of the other leads. Hence No1 being the problem.

I took out the plug and it was badly burnt and had white deposits all over it. No4 was normal. 2 and 3 were impossible to remove.

Towed the car to Fiat who replaced the plugs and HT leads which they said were faulty and this was done under warranty.

I have had my Panda at Fiat probably 3 times now for this problem since I bought it new. On other occasions they replaced the spark plugs and on one occasion they replaced one of the injectors because it was not sprying properly.

After this last problem the car has started a slight misfire again and this was only after about 1000kms (600 miles). It is booked in for this Friday for them to look at it. The misfire is very slight and is audible when listening to the sound of the exhaust. It is not felt during driving but this is how the problem began all the other times and then got so bad it could not drive.

I obviously want them to treat this under the warranty even though it has just gone out of the mileage part but still within the time factor because I feel they did not sort out the problem completely when I towed it in there about 3 weeks ago.

1. Why would no1 spark plug have these white deposits on it and not the others although I could not tell what 2 and 3 looked like because they were over-tightened but no4 looked okay?

2. Could it possibly be fuel injector again causing the burning and deposits on no1 plug?

The car has been under maintenance plan and so has always had its services. I have always used the correct octane fuel even though a cheaper octane is available at the pumps. I use the car to teach driving so the car does not drive at high revs and does spend an above normal amount of time at idle (nature of the job when teaching parking work).

Any comments will be appreciated.

 

[Tom95]

Sorry to hear you're having issues.

If they've already replaced the injector, I doubt that's the issue again. Next port of call may be to try replacing the coil pack.

I know that people in the past have had issues with these causing rough running.

 

[MickG]

Have you read the thread called Spark plug failure, last post 2 days ago? That started as a problem with a twin air but ended up in a general warning about the longevity of the plugs used by Fiat.

Might be worth a look if you haven't seen it already.

All the best,
M

 

[series2a]

Have you read the thread called Spark plug failure, last post 2 days ago? That started as a problem with a twin air but ended up in a general warning about the longevity of the plugs used by Fiat.

Might be worth a look if you haven't seen it already.

All the best,
M

Yes, I saw that and found it interesting, thanks.

 

[series2a]

Well Fiat had my car for over a month. Thank goodness I have a spare car to use otherwise I would be bankrupt now because I use my car for work (driver training).

Fiat have no idea what is wrong! They replaced injectors, replaced plugs, replaced HT leads again. They checked the timing and decided that the timing was wrong and was out by one tooth on the belt and so they changed that. As it happens I had complained previously of a very slight pinking from the engine which they shrugged off and said I was the only one who could hear it. They drove it a lot because I told them to DRIVE the car and not just go around the block to test it. I even gave them permission for the service manager to use it to drive to and from work so as to get the car warm and driven like I would in a day. They agree there is a miss but can't say why! All they have the ability to do is try replace things hoping the problem will go away.

The car seems to run okay now but it is always the same after they have replaced those items and then 10 000 kms later then engine fires on only 3 cylinders and the story starts over again. Now they car is out of warranty and finished maintenance plan I am going to go the route of using different spark plugs.

The next service will be done by me and those will be on my list. I have read the post on this subject and will see if those Iridium NGK plugs are available here in South Africa.