Technical Problem with starting up. Any suggestions?

[Marc Lewis]

Hi all. I have a 2003 1.2 16v sporting. Recently been having trouble with starting the car. Seems to struggle to turn over, as if the battery is almost flat. Other times it wont turn over at all, again, as if the battery is flat. And other times it starts up without any effort. I've replaced the battery and alternator, still no change. I'm going to change the starter motor this weekend, although its a second hand part (didn't want to spend a fortune on a new one incase it doesn't solve the problem). I'm beginning to think that something somewhere may be draining power from the battery, but I have no idea on what or where to start looking. Has anyone had or heard of this problem?


Thanks,


Marc Lewis

 

[Ziggy122]

Hi all. I have a 2003 1.2 16v sporting. Recently been having trouble with starting the car. Seems to struggle to turn over, as if the battery is almost flat. Other times it wont turn over at all, again, as if the battery is flat. And other times it starts up without any effort. I've replaced the battery and alternator, still no change. I'm going to change the starter motor this weekend, although its a second hand part (didn't want to spend a fortune on a new one incase it doesn't solve the problem). I'm beginning to think that something somewhere may be draining power from the battery, but I have no idea on what or where to start looking. Has anyone had or heard of this problem?

Thanks,


Marc Lewis

Issues Starting could be a dirty / corroded Earth strap ontop of the gearbox

This sorta fits your description
When the car is struggling to start / fails

Stick a Negative Jump lead on the engine mount(engine side not on the body side) and the other side on the negative terminal on the battery


Punto's suffer with lots of numb handed bodgers fitting stereo's in correctly - aftermarket wise?
If so - it may be worthwhile disconnecting for a few days to see if the situation changes

Ziggy

 

[Marc Lewis]

Cheers fella, I will look into that over the weekend. It has got an after market stereo fitted and I have heard about incorrect wiring leading to the battery being drained, so I disconnected it for about a week but it made no difference.

 

[Ziggy122]

Cheers fella, I will look into that over the weekend. It has got an after market stereo fitted and I have heard about incorrect wiring leading to the battery being drained, so I disconnected it for about a week but it made no difference.

So the aftermarket stereo has been rulled out for now

it may be worth doing a paracitic drain test
But i'd be looking to check the earth and power lines conditions

Ziggy