I have a silly car.

Mingle

Hi- i'm new to this area of the forum so please be kind!

My car wouldn't start recently so I had the RAC out to look at it and they said it was a problem with the key and I should call an autolocksmith. I called around and everyone I called said it would be the ECU and would cost a fortune. Then I finally found someone who listened to the age of the car and said it was likely to be the key. He came around and basically some little blighter had siphoned off my petrol :mad:. So I put some petrol in it and then tried to jump start it, so now it's been recommended that I look at the spark plugs.


Will it never end?! The irony of it all is that I am going for a test drive on Monday and all I need is for the car to be moving so I can get some money back on part exchange.

So the purpose of this thread is twofold: one- to have a moan about how silly my car/circumstances is, and two- to ask if anyone has had a similar problem with a 2000 Fiat Punto?

LandyAndy

I'm surprised the RAC (and you) didn't spot that the petrol cap had been forced and, particularly, that the fuel guage was showing very empty.

Mingle

I thought that the fuel gauge was showing empty because the car wouldn't start, as in the fuel gauge hadn't received the energy to move. It never crossed my mind to check the fuel cap.

john539

Just accept it's one of those days & have a beer ! :beer:

I've got old cars & repair them myself so don't have any monkeys giving me the run round.

attila_

Needing new spark plugs not linked to jump starting however.

scotsbob

If the tank had been completely drained it can be difficult to start once filled. This was explained to me by a mechanic once, it seems it has to do with pressure, or lack of it, causing an air lock in the fuel supply. Try starting it with the fuel cap off.

Mingle

Thank you! I never thought about taking the fuel cap off to equalise the pressure.

The RAC man said that it wasn't "sparking" so that's pushed me to look at the spark plugs.

custardy

Mingle wrote: »

Hi- i'm new to this area of the forum so please be kind!

My car wouldn't start recently so I had the RAC out to look at it and they said it was a problem with the key and I should call an autolocksmith. I called around and everyone I called said it would be the ECU and would cost a fortune. Then I finally found someone who listened to the age of the car and said it was likely to be the key. He came around and basically some little blighter had siphoned off my petrol :mad:. So I put some petrol in it and then tried to jump start it, so now it's been recommended that I look at the spark plugs.


Will it never end?! The irony of it all is that I am going for a test drive on Monday and all I need is for the car to be moving so I can get some money back on part exchange.

So the purpose of this thread is twofold: one- to have a moan about how silly my car/circumstances is, and two- to ask if anyone has had a similar problem with a 2000 Fiat Punto?

not really a problem with the car though,is it?
any car can suffer from fuel theft

as for the fuel gauge.
turn the ignition on so the dash lights cme on,but dont start the car.
you will see the fuel gauge rise or not in the case of no fuel.
as for the RAC guy. very poor diagnosis
the code light would have gone off,indicating no immobiliser issue.

is the battery low?( i assume you tried to start it a lot)

s_b

rac man sounds typical of the breed ie hopeless
on this punto you have a symbol on the dash if key not accepted
these cars are self priming so if its only fuel related and you have refuelled then it will start as they prime themselves,you will hear the pump as you turn the key to get the dash lights on
was car a good starter prior to fuel being stolen? how did they steal the fuel because they are supposed to be pretty syphon proof through the neck?
spark plugs rarely just stop especially if car was running fine yesterday
a code read would help to possibly point to the reason car wont start and your rac man should have done this

Mingle

The RAC man plugged it into a diagnostic machine and it came up with a key error even though the dash symbol went off.

The car started OK normally. It has been sat though for a while which made me think the battery had gone. I've been trying to start it and no battery at all today so I'll attempt to jump start it/charge it later.

I'm not sure how they stole the fuel- apparently the auto locksmith found the cap was loose- I do live in an area where it is common apparently.

The only code the RAC man came up with was the key, which apparently is fine.

custardy

Mingle wrote: »

The RAC man plugged it into a diagnostic machine and it came up with a key error even though the dash symbol went off.

The car started OK normally. It has been sat though for a while which made me think the battery had gone. I've been trying to start it and no battery at all today so I'll attempt to jump start it/charge it later.

I'm not sure how they stole the fuel- apparently the auto locksmith found the cap was loose- I do live in an area where it is common apparently.

The only code the RAC man came up with was the key, which apparently is fine.

you need a properly charged battery in the car.
take the battery out of the car you are jumping from if needs be.
car ECUs are sensitive to low batteries and it can cause issues
coupled with flags from trying to start with no fuel. it could be as simple as giving it a well charged battery to fire on