Hi,

Ive a 2001, 1.2 Fiat Punto. Since getting a new alternator installed in October ive had a problem with my car starting, ive had several new batteries, which have all tested perfect and no joy. The mechanic must have swapped the original battery with another by accident when he serviced it and ive had the problem since then, he stuck a piece of wood in to hold the battery down.

Recently, i was driving along at like 50mph and everything switched off, i mean the speedometer went right down and then it all went back on again with the time clock back to 0. One minute it will start fine and then i drive it to a shop or petrol station and it wont start again. (it's bad when u have to carry a spare battery and jump leads in the boot)

Can anyone please advise me on what the problem could be and how to fix it. Thanks!

jj, May 2010

the engine kind of chuggs away but won't start, there was also a noise which i thought was the belt from the alternator but a man said he thot it was a sucking noise and checked the (hose the the air goes through?) and this seemed to have fixed the noise. Do you think this would have made the engine not start on cold or after its been run?

We checked all the terminals and tested everything under the bonnet and it all seems to be fine so we put a charger to the battery but it was still charging 2 and a half hours later, even tho the tester said it had full charge. Should this be right?

jj, May 2010

Is engine turning over when it is not starting,do you just get a click or nothing at all

wickham, May 2010

my dad took wire wool i think to all the battery connections cos he thought they were maybe eroded and just cleaned them up and theyre all fine.

jj, May 2010

Sounds as if you have a bad connection,check your earths and wiring at battery, starter,engine,alternator

wickham, May 2010