Fiat Palio 1.9 Diesel Starting Problem and Solution
Posted by Praneel
The Problem: There are many complaints from owners about the faulty fuel pump indicator and the eventual low torque revving of Fiat Palio 1.9 Diesel . There are funny stories and elaborate nightmares in gruesome detail told by those who endured the service department’s sensible touch. Some sold their cars and some got them fixed for the time being. But there seems to be no real solution for this. Insurance company won’t cover it, because it is not a manufacturing defect (at least according to Fiat). And Fiat is not promising warranty on either the Repaired Pump (By TVSE motors – for Rs. 25,000 they change the Faulty sensor in the pump) or the new Pump (costs Rs. 75,000). As a bonus you have to pay it from your pocket. This is going to continue until Fiat accepts that it is a major screw-up in their manufacturing and rectifies it.
The Solution: You have to start the engine 2 to 3 times until the indicator goes off. Once started, then usually there is no problem (except some public embarrassment).
March 31st, 2009 at 10:19 PM
please reply sir,
i have facing one problem in my palio desel car.is what while car running some times indicate engine check symble .that time actulator was not working and many of uncontrol.so pls give me the solution for me.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:32 AM
If engine check symbol is on even after the engine starts it indicates sensor defect, which is a common problem in pre 2008 Fiat Palio Diesel cars. You will get little or no transmission if it is on.
You have 3 solutions.
1) Get the sensor replaced with a new one at any Fiat Service center – Costs about Rs 75,000.
2) Get a repaired sensor from any Fiat service center for Rs 25,000.
There is no warranty from Fiat in both methods. The part might fail immediately or in 2 months- which happened to many Palio Diesel owners.
Or else you can
3) Start and turn off the car 2 to 3 times and the indicator might turn off.
(or)
Try this- put the key in (don’t turn it yet) and start it with one quick turn all the way (from off to ignition). It works almost all the time.
Normal Procedure: Key in >> Twist to start battery power >> wait for the heater and pump indicators to go off >> Twist more to start ignition.
Solution procedure: Key in >> Twist all the way to start ignition.
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But if your ignition heater coil indicator is ON, the problem is with one of the four heat sensors which can be replaced for RS 1,000 .
December 27th, 2009 at 12:29 AM
i am facing the same problem.. i do ur third method.. i.e start in one quick time… is it nt harmful for the vehicle? plz reply
December 27th, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Roshan, I didn’t have any problem for the past 4 years using that method. It’s just one faulty sensor. If you want to play it safe, you can turn the key from off to on (not to ignition) and back to off in 5 seconds then follow the 3rd procedure to start. This way you will be certainly giving the time required by the pump to fill up the chamber.
March 7th, 2010 at 5:44 PM
I am facing problem that my palio 1.9 D will start in first try and it will go off immediately within 1-3 seconds and then it will take much longer ignitions almost 8-9 times and then it will start.. or sometimes it wont start at all.. any suggestions plz
March 7th, 2010 at 5:47 PM
I am facing problem that my palio 1.9 D will start in first try and it will go off immediately within 1-3 seconds and then it will take much longer ignitions almost 8-9 times and then it will start.. or sometimes it wont start at all.. any suggestions plz
i have tried above 3rd method but it doesnt work and also there are no warning lights..
March 8th, 2010 at 6:06 AM
Get it checked immediately. It might be fixed with an oil or air filter change.
May 11th, 2010 at 12:33 PM
I have faced the same trouble with the ignition pump light and subsequent choking of the car performance. Unfortunately due to lack of good understanding with mechanics, there are various diagnosis (if anyone knows of a good mechanic in delhi NCR, please let me know). The solution of first turning on the colis and (step 1) and then immediately turning the key to ignition seems to do the trick for now. I must say though that for all my love of the car (last 4 years), getting spares and service are certainly a pain!
January 19th, 2011 at 3:07 PM
Hi i am facing a different problem which my fiat palio 1.9D engine is reworked in Bosh service centre, Before rework of engine the engine will start just like that and it will rock on the road with a good pickup and milage. My brother drove the car without seeing the tem gauage due to oil pup failure the engine got more heated and seazed. Now i reworked the engine but i am facing starting proble.
When i start in the morning with twice or thrise putting heater the car will start in few seconds but after drive it for a kilometer and if switch off the car and i try to start it won’t start it will give a noice like low battery the engine won’t crank properly.
I have changed a new battery but same problem, so once i swiched off the car i have wait for 15min and then if i start the car it will start, so every time when i stop the car i for any reason i have to wait for 15min or some times 30min to start it again.
Also the pickup is very poorthe engine noice is too high. If i switch on the AC the engine check light will start glow and the speed of the car reduced 50% immediately. to get the normal accelaration i have to switch off the AC and also i have to restart the car.
The Machenic in the Boseh service centre told that some sensor problem not able to findout.
Someone please let me knw what will be the problem and what will be the solution for this. I don’t want to sell this car because i have already spend arround 75000 for the re work of engine and tyres.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:33 AM
If the engine is starting again after 30 min, it could be a problem with cooler fan fuse or one of the heat sensors, which can be fixed easily by replacing the sensor or just cleaning it and checking the wiring for loose connections. I had this problem and it was fixed easily by local service by checking the right side cable bundle under the steering and fixing a loose connection, but it reappeared thrice later getting fixed with the same solution. The car later had battery recharge problem, power steering failure and transmission failure.
It is a good car and it was hard for me to sell it. I tried to fix it for more than the amount you mentioned to no avail. Finally I sold it for less than the amount I paid for repairs. I can empathize with you, but the fact is, you have to sell it or keep loosing money.
January 20th, 2011 at 4:42 PM
Hi Thanks for your reply, i don’t want to sell the car because it is running properly once it get started only problem is its not get starting easly whe it was in heat, Also i checked with the CONCORD people they checked the ECM with the examinar and told that the fuel pump have some problem the position sensor is not working in the fuel pump and suggested to repair the fuel pump and other things have no issues.
Is it right please let me know your comments.
Regards,
Vasanth.
June 27th, 2011 at 8:02 PM
Hi,
I am facing a problem in my Fiat Palio 1.9 D ELX model, the engine was overhalled by the bosch service centre from there my car is not starting when it is warm. When the engine is cold the car starts normaly but once its get heated if i cut off the engine and if i start it, it won’t start it will give noice like battery low but the battery is full charged, I have to leave the car for 30min to get cool and if i start now it will get start.
This problem is giving more problem in city traffic and don’t what could be the issue.
Can any help me what could be the problem and how to fix it?.
Is it the same as the Crank shaft sensor?.
Thanks & Regards,
Vasanth.
June 28th, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Hi Vasanth,
This might be caused by a faulty heat sensor. I got the same problem with my Palio and the car even stopped after driving for 30 min. Then I had to let it cool down for a while to get started again. One local car electrician had many such complaints and he took a radical approach by removing the heat sensor connection. He did the same to my car until he got the sensor replaced after 3 weeks. Better get it fixed right away since their service is a bit faster now. The sensor does not cost much, afaik below Rs. 5000.
Hope that helps
September 20th, 2011 at 6:34 PM
in my palio i changed power stearing belt and pully several times
wht is the problem, once i change it works only belo 3000kms
October 5th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
Hi,
I have changed the Heat sensor but the problem didn’t fix, here my problem is once the car engine reached 40-50 degree C heat if i switch off the car it won’t start immediately it will crank like a low battery symptom, even if i change new battery at that time it won’t start, once the heat is reduced to 10-20 degree then only it will start.
Due to this reason now i have rebuild the engine again but till the problem is not solved.
It seems when it is hot the full power from the battery is not supplied to starter, is there any possible for this please help me i have spend a lot for this car so i don’t want to sell this.
Any one give me the solution.
Thanks,
Vasanth.
October 10th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Scanner, spare parts, spare parts cost and technical know how unavailibilty for fiat diesel 1.9 litre palio cars in india.
Almost all 1.9 litre diesel palio of the 2003/2004 model in the country have developed a technical snag in the country. There are tons and tons of complaints of a similar nature which can be viewed in google if the fiat service team is really considers customer service as a belief in its organization . Yet fiat India’s head honchos remain oblivious to the fact and are not ready to accept that this Is a manufacturing defect. Some of the most common defects are
1) fuel ignition sensor problem repairing which does not warranty proper functioning
2) Startup and idling/standby problems
3) Spare part,repairing and technical know-how which are more expensive than the car itself
Though the car is beauty in its power and pickup I have spent more amount on car repairs other than it regular servicing and maintenance than the cars original value.
I hope the fiat guys actually reads this and revert too
December 15th, 2011 at 10:02 AM
my petra 1.9 elx starts and after a few kilometers run it turns off.i have to wait until it cools down to start again.please help
December 28th, 2011 at 1:33 PM
I have a Palio 2004 make and it have a fuel ignition light problem some times. More than that the there is a little louder knocking sound coming from the engine side. I have spend 25000 with fiat service centre to rework the head and the problem remains the same. Now they say engine has to be worked… Can any body pls advice.