Seeking Advice on Engine Light and Starting Issues in 2016 Fiat Punto

Hey there, I faced a similar issue with my 2014 Fiat Panda a couple of years ago. I'm not much of a grease monkey, but I have some experience dealing with car issues. It turned out my car had a third-party chip tuning that was playing up. Dropped it off at my local workshop, and they identified the problem in no time. I paid about 180 Euro and voila, problem fixed! Anyway, the car's been fine since then. Just to make sure I'm on the right track, and to help out a bit more, could you share more about your vehicle? Specifically any modifications or recent work done? Oh, and do you remember what the stored fault was that you found? Cheers!

Hey, thanks for jumping in! Much appreciated. The stored fault was P0505 – Idle Control System Malfunction. No modifications were ever done on the car, just regular maintenances. The most recent service was done when it hit the 40159 km mark. I thought it might be an engine issue considering the mileage but it's hard to tell at this point. Can this be related to the chip tuning you mentioned? Thanks again!

Hey again! Oh P0505. Been there, done that with my Fiat too. The code indicates an issue with the Idle Air Control System. Considering your Punto didn't have any modifications like my Panda did, I doubt it's related to any sort of chip tuning. In my experience, it's more likely something to do with a faulty Idle Air Control (IAC) valve or a vacuum leak. The IAC valve controls the amount of air that bypasses the throttle, allowing the ECU to maintain the ideal engine idle speed. If this is malfunctioning or stuck, it would totally describe the symptoms you're seeing: erratic engine shutting off, bad idling (if at all) and the Check Engine light. I had somewhat similar symptoms on my Panda not long after the chip tuning issue, and it turned out to be the IAC valve that needed to be cleaned. I recommend getting a diagnostic run to confirm this and see if you can get the valve cleaned or replaced. Just a note, though: if it's a vacuum leak, it might be a bit more difficult and expensive to get fixed as it could be anywhere in the engine. Either way, I'd recommend getting it down to a garage as soon as you can to avoid any further damage. Trust me, you don't want to be left walking! Keep me posted and good luck!

Hey again, comrade! Thanks a bunch for that knowledge bomb - makes loads of sense now that you've spelled it out. I hadn't a clue about this Idle Air Control stuff - seems I've got some learning to do. Your explanation definitely matches the silly dance my engine's been doing. I reckon you've hit the nail on the head! I'll give my regular garage a ring tomorrow to get a diagnostic (and hopefully a fix) sorted ASAP. Fingers crossed it's not one of those pesky vacuum leaks. Either way, I just want this problem gone, even if it dents my wallet a bit. Thanks for sharing your hard-earned wisdom much appreciated! Will keep you posted on the outcome. Cheers!