Fiat Bravo Quiz
Ignition/spark plugs

Ignition system troubleshooting

In this manual: Ignition/spark plugs
Dear Reader — 1Engine — 35Engine lubrication — 3Engine cooling — 10Ignition/spark plugs — 14Fuel system — 10Petrol fuel injection — 13Diesel injection system — 13Exhaust system — 7Clutch — 7Transmission / Gearshift / Automatic Transmission — 5Front Axle — 11Rear axle — 4Steering — 9Wheel alignment — 1Brake system — 22Wheels and tyres — 10Body — 34Heating — 6Electrical system — 39Lighting system — 14Instruments — 7Windscreen wiper system — 8Vehicle care / tools — 6Jump Starting / Towing the Vehicle — 3Jacking up the vehicle — 1Fiat Bravo / Brava Maintenance Schedule — 1Maintenance — 38Wiring diagrams — 5
~1min read

Check whether an ignition spark is present. To do this, unscrew the spark plugs, insert them into the spark plug connectors and hold each one individually against ground (engine block). Do not hold the spark plug connector or ignition lead by hand; use a well-insulated pliers. Have an assistant crank the engine. Warning: to avoid damage to the catalytic converter, no fuel must be injected during this test. Therefore, pull the fuel pump relay, see chapter "Fuel system". Warning: observe the safety instructions for the electronic ignition system.

Note: it is advisable to first read the engine control unit fault memory (workshop task).

Fault: the engine starts poorly or not at all.

Cause Remedy
Resistance in spark plug lead/spark plug connector too high. Replace ignition lead/spark plug connector.
Spark plug connectors fitted in the wrong order. Fit spark plug connectors in firing order 1-3-4-2 or 1-2-4-5-3.
Spark plugs wet from too many starting attempts. Remove spark plugs and dry them.
Spark plugs damp and dirty on the outside. Clean and dry the spark plugs, and push silicone protective caps onto the spark plugs and connectors.
Ignition coil output too low. Check the electrical leads on the ignition coil for secure fit and good contact. Check the ignition coil.
Ignition coil cracked, tracking between terminals. Replace ignition coil.
Spark plug defective. Always replace all spark plugs. Only replace an individual spark plug if the vehicle has very low mileage.

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A quick Fiat Bravo quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.