I just bought a 96 Fiat Bravo to learn to drive in. It started up great but we soon realised the clutch was on it's way out then when we got home with it and took the key out we realised something was up with the car as the engine was still running, all the electrics were off but the engine was holding fast. I really like the car and would love to keep it but I am not sure how the problem can be fixed, how much it would cost to fix and I am also worried about the clutch and the cost of that. Can anyone please offer me some advice?

did it keep running on for a bit then cough and die?

No it just keeps going you have to purposely stall the engine every time you use it.

what engine have you got ? could be a stuck relay on the ECU/injection side of things..

It is a 1.9 diesel engine.

Ok, TD75 or TD100 ?. anyway, the most likely problem is a sticking stop solenoid, or the stuck relay..

if the stop solenoid isnt the problem then it is burning its engine oil, but it is almost certainly the stop solenoid, a cheap and easy fix. the clutch is probably suffering because they have been stalling it to switch the engine off. knock an appropriate amount off for the price for the clutch, imo £250 would be a fair discount.

I'm with stylers and jug on this. Most likely the stop solonoid. I have a terrible feeling that the solonoid is under a cover plate.

jug said:

if the stop solenoid isnt the problem then it is burning its engine oil, but it is almost certainly the stop solenoid, a cheap and easy fix. the clutch is probably suffering because they have been stalling it to switch the engine off. knock an appropriate amount off the price for the clutch, imo £250 would be a fair discount.

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Not so cheap fix jug, that is the problem i was having with mine and the only way to fix it is to remove the injector pump which is a b!tch to get to anyway so to repair it you might as well get you cam belt done at the same time.

bridges said:

I'm with stylers and jug on this. Most likely the stop solonoid. I have a terrible feeling that the solonoid is under a cover plate.

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Your terrible feeling is right bridges, its a pig of a job and the ecu will need reprogramming as the stop solenoid is attached to the key immobiliser box

whoops, i thought the solenoid was on fuel pump and could be removed seperately.

jug said:

whoops, i thought the solenoid was on fuel pump and could be removed seperately.

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Nope its on the injector pump there is an advance actuator that is easily removed BUT that is not the same as the stop solenoid, that is why i am dreading summer because when i replaced my engine on my td i forgot to swap the stop solenoids over so now i have to remove the engine again just to swap them over.

And it explains why the owner didnt fix it and opted to sell....

Ffoxy said:

And it explains why the owner didnt fix it and opted to sell....

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:yeahthat:

firstly you would need to prove where the fault lies, and not jump to conclusions before going to the major hassle of getting at the solenoid. make sure that the ECU relay is not stuck, by removing it or the engine management fuse while the engine is running (the handbook/owners manual will show its location). if it still doesent stop, then try giving the back end of the injector pump a good tap with a hammer and chisel or something to see if the solenoid will come unstuck..

Thank you so much for all your advice. It would seem I have been duped but I still love the little car so I may get it all fixed if not I will get another one but I will ALWAYS switch the engine off before driving away in future!!!

This is a suggestion to the diesel experts. Could a shut off valve of sorts be plumbed into the diesel line, a secondary solenoid?
Thus shutting off the engine by being tapped into the feed to the solenoid.