(T) Brava 1.4 Engine problem

Hello all....

Please help!!!

I have recently encountered a problem with my beloved Brava 1.4s (1997 model)

When I was rolling to a standstill @ traffic lights etc, the engine would just die and cut out (oil & fuel lights come on) unless I kept the engine reving @ around 1500rpm... since my father looking @ this for me, he has adjusted the throttle cable so it idles @ around 300rpm more than normal. He noticed that there was a part on the automatic choke which was not meeting and this he said could be why it was cutting out from cold...however, it did the same when the engine was warm also. He has since tried a process of elimination and replaced a few small parts on the carberettor - however, it still idles eratically and although it ticks over sometimes it revs as if one is feathering the accelerator pedal... I want to know if this is something to do with the engine management unit (which will cost mega £££ to replace) or whether it's more of a mechanical (and from my dads point of view- fixable) issue...

Any help is appreciated as this little baby has been in the garage about 3 times since i bought it in feb.... and I have already spent about 800 squids on the car as the previous owner blatantly didn't look after it!!

Cheers in advance!

Claire

Carburettor? There isn't one as far as I am aware on injected cars.

May be your idle control valve though.

welcome to the forum,

sounds like idle sensor

Thanks for the info...

Not too up on cars in general... but my haynes manual mentions a carburettor???!! now I am confused!!

Wil check to idle sensor...

This sounds like how my problems started. My engine would labour when at idle, and would cut out if left. I went through the process of tightening the throttle cable so as to keep the revs high. What I didn't realise is the it was to do with oil starvation to the camshaft. (This may not be your problem, but it sure was mine)

What you should do is take off the oil cap and look at the camshaft. Is it dry? Is there any evidence of scoring? Now run the engine for a few minutes, and while still running, check the camshaft again. Is there any oil being sprayed onto it from the oil spray bar?

If there is any evidence of oil not being sprayed onto the camshaft, treat the engine to a full flush and oil/filter change.

It became necessary for me to remove the camshaft cover, and blow the spray bar out with an air line to remove all blockages.

I hope it's not this, as in my case I didn't realise it was happening until the engine seized. I'm looking at either a new cylinder head, or (hopefully) just a new camshaft and followers.

Hope it helps,

Carl

I had a similar problem with my 1.4S.

If your camshaft etc is ok your problem may be due to the part you refer to as a carburettor.

The part isn't called a carburettor but it does the same thing. Its correct name is a single point fuel injection unit (SPI).

On my car, which displayed similar symtoms, I replaced the SPI with a secondhand one from a scrap yard (£65). The particular item within the SPI that I suspect failed is the air temperature sensor but I have not been able to confirm this.

Hope this will be of assistance.