Hi all,
I have this well known condition (with my car I mean ) and I would appreciate your help. The car is a Seicento Sporting Abarth '99 SPI. Here's the story:
1. Sudden death: 2 days ago I start the car, take it out of the garage, leave it running on idle for a minute to close doors and stuff, come back and the engine's off. It never started again. It cranks but it doesn't start.
2. Out of the blue: No previous problems or signs of hesitation during acceleration, abnormal idle running, power cuts, etc.
3. Dashboard lights normal: No check engine or other strange lights come on. CODE goes off immediately and injection light goes off 1-2 seconds after I turn the key to on (even without cranking). When I crank, oil pressure light also goes off. Only light remaining is battery.
4. Fuel tank at 3/4.
5. Battery is in very good condition, and I charge it after the checks I do (that naturally involve a lot of cranking) before it gets too low.
6. When I crank there is air coming out of the exhaust.
7. Removed, checked/cleaned fuel filter. There was fuel under pressure in the lines.
8. Got to the fuel pump. Turn the key on, it primes normally. Disconnected the out line, turned the key, pump spat fuel. Connected the out line back on, disconnected the return line. Turned the key, pump works, fuel coming out with pressure from the return line.
9. Took out the air filter housing. During cranking I can see fuel sprayed on the throttle body.
10. Took out spark plug leads one by one and checked for spark with a sparkplug connected. All had spark, although the longest cable (cylinder 4?) seemed to be a little weaker.
11. Took out and checked all spark plugs. Everything seemed fine. They have 30K (km) on them.
12. Took out the crankshaft position sensor (CPS). NOT in pristine condition. Had to clean oil residues and the outer layer of the cable where it meets the body is somewhat cut leaving silver lines (ground?) exposed.
13. Disconnected the CPS. Then the injection light comes on after key turn (as always) but doesn't go away even if I crank (expected)
14. With the CPS connected but taken out of its place just siting somewhere else, the injection light comes on after key turn (as always) but doesn't go away even if I crank (expected)
15. If the car sits for hours, in the next 1st attempt it looks as if it might start (coughs) for a second, but it doesn't. (I find it strange that it does that after sitting for hours)
16. Cranked for long without gas (in case it was flooded), nothing. Cranked for long with gas, nothing. Cranked after priming the pump 4-5 times, nothing.
So,
Fuel
I believe there is no problem because of 4,7,8,9. But can't be sure about sufficient pressure. Did seem enough though. Had a hard time keeping fuel from coming out with my thumb even on the return line during 8. (I know a pressure test would be nice, just don't have access to a tool right now)
Air
I think no problem because of 9.
Spark
I think no problem because of 10. Not sure about strength though.
Timing
No info on that. 12 suggests a faulty CPS but in that case, could 3, 9, 10, 13 and 14 all happen? I mean when connected, there's fuel sprayed, spark and no check engine light. Disconnected or misplaced, light comes on. Shouldn't this mean I should have a light if it is faulty? Anyone know how I could test with a multimeter? (no oscilloscope, sorry)
Exhaust
I think no problem because of 5.
Compression
No info, but 1 and specially 2 suggest this shouldn't be the problem? (I know a pressure test would be nice, just don't have access to a tool right now)
CPS and pump are the main candidates, but I don't want to start the replace this replace that (expensive) game.
Maybe even a ground problem (no way to check timing or accurate spark from coils)? But then again a sudden death with no previous signs?
I would appreciate any guidance/tests/suggestions.
Thanks
I have this well known condition (with my car I mean ) and I would appreciate your help. The car is a Seicento Sporting Abarth '99 SPI. Here's the story:
1. Sudden death: 2 days ago I start the car, take it out of the garage, leave it running on idle for a minute to close doors and stuff, come back and the engine's off. It never started again. It cranks but it doesn't start.
2. Out of the blue: No previous problems or signs of hesitation during acceleration, abnormal idle running, power cuts, etc.
3. Dashboard lights normal: No check engine or other strange lights come on. CODE goes off immediately and injection light goes off 1-2 seconds after I turn the key to on (even without cranking). When I crank, oil pressure light also goes off. Only light remaining is battery.
4. Fuel tank at 3/4.
5. Battery is in very good condition, and I charge it after the checks I do (that naturally involve a lot of cranking) before it gets too low.
6. When I crank there is air coming out of the exhaust.
7. Removed, checked/cleaned fuel filter. There was fuel under pressure in the lines.
8. Got to the fuel pump. Turn the key on, it primes normally. Disconnected the out line, turned the key, pump spat fuel. Connected the out line back on, disconnected the return line. Turned the key, pump works, fuel coming out with pressure from the return line.
9. Took out the air filter housing. During cranking I can see fuel sprayed on the throttle body.
10. Took out spark plug leads one by one and checked for spark with a sparkplug connected. All had spark, although the longest cable (cylinder 4?) seemed to be a little weaker.
11. Took out and checked all spark plugs. Everything seemed fine. They have 30K (km) on them.
12. Took out the crankshaft position sensor (CPS). NOT in pristine condition. Had to clean oil residues and the outer layer of the cable where it meets the body is somewhat cut leaving silver lines (ground?) exposed.
13. Disconnected the CPS. Then the injection light comes on after key turn (as always) but doesn't go away even if I crank (expected)
14. With the CPS connected but taken out of its place just siting somewhere else, the injection light comes on after key turn (as always) but doesn't go away even if I crank (expected)
15. If the car sits for hours, in the next 1st attempt it looks as if it might start (coughs) for a second, but it doesn't. (I find it strange that it does that after sitting for hours)
16. Cranked for long without gas (in case it was flooded), nothing. Cranked for long with gas, nothing. Cranked after priming the pump 4-5 times, nothing.
So,
Fuel
I believe there is no problem because of 4,7,8,9. But can't be sure about sufficient pressure. Did seem enough though. Had a hard time keeping fuel from coming out with my thumb even on the return line during 8. (I know a pressure test would be nice, just don't have access to a tool right now)
Air
I think no problem because of 9.
Spark
I think no problem because of 10. Not sure about strength though.
Timing
No info on that. 12 suggests a faulty CPS but in that case, could 3, 9, 10, 13 and 14 all happen? I mean when connected, there's fuel sprayed, spark and no check engine light. Disconnected or misplaced, light comes on. Shouldn't this mean I should have a light if it is faulty? Anyone know how I could test with a multimeter? (no oscilloscope, sorry)
Exhaust
I think no problem because of 5.
Compression
No info, but 1 and specially 2 suggest this shouldn't be the problem? (I know a pressure test would be nice, just don't have access to a tool right now)
CPS and pump are the main candidates, but I don't want to start the replace this replace that (expensive) game.
Maybe even a ground problem (no way to check timing or accurate spark from coils)? But then again a sudden death with no previous signs?
I would appreciate any guidance/tests/suggestions.
Thanks
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