hey there can anyone help with a very confusing problem im having with my v reg seicento. in the past few months, its started being an absoulute pig to start. in a morning or when its been stood cold it will turn over , choke a bit, then eventually it will kick in a start. if i was then to drive 200 yards on the road and go into a shop or something, it wont start at all. to the point where iv almost flattened the battery. its getting bad because i darent turn the ignition off if i go anywhere in it.i have to let it sit for about 15 mins , then if it feels like it it will start.

its been in a garage 3 times in the past couple of weeks, and had everything and anything done with it, new battery, new sensors spark plugs etc and the garage is miffed as they cant find the fault either.
its also cut out on me a couple of times, then the nightmare of trying to start it again when its playing up like this, when your sat in the midddle of a junction, is an absolute ball ache.

its very very annoying!
help??!!!

did they replace / clean the TDC sensor? That sounds likely to me. Or if the sensor is too far away from the pulley.

arc said:

did they replace / clean the TDC sensor? That sounds likely to me. Or if the sensor is too far away from the pulley.

Click to expand...

Thats usually my line, but worth a try. You need to find out whether it is igntion or fuel related and take it from there.

Cheers

D

arc said:

did they replace / clean the TDC sensor? That sounds likely to me. Or if the sensor is too far away from the pulley.

Click to expand...

on the right lines their but it's also an rpm sensor a comon fault is the wiring from this caching on the alternator belt if it is an 899cc

Any other symptoms?

Coughing or spluttering?

Running Rich/Lean (Exhaust smell... fuel consumption)

Loss of power?

Injector Light?

Strange ticking noises form the engine?

Etc...

Could be a number of things tbh, without a full symptons list, it's difficult to say.

I do agree with the TDC sensor, but saying that; it could be any number of electrical components...

For warm start issues, first thing i'd do is get a cylinder compression check. This will rule out any mechanical issues (Worn camshaft etc...) then check the fueling system.

For cold start issues i'd check the above, then i'd also check HT conditions (Unfortunately, garages aren't always as thoughrough as the owner of the car!!) Spark plug gaps... (off the shelf "pre-gapped" rarely are!)

Failing that... I'd start looking at electrical components (Throttle potentiometer, idle stepper motor etc...)

If you have more symptons, please post and i'll try and help diagnose.

thanks guys.

you know i posted on here and never ever checked back...didnt think anyone would reply!

It stopped for a while, and its started doing it again. at the weirdest times. it will just die going down a hill, then wont start for 10 mins. or if i stop at the shops, i leave the engine running....bad i know, but it beats being sat for 15 mins trying to get it going again.

but ill definatly mention the TDC...im not technical so i dont even know its thats already been checked.
its going in next week for a once over.

thanks again

its been doing it for a YEAR?!

Sounds to me like a faulty TDC Sensor. so did the garage do a diagnostic on it ?

you say everything & anything done with it, what parts did the garage replace take a look at the invoice parts used.