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Technical 1.3 diesel refusing to start

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Technical 1.3 diesel refusing to start

Sweetsixteen said:
I know this ground has already been covered, but it does seem a coincidence that the car was running fine up until fresh fuel was put in. Can't think why that would stop it running, unless the fuel was totally duff.
Many years ago, we suspected bad fuel on an old car, so we rigged up a gallon can straight to the pump with a flexipipe and tied the can to the top of the passenger door.
It gravity-fed, and we got the engine running this way. Probably that would not work with a Multijet, but I'm just thinking random thoughts here.
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It's funny you should mention this but you are quite correct, and it's always worth revisiting these things. As it happens I did try fresh fuel again, I really did not want to go down the ECU route, but now that I have gone that route I really hope this is the answer.
Watch this space
 
Well, its NOT the ECU, just fitted an overhauled unit and no go. I feel like shooting myself, thought I had cracked it. So its back to the drawing board or I look for a box of matches.
 
varesecrazy said:
didn't you originally state it had been down on power for a few days.. before stopping at the roadside?

did you try and towstart it..??

tried that lately..??

Charlie
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My daughter said that while it was cold on a couple of occasions it felt down on power. No never tried to tow, it has crossed my mind but I have several good batteries that crank it over easily.

Seriously fed up, my love affair with Italian cars is waning, never had issues like this before.
 
Used to be a time when, if ever a diesel stopped, fuel was the instant suspect.
Now, with so many sensors, any one of them can cause an engine to limp, or come to a halt.
Crank position sensor for example, can bring an engine to a stop, and can be a pain to diagnose.
Diesels are getting more complicated than petrols!
 
Sweetsixteen said:
Used to be a time when, if ever a diesel stopped, fuel was the instant suspect.
Now, with so many sensors, any one of them can cause an engine to limp, or come to a halt.
Crank position sensor for example, can bring an engine to a stop, and can be a pain to diagnose.
Diesels are getting more complicated than petrols!
Click to expand...

Funny how your mind works, I foolishly decided that as it was not being reported on MES the crank sensor must be OK but tomorrow it's coming out, I have a couple kicking around somewhere to try. I will be happy and seriously cross if that is the problem.
 
Philjay51 said:
My daughter said that while it was cold on a couple of occasions it felt down on power. No never tried to tow, it has crossed my mind but I have several good batteries that crank it over easily.

Seriously fed up, my love affair with Italian cars is waning, never had issues like this before.
Click to expand...

not sure it's really an Italian built problem,
apart from FIAT "inventing" common rail diesels:rolleyes:

Before the matches come out I would try getting a decent 20 mph up in-tow then drop the car into 2nd gear,
should equate to a decent amount of revs = fuel rail pressure..,

even if you get it to cough + splutter.. then it'll be better than DEAD..,

worth checking fault codes before AND after this.

Charlie
 
varesecrazy said:
not sure it's really an Italian built problem,
apart from FIAT "inventing" common rail diesels:rolleyes:

Before the matches come out I would try getting a decent 20 mph up in-tow then drop the car into 2nd gear,
should equate to a decent amount of revs = fuel rail pressure..,

even if you get it to cough + splutter.. then it'll be better than DEAD..,

worth checking fault codes before AND after this.

Charlie
Click to expand...
Hmm, I take your point, I am prepared to give it a go.
 
Hope the cam chain has jumped one tooth giving rough running then jumping more teeth to make it terminal
 
My last thought was the timing. Though mine did still run when the guide failed and the chain slipped, it sounded very very rough indeed - almost like it was running on 3 cylinders. Changing the chain isn't something for the faint-hearted though.
 
Wee Smurf said:
My last thought was the timing. Though mine did still run when the guide failed and the chain slipped, it sounded very very rough indeed - almost like it was running on 3 cylinders. Changing the chain isn't something for the faint-hearted though.
Click to expand...


Set against that is the fact that although this car seemed to lack power on a couple of occasions, it then ran fine before stopping without warning - or any unusual noises.
 
Philjay51 said:
Funny how your mind works, I foolishly decided that as it was not being reported on MES the crank sensor must be OK but tomorrow it's coming out, I have a couple kicking around somewhere to try. I will be happy and seriously cross if that is the problem.
Click to expand...

well worth it as the ECU doesn't "see" the CAS..,:(

if you're towing..,remember the brakes will NOT be AS efficient with a dead motor:eek:;)

worth removing that clogged air filter too, ;)

out of interest how did the car "die"?
stall at a junction.. or just "shut-off" at speed??

best of luck(y)

Charlie
 
Granted it doesn't explain code faults either but taking the inspection plug off the rocker box side and checking the bell housing hole would confirm one way or the other ... The difficulty is knowing one persons view of rough running/down on power
 
Lots of thoughts and info here, how it lost power and to what extent, I don't know, significant according to my daughter, how it stopped I have no idea at all, but she was at a junction, so my guess is it just died. Now, if I spray Easy start in the air intake it will fire and sort of run, but it's not a good solution��. So, I believe that the mechanics of the thing are good. Today it's back to basics, check wiring, I understand that connections can be an issue? Also, crank sensor, the cam sensor is working as the Rev counter is reporting and I understand that's where the signal comes from. What I am trying to avoid is just buying new parts until it runs. Yes I know I bought an ECU but that is going back.
Onward and up ward. Incidentally, my daughter is using my wife's Grande Punto 1.4 sport while I am fiddling, I collected it back yesterday and remembered why I like these cars so much, they are fun to drive.
Many thanks for all your help and thoughts, sooner or later it will be sorted.
 
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OK the next chapter, today I changed the crank sensor for one I had kicking around, came off a running car so I presume it's OK and I bit the bullet and drained the tank. At this point I thought I had cracked it because as I suspected the fuel was pretty awful, at some point it looks like cooking fat has been put in the tank. The tank was full but I am guessing that the last 10-15 litres that came out was a glutinous sludge, again, I really though this is it. Put fresh supa dupa fuel in and give it a go, sadly no go. With Easy start it would run, very disappointed. However, I am thinking that I may need to clean or flush the injectors, it occurred to me that varesecrazy may have a point, towing it might just push enough fuel around to clear any crap. So onwards and upwards.
Oh, the reason I kept it running on the Easy start was to get some error codes up, might just help, you know drowning man grasping at straws.............again.
 
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varesecrazy said:
COULD have been sat in the tank for a while,

obviously ,
normal diesel will be a LOT thinner than this gloop in Winter temps, :(

so may have just been sat there " like Jelly", with the diesel flowing over it,

Charlie[/QUOTE
To be honest that was my thought, tomorrow I am going to undo all the injector pipe work and flush it out, not sure if I need to clean the injectors but I will figure something out.
Don't know where she got if from, it may be from a mutual friend that makes bio diesel, I will ask her tomorrow.

Just been outside.......again to check the error codes, P0090 is still there. This is very frustrating.
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I was warned to avoid bio diesel by the dealer when I was buying my Panda. I didn't bring the subject up and wasn't ever planning on using it though.
 
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