Right, had a little around, but can't find any answers.

Experience is the best way to start...

My 1.9 120 runs lovely, until it warms up a bit. Then as soon as you get to a junction/traffic lights etc, it decides it doesn't like to idle. It splutters slightly, rocks about a bit and goes into limp mode, hovering just over 1000rpm. Sometimes you can put your foot down and it clears, but mostly you have to 'turn it off and turn it on again' (Which, during these dark days, makes me look like a bit of a sex pest with me turning headlights on and off at traffic lights)

It's been baffling me for a while. It stopped for a few months during the summer, but it's entered my life again for the past month. Trying to navigate the traffic of the Leicester southern ring road is bad enough without having to keep restarting every 5 minutes.

So, I've tried.

Cleaning the Boost sensor (again)
Cleaned the EGR valve (Only 9 months since it was replaced)
Cleaned the MAF sensor
About the change the fuel filter (Once I can get the housing apart. Eeek)
Tried to force a DPF regen last night (Though, I only had 8 miles of the M1 to play with before hitting the Leicester gridlock)

When I tried an ECU scan, nothing out the ordinary turned up. Though, I'll try and dig out the cable and give it a go again.

Anything weird anyone can think of?

Thanks muchly

I would check the Lambda connections are good.

Top tip for changing the fuel filter:
Very, very, very gentle taps on the top ring using the widest bladed screwdriver you have and a hammer and it will slowly start to turn.

The fuek lines on the top aren't a problem but don't forget the connector on the bottom.

Sorry if this is a stupid / insulting question but are you sure that there's no obstructions in any of the air pipework?

Not insulting at all.. I've given all the pipework a check, can't find anything. Will be a bit more thorough and go through them again when i check the O2 sensors.

Tried to use my largest oil filter removal wrench for the fuel filter. It was about 10mm too small which annoyed me.

I tried with an oil filter wrench and had the same problem. Tap it very gently with a screwdriver and hammer and it should gradually start to unscrew.

No idea how hard it would be to get a new one if you burst that one though

Well... Still can't get the fuel filter housing loose.

Fired up Ecuscan again at the weekend, and it appears the fuel pressure rapidly drops temporarily when idling when semi warm.

So, I'll get a bigger hammer for the filter, and possibly think about a new pressure regulator.

SkinnyandWirey said:

Well... Still can't get the fuel filter housing loose.

Click to expand...

I assume you mean you can't get the top ring nut undone?

some people have difficulty in figuring out how to get it out of the cradle.

To get mine undone when normal methods fail I use an oil filter chain wrench an a air driven ratchet wrench.

Air driven ratchet wrenches are the low powered version of the big impact wrenches. They only develop a few pounds of torque but they vibrate/nudge the offending target into gentle submission WITHOUT shearing anything.

This IS ONE MUST HAVE tool (plus compressor / air reservoir) any car DIY bod should have. It has saved my bacon on numerous occasions.

The fuel filter top ring nut on mine defeated all of the hand tools I and my neighbours had available with the screwdriver and hammer being a last resort.

Time and weather permitting I'll try and film a video for youtube and link to it on here.

BrianMcL said:

The fuel filter top ring nut on mine defeated all of the hand tools I and my neighbours had available with the screwdriver and hammer being a last resort.

Click to expand...

Bet you my air wrench can tap faster that you Brian. I guess at lease 5 firm taps per second sustained for 10+ seconds. :slayer:

More importantly tap/shock/nudge be it hand delivered or otherwise will normally beat all brute force attempts and I guess we all think BIG and forget about the smaller things/methods in car DIY.

Had to get my wife to change my Croma O/S light bulb yesterday. My hands were too BIG and the SMALLER tool did the job

Well, I know you've all been on the edge of your seats awaiting an update...

So...

Fuel filter changed finally. No difference to the problems that I've been having.

New pressure regulator arrived yesterday, so that's a job for the weekend.

Anyone had any experience of this?

I believe you have to de-pressurise the fuel system before taking the old one off?

Looks a bit of a bugger to get to as well...

Wish me luck!

How did that go then?

The Fiat did what Fiats do best, and instantly decided to start behaving itself as soon as i threatened it with some maintainance.

It hasn't played up since then.

I do have the part though, and a free weekend, so will look at swapping it over then.

Apparently the enormous fuel pressure is dangerous to your person if not depressurised correctly.

Keith

Eeek... I'd better look into that properly then.

E-Learn just says take it off, and cobble it back together with some gaffer tape. The Italian way

keithglos said:

Apparently the enormous fuel pressure is dangerous to your person if not depressurised correctly.

Click to expand...

The problem is that the high pressure can inject fuel through the skin into the underlying tissue. This then causes necrosis, leading to excision of the contaminated tissue or possible amputation. I had necrosis of a finger once (different cause) and don't recommend it, the end dropped off .
NEVER try to find a suspected high pressure fuel leak by feeling for it, even wearing gloves.

Right... So

Engine on, Fuel cap open, hit the fuel pump kill button by the passenger door, un hook the negative terminal?

Have 999 pre dialed on my mobile just in case my fingers fall off?

FPR Changed. Easy but exceedingly fiddly. You need spiders fingers.
MAP Sensor changed after the last clean made zero difference.
EGR Valve now semi blanked.

Lovely.