Problem starter

[Adam]

I have a '99 Bravo 1.8hlx with an intermittent starting problem. It always starts but sometimes it starts immediately on the key, sometimes on the second go, sometimes on the sixth go. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It doesn't matter if the engine's hot or cold or what the weather's doing. Appart from this problem the car runs perfectly. My local Fiat garage say that they can't find anything wrong with it and they want to systematically replace sensors until they find the fault (at £53.00 ph). Can anyone help?

 

[A-J]

Kindred spirit!!!


Having the same sodding problem (see thread "what my garage said), I've done the fiat thing as well and same response "can't find anything wrong"

If you find out what is wrong please give us a bell.

And ill do the same!

 

[Tom]

Define 'doesn't start' in a bit more detail.

 

[Adam]

doesn't start

Motor spins but doesn't seem to be trying to catch. If it sounds like it's trying to catch it starts immediately. If it doesn't sound like it's trying to catch it just turnsover and over until I turn the key back and try again - at which point it'll probably start!

 

[Tom]

Re: doesn't start

If you held the key for say 10 secs would it still not go?

 

[Adam]

Nope

If it doesn't sound like it'll start in the first millisecond I can hold the key for as long as I want but it won't go. If I turn the key again it'll probably start immediately.

 

[Tom]

Re: Nope

Had the cambelt done recently?

 

[Adam]

Yeeeeeesss

Why?

 

[Tom]

Re: Yeeeeeesss

have you?

 

[Adam]

Re: Yeeeeeesss

Er yes

 

[Tom]

Re: Yeeeeeesss

Cam sensor, they have a habit of not working well after a cambelt change.

 

[Adam]

Hmm

Ok how do I rectify the problem. Any idea of the cost to repair/replace.

 

[Tom]

Re: Hmm

Its behind the cam pulleys, basically its the same work as a new cambelt.

 

[A-J]

Re: Hmm

Would this of shown up on a diognostic test

 

[Tom]

Re: Hmm

Nope

 

[A-J]

Re: Hmm

Ok this may sound silly, but I really dont know what this thing does.

So basicaly if this thing is "not working" it would cause the car not start but have the starter motor turn, but eventualy the engine will start.
and lastly is it spasmodic? in that sometime it works other times not!

 

[Tom]

Re: Hmm

It tells the ECU where the cam is so it knows when to spark the plugs. If the ECU doesn't know where the cam is it won't run.

 

[A-J]

Re: Hmm

But would this work sometimes and not at other times

 

[Tom]

Re: Hmm

Seems to.

 

[Adam]

Re: Hmm

Is this the same as the tdc sensor?