Rusty spanners
New member
- Joined
- May 5, 2008
- Messages
- 2
- Points
- 1
Hi,
Recently bought a Brava 1.2, 2000 model, as was impressed with my daughters Brava. Had it a week and then got the 'Brava erratic idle', and warning light. All usual problems, low idle speed 500 rpm or complete cut out. Spent days searching web and very nearly bought fault code reader.BUT....
Finally started the car with the air pipe off, idled perfectly.(even though engine was cold!) Got wife to rev engine and squirted more carb cleaner into the throttle butterfly (carb cleaner is SAFE with cats) idles perfectly, warning light goes out. Turned on all electrical loads still idles prefectly. Reconnected all hoses with new hose clips. Starts first time idles perfectly.
Have noticed that when idling engine will drop back to just under 1000rpm then drop to 850. When had erratic idle would drop to 500rpm then back UP to 850, so if you have this check your engine breather hoses.
Just to finish the job bought some Wynns fuel system cleaner to give the whole system a good clean out. Total cost no more than £15.
Next job is to change the engine oil to Valvoline. Most of the above is due to using cheap oil and not changing it regularly.
Recently bought a Brava 1.2, 2000 model, as was impressed with my daughters Brava. Had it a week and then got the 'Brava erratic idle', and warning light. All usual problems, low idle speed 500 rpm or complete cut out. Spent days searching web and very nearly bought fault code reader.BUT....
Checked engine found breather hose that is on cam box top, battery end, was split in the bellows part (hard to see) changed, £8 Fiat dealer. Better but still cut out.
Then disconnected air inlet pipe from air filter to the throttle body. Throttle butterfly was covered with black crud. Squirted with carb cleaner, scraped it off with long thin screw driver and cloth untill clean.Looked at air pipe from air filter and found that the bit that joins onto the engine breather hose was full up with crud. Good squirt of carb cleaner and cleaned it out with a pull through. (lots of horrible gunge)
Looked at where the breather pipe fits on cam box top and removed the spiral wire mesh that is in the stub pipe. (needs a twist) soaked in carb cleaner until clean. Brush with clean engine oil and replaced.
Then disconnected air inlet pipe from air filter to the throttle body. Throttle butterfly was covered with black crud. Squirted with carb cleaner, scraped it off with long thin screw driver and cloth untill clean.Looked at air pipe from air filter and found that the bit that joins onto the engine breather hose was full up with crud. Good squirt of carb cleaner and cleaned it out with a pull through. (lots of horrible gunge)
Looked at where the breather pipe fits on cam box top and removed the spiral wire mesh that is in the stub pipe. (needs a twist) soaked in carb cleaner until clean. Brush with clean engine oil and replaced.
Finally started the car with the air pipe off, idled perfectly.(even though engine was cold!) Got wife to rev engine and squirted more carb cleaner into the throttle butterfly (carb cleaner is SAFE with cats) idles perfectly, warning light goes out. Turned on all electrical loads still idles prefectly. Reconnected all hoses with new hose clips. Starts first time idles perfectly.
Have noticed that when idling engine will drop back to just under 1000rpm then drop to 850. When had erratic idle would drop to 500rpm then back UP to 850, so if you have this check your engine breather hoses.
Just to finish the job bought some Wynns fuel system cleaner to give the whole system a good clean out. Total cost no more than £15.
Next job is to change the engine oil to Valvoline. Most of the above is due to using cheap oil and not changing it regularly.
