Technical Cinquecento Cuts Out

[Ratters]

Hi all,

Well I still have my trusty 1994 899cc Fiat Cinquecento after nearly 2 years , but the day has come that the problems are becomming beyond my knowledge , so on with the story.

Before xmas the injector light was nearly constantly on, but the only real evidence of any problems would be sometimes when I put my foot down it would struggle to find some revs, then I would lift off, and back on, and it would be fine. However, on Monday when it was nice and frosty, I went out and started up the car to defrost it came back to it, no problems so far, then set off to work. By this time I was running late, and it was a new job, so wasn't really concentrating. Anyway about 4-5 miles into my trip I notice the temp gauge in the red , so I pull over, ring my mate to come and get me and left it by the side of the road. I'm not sure how long it was overheating for and the reason it was...not enough/no anti-freeze in the coolant :bang: . Anyway about 5 hours later I went to pick it up, started it, it fired up, then cut out. Didn't think much of it at the time, just thought it was cold. But now on idle it cuts out, the only time it doesn't is when its warm, but it does do it rarely when warm.

So does anyone know what could be causing it to cut out on idle when cold?

Cheers

 

[fingers99]

Well, it's been cooked, so your first port of call is a compression test. After that, you need to flush and bleed the system (antifreeze!), check for leaks, check the temp sender and the thermostat.

Assume the worst and you may end up happy. Cutting out may be TDC sensor (check for fuel past the injector and spark at plugs when it cuts out) but that's fair way down your priorities, methinks.

 

[Ratters]

Well, it's been cooked, so your first port of call is a compression test. After that, you need to flush and bleed the system (antifreeze!), check for leaks, check the temp sender and the thermostat.

Assume the worst and you may end up happy. Cutting out may be TDC sensor (check for fuel past the injector and spark at plugs when it cuts out) but that's fair way down your priorities, methinks.

I'll see if I can get a compression test done, and I will do the coolant. Also I don't think it has a thermostat for some reason, always been like that since I got it. I was hoping you wern't going to say TDC sensor.

A quick question, how to I check for fuel past the injector?

Cheers

 

[Ratters]

Sorry I also forgot to mention, when it doesn't start, a slight bit of throttle will get it to idle normally, but as soon as I take it off, it dies again.

And also, there is no loss in power. When I put my foor down, the power...well the small amount it does have :slayer: , is there, and I doesn't missfire or struggle to fing the revs anymore.

 

[fingers99]

That is a puzzle. For fuel past the injector, either peek down the TB or see if the plugs are dry.

 

[Ratters]

That is a puzzle. For fuel past the injector, either peek down the TB or see if the plugs are dry.

Oh right I thought it would be some special method . The only other thing I'm wondering is if resetting the ECU would help, I'm not sure, can't do any harm trying I suppose.

 

[fingers99]

Won't do any harm, but unlikely to do any good. As I say, check for damage done by overheating first. You can buy a compression tester for what most places charge for a compression test.

 

[Ratters]

Won't do any harm, but unlikely to do any good. As I say, check for damage done by overheating first. You can buy a compression tester for what most places charge for a compression test.

Ah ok cheers for that, I'll look for one.

 

[Ratters]

So, a bit of an update. First here is a list of things I did yesterday:

• Drained, flushed and refilled coolant (With the correct amount of anti-freeze this time ).
• All the earths I could find, I cleaned them up for a good contact.
• Checked spark plugs and clearances.
• Checked battery was fully charged.
• Checked oil level.

Then I started it up, with no real change in idling. Still cutted out :bang: . So I took it for a nice drive so it could warm up, and when I got back, I reset the ECU. I did that, then it after driving it around for the rest of the day, it rarely cut out the injector light only came on a few times.

And today I had to take it to the garage to get the brakes looked at. Went out to start it, cut straight out. Went to start it again, and it fired right up, and didn't die at all, in traffic, at junctions, etc, but the injector light is still on.

So any ideas what could be cauing it to do this, personally in thinking something like Lambda sensor?

Cheers

 

[beau]

get it to a garage to get the ecu read as to why the injector light is on.

 

[rallycinq]

get it to a garage to get the ecu read as to why the injector light is on.

OP has a cinq so code reading is a wee problem.

To the OP, test the O2 against the nominals.

Cheers

SPD

 

[beau]

OP has a cinq so code reading is a wee problem.

To the OP, test the O2 against the nominals.

Cheers

SPD

im sure theres a diagnostics connection on the cinq near the ecu like the puntos?

 

[rallycinq]

im sure theres a diagnostics connection on the cinq near the ecu like the puntos?

There is, you are correct.

However, it is OBD1 not OBD11, and not many garages have the equipment.

Cheers

SPD

 

[beau]

There is, you are correct.

However, it is OBD1 not OBD11, and not many garages have the equipment.

Cheers

SPD

well 3 garages down the road i work have it

they all have similar machines though (snap on)

 

[rallycinq]

well 3 garages down the road i work have it

they all have similar machines though (snap on)

Lucky you, most of the guys up here with the Snap On kit haven't bothered with the OBD1 interface.

Hope the OP lives nearer you than me.

Cheers

SPD