Technical Cinquecento S '96 Engine Cut out.

[J0hnny]

Whilst driving home from work my Cinquecento cut out. I was just changing up to 4th gear and got no power from the car, thinking i'd missed the gear or gone up to far I changed down a few times with no power. Realising this I moved to the edge of the road just in time for her to cut out on me completely.

The engine starts when I turn the key and sounds fine for a few seconds and then cuts out (with no power or response when I press the accelorator).

At first I thought my gearbox had gone as i've had grinding going into reverse but she moves in neutral and stays put in gear when pushed. Phoning my dad who has taught himself alot on old cars includin the old Panda, he suggests an elecrical problem (don't you love italian cars!). He has suggested to take a look at the disributor cap and rotary arm but I can't find mention of these in the Haynes Manual.

Does anyone agree with my Dad or have suggestions? Could you let me know what the distributor cap looks like and where it is located please? I'm a mechanical novice and too poor to afford the garage!

Many thanks

 

[fingers99]

Stop looking: there is no distributor (or distributor cap, or carburettor!).

If no warning light, I'd suspect either the fuel filter is clogged up (looks like a dirty coke can, underneath the car) -- easy replacement, but clamp both ends of the hose before you remove it! or the crank sensor.

 

[rallycinq]

Back to basics.

After you have tried to start it and it has failed, pop a plug out and see if its wet. If its dry, its possibly a fuel problem. If its wet, its a spark problem.

Cheers

D

 

[J0hnny]

Thank you for the feedback. Since posting my car has shown it's magical self fixing powers and now starts fine and stays started. Pretty sure it's a fuel problem, probably dirty fuel which has either settled out or worked it's way through the system. A good service should sort the problem and prevent it happening again...until then its short journeys only!

Thanks again.