Technical Doesn't sound like coil pack?? Help!

[Reflex88]

Hello.. New Member here...

My friend just bought an 02 1.2 Active.. Nice car Having trouble though.

I searched on here 1st btw.. I'm always on Briskoda and know how annoying posts are with out prior searching, so hear me out..

When cold,..
Her car has cut out a couple of times at lights.
When it does it comes back ok but with very low power.
This has also triggered the Engine light at one point, but not every time.

When Warm,..
Now, when I've been in the car with her it's not done it unfortunately, but I did notice the revs hunting about a bit on idle.. and when pulling off was lumpy. I thought this may be her getting used to the car and under gassing on pulling off.. but now I'm not so sure..

If it were a Fabia (my car) I'd immediately be suspicious of the coolant temp sensor as the lumpy idle and low power are signs of that in those.. but I don't know fiats in the same way.

I read about coil pack failure, this doesn't seem as severe though? I've not noticed it misfiring when driving.. unless that's the lumpiness when pulling off and the hunting idle?

Any help appreciated, on what is probably a typical 1st post (sorry)

Rob.

 

[Ziggy122]

It could forewell be the Coolant sensor
On the punto if the ECU aint getting the any signal
it goes into Limp home mode -
EML on
Overfuels to cool engine
Engine fan on to cool engine
And limits power quiet alot


A Hunting idle tho when warm could be the butterfly valve on the throttle body becoming stuck - they get gumed up with the breather pipe fumes and before you know it - its sticky and dont open properly or close properly as required


A coil pack failure makes the car very rough - and low on power - and EML on, so it could forwell be the beloved coil pack failure

Get each plug out - test - clean - refit -
If 1 and 4 are not firing its a coil
if 2 and 3 arent firing its a coil too
So swap coils over and see if the fault moves - if it does - coil pack failure
if it doesn't - start testing for the ECU been dead

Ziggy

 

[Reflex88]

Thanks for taking the time Ziggy..

Doesn't sound like the coolant sensor then.. no fan action as far as I know, but I'll ask her to note if it's spinning away next time.

Throttle body / butterfly sounds like it could be an issue then.. I'm guessing you can whip em off and get some Mr Muscle foam down in there? Or Carb cleaner? This is a problem that the 16v Fabias get from time to time..

Coil pack can't be ruled out either then.. If a pack was intermittently coming in and out of service I'm guessing this could also cause then up, down idle speed?

Hmm, things to contemplate (if the garage "can't find anything") then.

Thanks again

 

[Ziggy122]

its an active so its an 8v
There are 2 bolts to remove airbox
2 allen bolts to disconnect the ECU from throttle body
3 Torx to release the throttle body
1 throttle cable
1 Allen key earthing point
2 sensors

And its free - see the guides section

Then you can remove the butterfly and clean the area up

Ziggy

 

[grr666]

Hey Rob

Ours seems to prefer super unleaded. It runs a bit rougher on regular.
Have you tried a tankful of that? It may give things a clean up at least.

Garry