Technical Fiat Tipo 1.8 ie sx Stutter Problem Please Help!

[HooHar]

Hi All.

I have a Tipo 1.8 ie sx which has a bit of a strange problem. The car starts and idles well, accelerates quickly to about 2500 rpm where the engine suddenly lurches as if hitting something head on This happens through all the gears but does get a little less violent the higher up you shift. You can eventually coax it up to about 3000-3500 rpm in fifth but the stuttering is terrible and the engine will not rev any higher! I took the car to my local main dealer who said there was a problem with the HT leads and dizzy which would need replacing before further testing could be done quoting £180, did it myself for £30! It didn't make any difference and strangely, I didn't go back to the main dealer! I suppose there could be several reasons for it, bad earth, cracked/split hoses/pipes, ecu problem.......Can anybody offer any advice before I get shaken to pieces

 

[Yorky]

Hi, see my threads regarding "Problem Solved" and "Is it Heck" as my problems were similar although mine is the carb model. As well as the checks i've already listed i took of the Petrol Segregator ? ( looks like a small metal canister on the bulk head ) and tipped the contents out and flushed it out. Up to press its running OK now.

 

[sumplug]

there could be several things that can do this. best to take it to a proper diagnostic centre like a bosch agent. for £50 or so they will do a full check and find the problem. it sounds like a MAF problem.

 

[tipomike]

Hello Sump - Glad to hear your up and about. I agree with your advice apart from just checking every plug and lead to every sensor-just in case one is loose. If not i would spend the £50. Cheaper in the long run!!!!!!

 

[HooHar]

Hi You Lot

Thanks very much for your thoughts. Here are a few more observations/problems which may/may not be related to the initial stuttering problem.

The car has a Digital Dashboard and when it reaches the RPM limit of 2500 -3500 it should switch from "ECONOMY" to "POWER" as it always used to. It seems to have trouble moving up to "POWER" and will go back to "ECONOMY". What is the purpose of this "ECONOMY" and "POWER" display? Does it increase fuel flow? To do with ignition advance/retard? Seems to be directly related to RPM.

Both front and back wipers will suddenly leap into action at any moment and will stay on for between 20 secs and 2 mins. When this happens the petrol gauge jumps up and down like mad. This happens every now and then.

Thanks again for your replies, any more gratefuly received! :wave:

 

[sumplug]

sounds like an earthing prob for the gauges to go up and down. the main fuse box has a major earth lead, check that it is tight. and check the connections for the dash too. also at the rear of the car, check the earthing points.
and get the car on a diagnostic machine and keep well away from fiat dealers.:wave:

 

[HooHar]

Hi All,

Big thanks to sumplug, tipomike and yorky for all your replies

Getting nowhere fast. Took car to local garage (not dealer) for them to check it out. Seems that the ECU is too old for most equipment They spent 1&1/2 hrs and couldn't work it out. They did however suggest Ignition Coil Amplifier Unit. Apparently the coil has an amplifier which is all part of the same unit and could be at fault. Also suggested Crankshaft Sensor. I've trawled through all the Tipo posts on the forum and Crankshaft Sensor seems to be more to do with non-starters. Will check all the earthing points I can find over the weekend as well as cleaning existing Crankshaft sensor and maybe disconnect lambda as well. I live in Braintree, Essex which is between Colchester and Chelmsford. Does anyone know any good scrap yards where I can find ECU/Ignition Coil Amplifier?

Cheers, trying to keep a cool car on the road :slayer:

HooHar

 

[HooHar]

Hi All

How are you all getting on with your problems? Sorry I haven't replied in ages but have been ill and have been trying different things to fix my Tipo. Thankyou Drain67 yes please to your offer of data, any help much needed! I took it to a FIAT specialist (not dealer) who carried out tests on the following components.

Hall Effect Sensor
Crankshaft Sensor
Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
Throttle Position Sensor

All of these parts are OK and working. He says that he still thinks it is the Ignition Coil as there is power going into the coil but none coming out after 3000rpm. There is no spark after 3000rpm. I have a new coil which I will fit today but I still don't think it will help. I now think that it may be the ECU is damaged and is limiting the revs

Hope this helps anyone, i'm gonna post some photos of my Tipo and engine soon. Let me know how all you guys are getting on :slayer:

 

[Hellcat]

Hall Effect Sensor


qu'est que c'est ?

 

[HooHar]

Don't quote me on this but I think that the Hall Effect Sensor replaces the CB points from a mechanical ignition system. It is the multiplug that comes out of your distributor on early electronic ignition systems

 

[jimmyybob]

get a nice thick lead 5-10mm and bolt it directly to the engine and earth the other end to the body make sure you get good clean contact.....try that...honest.

in the old days there was an earth lead bolted to the back of the inlet manifold when it gets old and split every time you step on the gas the engine moves and the lead pulls loosing the earth the engines only earth when that happens is often through the throttle cable,hence the wierd electrical goings on.

 

[HooHar]

Cheers Jimbob

I'll give it a go. I found a piece of braided copper connected between the battery and the distributor. I took it off and it hasn't made any difference. I've found a couple of earth points and they're a bit dirty but not loose. I'll have another look when I get the car back from the garage. The mechanic now thinks the rev problem could be crankshaft sensor After testing it he thinks the voltage is too low so I have a new one coming.

Fingers crossed, cos I'm starting to go mad.

 

[drani67]

The mechanic now thinks the rev problem could be crankshaft sensor After testing it he thinks the voltage is too low so I have a new one coming.
.

Crankshaft sensor: check resistance between wires , it must be in the
range of 658 - 756 ohm's .If this sensor broken or disconnected ,it is
impossible to start engine on my Tipo ( mine was broken , it costs me two days driving with the taxi :bang: ).
Please send engine code (something like 159A... or 835a....) ,I will check other details in Auto Data.
Regard's , Dragan.

 

[HooHar]

Hi Dragan,

Thanks for your effort

My Car: Tipo 1.8 ie sx, 1756 cc, 1991/2, Engine Code 159 A4.000

New crankshaft sensor now fitted. Car now starts OK but still stutters. Mechanic is now testing every wire back to the ECU. If that doesn't find the problem then I will get the ECU tested/replaced.

Getting closer..........

 

[drani67]

Same engine as mine.
OK , I will send some notes from Autodata to You on private e-mail.

Regard's , Dragan.

 

[HooHar]

Sorted at last! After replacing it, I am now the proud owner of a completely useless ECU. It's so good to have my car back!