Technical Fuel Injection Problems!

[j_godsell]

Hi guys,

My 16V Coupe has had the fuel injection light (the little red hose type thing) coming on and off randomly for a few months. When the light comes on, you physically notice the car judder. It happens especially when you are cruising at low speeds in a high gear.

Recently it has got a lot worse so that now if you don't get on the gas when it happens the whole car starts to shudder - today I thought it was going to conk out on the road! like it's struggling for fuel I guess!?

It happened when I first bought it 18 months ago the garage told me that it was a blocked 'breather hose' - does that make sense? - where is it and how do I unblock it? Big job?

It has been serviced recently, with the sparks changed, so it must be something with the injection - what do you think?

Cheers for any advice.

 

[bridges]

The injector light is basically an engine warning light. By this I mean it is not specific to the injection system but is pretty much set off when the ECU detects a problem from one of its sensors operating out of its perameters.

I am not clued up on the 16v engine but would imagine your car has coil packs of some form. These could be the problem. The lambda sensor can cause an injector light but should not capable of your car playing up in the way you describe. Another alternative could be a faulty injector.

I would say that because driving in a high gear at low speeds puts more strain on the engine that your problem is either injector related or electrical.

My advice would be to do the basics first. Change the fuel filter and run some injector cleaner through the fuel tank. These will benefit the engine even if they are not the cause of the fault. If the problem still persists then take it to a dealer and have it put on the diagnostics machine.

I should not say this as it is a great forum, but if no one else spots your post then pop over to http://www.fccuk.org/forum/ubbthreads.php
as there are some experts on your engine in the technical section.

Hope this helps.

 

[j_godsell]

Thanks for the info Bridges, all well worth knowing. I went out in it again and found it was a pig to drive so I've just stuck it in at Gonnella Brothers in Catford who are not cheap but certainly know a thing or two about Italian autos!

On initial inspection they've come up with a couple of sensor problems, the names of which I can't remember. I'll let you know how they got on when I get the car back!

 

[bridges]

no problem. keep us posted on your progress

 

[j_godsell]

Here's my update:

The garage put it on the examiner, and it came out with 2 faulty sensors. The 'phase' sensor and the 'map' sensor. If I was paying attention, and correctly interpreted the Italian accent (!), then it was the phase sensor that was playing up and causing the car to jerk as the engine management was getting false signals. Or something like that.

So not fuel injection at all! - justs goes to show, I should leave it to the pros!

Anyway, diagnosis and replacing both sensors came in at £223 inc. VAT. Ouch. Goes alright now!