General Fuel Level Sensor Malfuntion

[Jo51]

Hi there, hoping someone can help a novice repairer My stilo has recently started just cutting out or not starting straight away. I've had coils go before so bought an error reader off ebay.
When it cuts out it give the engine management light, so after checking the error P0460 - Fuel Level Sensor A Circuit Malfuntion. Could anyone offer advice as to how to go about this, I'm not a mechanic and not really properly equipped but if I can do it myself I will. Hoping to hear from folks soon

 

[Deckchair5]

The P0460 fuel level sensor won't be causing your engine cutting out problem, you'll need to look elsewhere for that

P0460 is an out of range reply from the fuel level sensor in the fuel tank and usually is simply a result of having very little fuel in the tank combined with a low battery voltage. BING - fuel level sensor circuit out of range.
Clear the code and if it doesn't pop back up again then that'll be the end of that problem

For your engine cutting out then probably need more detail as to when and where and how but first call might be to clean the throttle body valve- for that see Stilo Guides. A gummed up and sticky area around the nearly closed valve means the engine can't keep a steady idle

 

[Jo51]

Thanks for that Deckchair5, it runs fine then if I'm sitting at traffic lights it just dies, but starts again. Will get someone to take a look at the throttle bodies for me, as thats a bit beyond me.....
can you point in the direction of the stilo guides, had quick look but cant find them - it is early morning though

 

[Deckchair5]

Aw you're not trying

Guides are top left on this page then scroll to Stilo guides

Engine just dying at tickover could be lots of things but throttle body valve clean is a good and cheap start

 

[Jo51]

yep got to agree with you there, I wasn't looking properly I've looked in the guides and is this what you mean

Cleaning Your Inlet Control Valve

If so, that actually means I can have a go at it or you may well correct me shortly

 

[Deckchair5]

Yes that's the one.

You could do much worse than some people's experiences where they have found old rags, women's underwear and suchlike left in the air intake

Look in the Stilo Guides (now you know how to find them) for how I release the special clips as I find them easy once i found out how they worked but others have found they can cause more head scratching than the job itself

 

[Morty Mort]

Look in the Stilo Guides (now you know how to find them) for how I release the special clips as I find them easy once i found out how they worked but others have found they can cause more head scratching than the job itself

They are invented to prevent normal people from trying to fix anything themselves.

 

[Jo51]

I've cleaned the air intake and yep those clips make ya scratch ya head. I ended up putting a new clip on. Gonna see how it runs over the next few days. Rather pleased that i've done it myself, didn't seem too gunged up so we'll see what happens. Watch this space

 

[Jo51]

Next instalment....... unfortunatley that didn't fix it

Pulled away at traffic light, changed into second just as the engine died so actually managed to jump it by accident, this bought the engine management light on again but running fine. Engine management light goes off all ok for a few starts, then takes a couple of goes to start.
Then out working tonight in 5th gear and start to loose power, still have lights and radio, go down through the gears but still loosing power, manage to pull into a convenience layby and then nothing. Had ignition lights and could turn over but engine wouldn't fire. Luckily was out with a colleague in another car so left mine there for about an hour got back tried several times to start, turned over but wouldn't catch and then suddenly it started, got myself home (thank god cuz i don't like being towed by hubby)
Any ideas as to what it could be? I'm loathed to get in it again I'm a community worker so in and out and stopping and starting it all the time. Hope someone can shed some light.

 

[Deckchair5]

That could be so many different things that it would be guess work and expensive to replace items just hoping. As it's very unreliable and dangerous then taking it to a good garage who can pin point the problem area would be the easiest and probably cheapest way. As it's happening often then that's easier to detect.

You don't say what engine you have but culprits might be
rpm/crank sensor
throttle body connections
ECU poor earth/ poor connections
fuel delivery
immobiliser
injector circuit poor connections

 

[Jo51]

thanks deckchair, I've had to have it towed this morning, but they are the same things the garage are looking into. Cheers

 

[Jo51]

quick update....... it was the crank sensor, all sorted, but left with drivers air bag error now........will go off to look at threads.