HGT injection problem...?

[Phil Lee]

Hi guys

I have had an intermittent problem with my HGT for about 6mths now. Basically about 1 in every 3 or 4 times I start the car the fuel injection light comes on, the car feels a little jerky but is OK. Anyway every time this happens, I switch the engine off and on again and the problem goes.
Last saturday the car wouldnt start at all. The car was turning over but not firing. This happened 5-6 times I tried, and in the end I decided to the accelerator some welly and the car hesitantly fired up. Thereafter the car has started every time.
This has never happened before and wondered whether the 2 problems are connected. Is it possible that there is an electrical problem, ie faulty/dirty leads?
My car is a 98R HGT with 49k on the clock. Well looked after but nothing ever done or fixed re: fuel injection

cheers
Phil

 

[Tom]

When you turn the key but not start the engine, does the injection light go out or does it flick out and come straight back on OR does it stay off until you start the engine?

 

[Sy]

Re: Re: HGT injection problem...?

The second problem Jerkily moving and starting be a faulty spark plug or HT lead?

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: HGT injection problem...?

The HGT is coil on plug. Anyway, the ECU can't detect dodgey plugs. If the light only comes on once the engine is started its either injector, coil, crank/cam sensor.

If its always on its something like MAP sensor, temp sensor.

Either way go to Fiat and pay the money to get it diagnosed. If the light is on it means there is a readable error. Saves messing around.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Re: HGT injection problem...?

Tom what is coil on plug? Never heard that before please expand my knowledge

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: HGT injection problem...?

There is a small coil for each spark plug. The coil is integrated into the spark plug connector and actually sits ontop of the spark plug.

The 1.8 and 2ltr engines have these. No HT leads, just low voltage wiring to the ECU.

Makes it darned expensive and if you own a VW or Audi, very unreliable.

 

[Phil Lee]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: HGT injection problem...?

Thanks Tom

I have noticed in the past that at times the injection light does definitely come on AFTER the engine has started. But!I also seem to remember that the light has stayed on through turning over to firing up the engine too - I could be wrong, but I think that it has happened.
The day the car wouldnt start basically the injection light stayed on all the way to the notch before firing up the engine.
When I stepped on the accelerator on the off chance, and the engine started, the engine spluttered to life and the light turned off.
hope that helps?
cheers mate

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: HGT injection problem...?

Hmm.. not sure about that one. Best take it to Fiat and they can read the fault codes and tell you exactly whats wrong.

If its missfiring then something needs to be fixed. Does sound like a sensor is knackered rather than an injector but its still gonna cost. Could very well be duff throttle sensor which is megabucks.

Does it missfire on acceleration? Take it for a drive and on a nice straight bit of road slowly press the pedal down, take about 10-15 secs to do it. See if any pedal position makes it stutter or miss.

 

[Alfanige]

ah!

There is a connector block between the throttle potentiometer and the throttle body. This connecotr block has what I can only describe as a sort of vacuum which if you go over bumps can have a habit of dislodging. If you feel under the throttle body you will find a squarish sort of block. Pull this out and then spray it liberally with either an electrical contact cleaner or WD40 if thats all you have to hand. Push the connector back in and out a few times then see how it goes.

The wiring loom between the two points is a bit meagre and has had a tendency on most HGT's to cause this problem. The diagnostic tests tell you that there is a problem with the potentiometer, which at £250, is a bit of a fix, and what actually cures it for the next 20,000 is that they have pushed the new connector in!

My HGT is on its 2nd potentiometer and was after its third before I sussed this, now its just annoying not expensive

Nige

 

[Tom]

Re: ah!

Thats one for the guide. One of these days I'll write all my findings down and email them to you Nige.

See 'HELP NEED URGENT ADVICE' as I found a cheap source of lower front suspension arms from Les Smiths. Part numbers are in that thread.

 

[Chris B]

F.A.O. Nigel

You mentioned a while ago that you may be able to get some pictures done doing a fix (or at least pretending to do it if your's isn't dodgy at the moment). Sorry to put you on the spot but I am once again experiencing problems with mine and would love to get the thing fixed myself