HGT running a bit off

[M21MFS]

After a couple of months of trouble free motoring, I'm having one or two issues with the HGT.

On start up, it sounds a bit rough. Almost like there's a hole in the exhaust (this has yet to be determined!) but once the engine warms up and the idle drops slightly the rough sound seems to dissapear. On top of this, at least twice this week I've had issues starting the car. Last night and on Wednesday (ironically, both times, heading for Stuarty's :confused she'd refuse to spark. The car will offer to turn, but wont spark. Left a couple of minute both times and she fires up fine.

Is it possible all this is connected to the fact that the car just needs a good service? The possible hole in exhaust will get looked at next weekend, its somewhere between downpipe/cat/start of the mid section so not the easiest area to determine without jacking the car up!

Cheers for any help/advice in advance!

 

[mrcinquecento]

I had similar starting issues with the cinq when the gearbox mount snapped. The engine fell back and the induction kit hit the strutbrace and cracked. so induction leak or blockage?

Second guess is crank sensor. Would explain the sparking issues and temperamental behaviour.

Give a full service anyhoo and take it from there. My money would be on the crank of the two above if there is indeed a problem

 

[Venters]

Yeah I'm with crank sensor for occasional non starting. dunno bout rough noise though.

 

[M21MFS]

Funnily..crank was suggested last night. Coolant flush and plugs next weekend i hope helps. How hard is the CS to change, and how expensive?

 

[ABZSTILO]

Further to facebook discussion......
Get it on the diagnostics. Can be a bugger when it finds nothing amiss, but 9 times out of 10 it finds the issues. Well, one or two anyway.

Rough noise on start up and until warm could also be camshaft variator.... I think the 5 cylinder lumps have 'em, but not 100% sure. However.... this site may also be worth a squint: http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk/fix-a-bravo.htm

Crank sensor probably not too hard to change out.

Plugs - check the handbook, but if my memory is sound I seem to recall the 5 cylinder lump is quite sensitive on plug temperatures.
Coolant - best you can buy, and don't forget to wash out the heater matrix whilst you're flushing the system :idea3:

H

 

[mrcinquecento]

Im 95% sure that engine doesnt have a variator.

 

[muppet42]

Yeah, think they only introduced the variator on the 5-cylinder with the 2.4 Stilo Abarth. Just another thing to go wrong really

 

[gengis]

Hi Martyn,

There is quite a bit of difference between the MK1/MK2 HGT. MK2 has variator (vis engine) also engine management systems different.

Did the rough running coincide with the noisy exhaust? as i'm sure the MK1 Lambda sensor is further downstream on the downpipe, therefore you may be getting unmeasured exhaust gases escaping! Change plugs and if there is no difference get diagnostics check..will save you money in the long run.

Cheers.

John.

 

[ABZSTILO]

Now that's interesting, the MK2 HGT had the variator..... I just recall seeing it on one of the 5 cylinder lumps that I think was ex-HGT I was looking at for a mate many moons ago.
Guessing that 'M's is a MK1?

Incidentally (off topic I know) the Lancia Kappa got the 2.4 5 cylinder job before the Stilo came along, the 2.4 engine is a tweak of the old 2 litre 5 pot design - some would argue a capacity and engineering change for the worse too ..... thinking about it, pretty sure the Kappa was the only other Fiat group car to share the 2.4 petrol 5 pot with the Stilo. Hmmmmmm, got to make getting bits for them tricky as time goes by.

 

[M21MFS]

Hi Martyn,

There is quite a bit of difference between the MK1/MK2 HGT. MK2 has variator (vis engine) also engine management systems different.

Did the rough running coincide with the noisy exhaust? as i'm sure the MK1 Lambda sensor is further downstream on the downpipe, therefore you may be getting unmeasured exhaust gases escaping! Change plugs and if there is no difference get diagnostics check..will save you money in the long run.

Cheers.

John.

As vague an answer as this is, yes..I think. The noise isn't defening. I've run with worse, I just don't want to wreck it. The failing to start is the new bit, thats something thats started this week - the rough sound has been around a week or two. Maybe slightly longer.

I've a day off so the plan is to was the car (still caked in mud after getting stuck in a field) and maybe try and work out where this hole in the 'zaust may be :slayer:

 

[ABZSTILO]

.................... and..... how'd you get on

 

[M21MFS]

.................... and..... how'd you get on

You know something, I had every intention of going outside today and working on the motor but had a relaxing day off instead. Im tempted to take it in past the garage this week for diagnostics and find out where the hole/leak is at the same time!