Technical Possible fuel filter/injector problem - Abarth 95!

[yellowbrick]

Hi all,


BTW - First of all, many thanks on this forum for a previous issue a few weeks ago, with loose alternator, all sorted!

Now though, today, i was driving at low speed, leaving a car park, when the engine went off, didn't restart.

I've had to leave it, get bus home, go back in the morning.

My immediate thought is that this is a injector problem, mainly because, I know the battery is good, starter motor sounds fine, alternator is good.

Also, I have noticed slight dip in power, miliseconds worth, rarely, i presumed this was the injector but left it as it seemed a long way off being a major problem.

So, still waiting for my Haynes manual to arrive and so, can anyone tell me where to locate the fuel filter first of all!?

:worship:

 

[jaygrint]

Fuel filter wouldn't cause the engine to cut out while driving, unless it's split or a major fuel leak from it.

 

[yellowbrick]

ah - ok, really? I thought this can happen, engine stalls if there is a clogged up filter or debris . . . ?

I am mystified then what caused this stall. it did seem to be behaving as if out of fuel but I have a half full tank.

Could it be air in the system?

While running the car a lot in idling to test previous problem, car ran out of fuel. I am wondering if this has caused a problem, much like in a diesel?

Or could be fuel pump . . . ?

There was no warning signs - been running perfect, then just stalled today. . . :-(

 

[jaygrint]

Won't be an air lock.
Could be the fuel pump or loss of spark at plugs.
Can you hear the fuel pump 'prime up' run when you turn the ignition on? Turn the stereo and fan off so you can hear it. It should run for 3 or 4 secs when you turn the ignition on so the light on the dash come on, no need to crank it.

 

[Lecook]

Sounds suspiciously like the crank sensor... this is after all the only sensor that will completely disable the engine if it fails..

For the loss of power.. this could be as simple as a slight crack in the map sensor pipe (the between the inlet mani and the map sensor mounted on a plate by the ecu)
The othet usual culprits for the loss of power are the coolant temp sensor or the lambda (however lambda is usually only effected when cold)

 

[yellowbrick]

Won't be an air lock.
Could be the fuel pump or loss of spark at plugs.
Can you hear the fuel pump 'prime up' run when you turn the ignition on? Turn the stereo and fan off so you can hear it. It should run for 3 or 4 secs when you turn the ignition on so the light on the dash come on, no need to crank it.

tbh - I had not checked the sparks though this occurred to me - also did not listen for the fuel pump, though the little red light does come on, I wait till it goes off usually then start the engine (I presume this is to do with fuel system/injector, only had car few weeks so still learning )

I'm going to check tomorrow!

 

[yellowbrick]

Sounds suspiciously like the crank sensor... this is after all the only sensor that will completely disable the engine if it fails..

For the loss of power.. this could be as simple as a slight crack in the map sensor pipe (the between the inlet mani and the map sensor mounted on a plate by the ecu)
The othet usual culprits for the loss of power are the coolant temp sensor or the lambda (however lambda is usually only effected when cold)

Ok - thanks for the tip, indeed, engine was running fine, i had only stopped for a few minutes at a shop, restarted and couple of minutes later stalled with no warning.

Dont suppose you have any links to pdf haynes manuals?! My mechanic skills are reasonably average to hobby . . .

I hope it is not a problem with ECU . . .

Hope it might even be just a loose plug on sensor anyway!

 

[Lecook]

Chances are if you recently had an alternator issue then youve already been close to the crank sensor [emoji14] i dont have a picture or a link to the pdf either..

The sensor is on the front cambelt side of the engine on the bottom aux belt/alternator pulley.. this is where it gets its signal from..the sensor is bolted in situe with a single 10mm bolt.. the aux pulley has 3 13mm bolts holding it to the cambelt/crank pulley and you may have actually removed this when adjusting the alternator or belt.. it might be worth noting that if this pulley comes loose or the sensor looses signal it will also stall the engine..

I hope this helps a little

 

[yellowbrick]

Chances are if you recently had an alternator issue then youve already been close to the crank sensor [emoji14] i dont have a picture or a link to the pdf either..

The sensor is on the front cambelt side of the engine on the bottom aux belt/alternator pulley.. this is where it gets its signal from..the sensor is bolted in situe with a single 10mm bolt.. the aux pulley has 3 13mm bolts holding it to the cambelt/crank pulley and you may have actually removed this when adjusting the alternator or belt.. it might be worth noting that if this pulley comes loose or the sensor looses signal it will also stall the engine..

I hope this helps a little

Yes great thanks it does - was just now thinking that something might have been moved about when tightening alternator bolts . . .

Im going to check all this out tomorrow morning, let you know how I get on.

PS - I see that you are in Yarmouth! Norfolk was my area before i moved to Portugal . . . (im south norfolk, norwich mostly, bit of time in north norfolk )

 

[varesecrazy]

Chances are if you recently had an alternator issue then youve already been close to the crank sensor [emoji14] i dont have a picture or a link to the pdf either..

The sensor is on the front cambelt side of the engine on the bottom aux belt/alternator pulley.. this is where it gets its signal from..the sensor is bolted in situe with a single 10mm bolt.. the aux pulley has 3 13mm bolts holding it to the cambelt/crank pulley and you may have actually removed this when adjusting the alternator or belt.. it might be worth noting that if this pulley comes loose or the sensor looses signal it will also stall the engine..

I hope this helps a little

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39449&d=1204640505

the sensor is at 3'0 clock in the pic.

 

[yellowbrick]

Thanks all!

just got back, found the sensor fine, checked for any loose wiring, connectors, plugs to ecu etc, all seemed ok. There are some rags hanging in places, to cover wires, so they probably need sorting out . . .

in the end, I also disconnected negative battery terminal (as I understand that can re-set ecu) after this, the Abarth started! So not sure if it is some loose wiring or the reset of ecu . . .

Drove on back roads home (5 miles), no problems at all - but I am wondering what the actual cause was in the first place, whether the sensor is failing or the ecu, or simply the wiring . . .

any ideas anyone?

 

[jaygrint]

Did you try and start it when you first got to it? Before you touched anything?

 

[yellowbrick]

Did you try and start it when you first got to it? Before you touched anything?

yea tried it before doing anything, then it started second go, after basically fidgeting with the wires, disconnecting terminal - was a slightly chuggy start but all fine after few seconds

 

[dac69er]

keep it running and wiggle those same wires to see if that causes any issues or changes in the way it runs and you should find the fault.

could be water in a connector and disconnecting it sorted it out? worth checking engine codes in the ecu too if you can. that may help if your still struggling. however, disconnecting the battery may have cleared those.