Selespeed causing rough running

[GreySquirrel]

Hi,

I have a Stilo Abarth Selespeed on an 02 plate. I've had it a while (4 years) and have got used to it's little peculiarities but it's now starting to run "rough".

The gearbox failure warning used to come on from time to time when you went round a right hand corner and was low on oil. Top up the oil and problem goes away. I now have what I think is a legitimate problem with the clutch speed sensor (comes up as such on diagnostic). On start up the car runs very poorly until the "choke" comes off (idle comes down from 1200 to 700 rpm). It's fine out of gear but when driving it jerks and kangaroos mentally. After warming up it is much better but in all forward gears is laggy until about 4500 rpm. A bit like someone is strangling the car. In reverse it has no problem AT ALL, even on start up. In other words, I can plant it in reverse and I nearly go through the windscreen!

This is why I'm assuming it is a gearbox problem, some sensor (most likely the one that errors sometimes - clutch speed sensor) is having trouble relaying correct information to the ECU and therefore runs rough. I've heard that the gearbox sensors can get dirty and can be taken out and cleaned without the need to remove the gearbox. I've had a look on the car itself as the ePer online parts system (http://www.spangerum.com:7080) doesn't note the sensors. But I can't find what I'm looking for. Can anyone point me in the right direction or knows what this issue could be?

Appreciate any help at all!

 

[s130]

I had masses of problems with the clutch speed sensor after my engine was replaced.

Nothing wrong with the sensor. Just an electrical contact problem. I gather the male and female parts of the sensor/connector are very very susceptible to play/opening and thus poor contact. A first port of call would be to examine the sensor/cable connector and to clean all and tease the female connectors together a little.

These small connectors should only ever be disconnected by a pure straight inline pull. No waggling, rocking etc. as this opens up the female parts and intermittant connections follow when you least expect them.

 

[GreySquirrel]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm pretty sure it's not a contact problem as it isn't intermittent and the flat spotting is roughly in the same place, restricting alot of power very early on in the rev range and coming and going up until about 4500 revs, where the power is back to normal.

To be honest I would usually have thought this was an issue with the throttle body, an intake sensor or timing issue but because the car revs fine in neutral and drives perfectly in reverse I can't see how it isn't a sensor for the forward gears that's causing the problem.

Do you know where this sensor is located? I've tried finding it but have had no luck.

 

[MichaelTopping]

Do you have brakelight problems? Just had faults with my slectspeed, would not change up. Cause faulty brake light switch. The gearbox thinks you are braking. £90 at dealers fitted.
As to the kangerooing. Join the club, I think every selectspeed owner has this problem from cold. Fiat say they havent heard of the problem. Well they must be deaf. The trouble not enough owners put their complaints into writing to Fiat.