The Riddler!!!

[Ady]

OK Sus this out if ye can! The strangest thing is starting to happen to my 1.4 Bravo SX. When cold it accelerates really really well and the hotter it gets the more sluggish it becomes - it doesnt overheat though, the temp gauge never goes beyond half way.

Putting Optimax in it makes the problems worse! putting normal unleaded gives me an intermittent problem and putting BP's optimax equivalent makes it respond really really well!

Either way though, as soon as it gets to normal operating temperature I cant red line it to ave my life! Im no boy racer if thats what you're all thinking but I noticed it the other day on the motorway, absolutely no torque and, well, uphill its quite embarrassing!!!

Im thinking its probably something to do witht the cold valve? but dont know much about them so cant really say - the other thing that came to mind was perhaps that it constantly might be keeping on the choke? is that even possible - hence why it feels so sluggish when its hot - ie-too much juice!!!

One last thing - how do i know if the ECU has gone into safe mode? I've reset it but its still the same

Phew! its like one of those lateral thinking puzzles!!!!

Answer on a postcard if anybody can suggest anything.

Cheers in advance

Ady

 

[Tom]

If the ECU finds a fault it lights the light.

If it was 'on choke' (injection cars have no choke) it would stall when it was hot. It would also stink of fuel and get even worse MPG.

Could be many things from a faulty coil pack to low fuel pressure to faulty knock sensor to faulty crank/cam sensors to faulty engine temp sensor (there are 2, one for the dash and one for the ECU) the list goes on.

 

[Ady]

Blimey!!! I had no idea it could be so many things - better keep on driving and hope when i come to sell it it behaves itself!!!

Cheers

 

[Tom]

Or give fiat a few quid for a diag, might reveal the problem.

 

[Anonymous]

check ur air filter mate. and check the cold feed. its running fine when cold but when hot its slugish this is like mine. except at moment its going like stink cos of all this snow its sucking up

Smee

 

[Anonymous]

When you say the temp guage never goes beyond half way, is it heating up correctly and staying warm (i.e. not only in traffic). I have a few theories on this, one that the thermostat is knackered (if it is not heating up correctly). If it heating up correctly then (as Tom pointed out) the ECU temp sender could be faulty or that the MAF is shagged. We had a Skoda and a couple of Audi 1.8T which when warm decided not to perform - changed the MAF and bingo the problem was cured.

Lastly, you could always pay us £25 for full diag!

Nige

 

[Anonymous]

/\ /\ /\
Thats is Nige from Angel Tuning who now realises he wasnt logged in for some reason!
[email protected]

Nige

 

[Ady]

Well, I dont know what MAF is - although I have a feeling that im going to find out pretty soon.
As far as the £25 for the diagnostic - yeah sure, willing to give it a go but it all depends on where abouts you are - you'll also have to wait around 6 weeks as I have just changed jobs and they've shagged up my pay so I now have to make it last almost twice as long - Im in Mile End London - whereabouts are you?

Cheers

PS - Once diagnosed - can you also fix it? How much for the new MAF fitted inc VAT and labour?

Cheers again

Ady