Technical Tipo not starting (sometimes)

[excossack]

Hi all, I've got a 1400ie L reg tipo that fails to start, it turns nice and quick, but dont get a spark.The RAC man said it could be a stick/faulty ignition relay. He tapped all of the relays on the fuse board and it sprang into life. Which one is the ignition relay and any more thoughts.
Is there an on-board diagnostic port so i can read the ECU on these Tipos for errors?

Thanks

Ta
John
http://www.team6.org
http://www.channel19.demon.co.uk

 

[Hellraiser]

No spark, could be either coil or most likely TDC/crank position sensor. Dead easy to change in either case, 5 minutes is all it takes only catch is the price of the TDC sensor - around 40 quid! Don't do what I did, get one off a scrapyard, as that turned out to have the same bloody fault as the one I originally had the only difference being that it would start when cold but not when it had warmed up

Hellraiser.........>

 

[excossack]

is the sensor cleanable?

Ta
John
http://www.team6.org
http://www.channel19.demon.co.uk

 

[Hellraiser]

No, it's not cleanable - the sensor consists of a coil which reacts to a magnet on the flywheel, problem is as the sensor ages it becomes temperature sensitive, so as it gets warmer its resistance increases - once its resistance becomes too high, the ECU can't detect the pulse indicating TDC, so doesn't produce the spark, hence no ignition

Hellraiser.........>

 

[musicmaestro]

I've got the same problem. Even when the engine is warmed up, the car mis-fires upon revving from idle (about 1000 RPM). If I'm not quick with the clutch, it will stall and will refuse to start.

Mine seems to be more prevalent in the damp.

Where is the TDC sensor located??

 

[jifly82]

try using wd40 in conections of the ingnition wires, to drive out the moisture from the wires, do not disconect nothing. then use silicon spray to isolate the wires after the wd40 dried.
Tell me if it works, in mi tipo worked.

 

[excossack]

Would the ECU hold any info with regards to errors produced by a faulty TDC sensor?
And where in/on the car is it?

 

[mearnsray]

Your info is very helpful -- could you please tell me where the crank shaft sensor is please?

 

[sumplug]

crank sensor on flywheel. if the car started on tapping the relays,then there is obviously a problem with the relay box.poor contacts will do this.clean all contacts and earthing wires.once running,touch the relays with your hands.any that get hot will need investigating.

 

[runninggoose]

No spark, could be either coil or most likely TDC/crank position sensor. Dead easy to change in either case, 5 minutes is all it takes only catch is the price of the TDC sensor - around 40 quid! Don't do what I did, get one off a scrapyard, as that turned out to have the same bloody fault as the one I originally had the only difference being that it would start when cold but not when it had warmed up

Hellraiser.........>

my 1.6 i e s just completed 13000 miles after last diy service at 70000 when twice in one one day it failed to start. when i messed about under the bonnet checking the usual culprits it started. when it started it ran as normal. put it down to the fact that it was probley a faulty wire and moving it had made it reconnect. until the next day. cranked it over and it failed to start. lifted bonnet no spark at coil but power at the four wires that plug into the coil. so i replaced coil from fiat dealership only £22.00 but this had no effect.
time to call my fiat trained brother for advise. he straight away suggested the tdc sensor . tried in vain to locate one from scrappys all over westmids and warwickshire but no luck. was quoted £28 + vat from a motor spares shop. yet to ring around somemore to see if i can it cheaper. when i get one will fit and let you know if it cured it. by the way my brother said in all the years at fiat he had never seen a dead coil and always said it was most likely to be the tdc sensor when there was no spark from coil. im hoping hes right .

 

[runninggoose]

my 1.6 i e s just completed 13000 miles after last diy service at 70000 when twice in one one day it failed to start. when i messed about under the bonnet checking the usual culprits it started. when it started it ran as normal. put it down to the fact that it was probley a faulty wire and moving it had made it reconnect. until the next day. cranked it over and it failed to start. lifted bonnet no spark at coil but power at the four wires that plug into the coil. so i replaced coil from fiat dealership only £22.00 but this had no effect.
time to call my fiat trained brother for advise. he straight away suggested the tdc sensor . tried in vain to locate one from scrappys all over westmids and warwickshire but no luck. was quoted £28 + vat from a motor spares shop. yet to ring around somemore to see if i can it cheaper. when i get one will fit and let you know if it cured it. by the way my brother said in all the years at fiat he had never seen a dead coil and always said it was most likely to be the tdc sensor when there was no spark from coil. im hoping hes right .

fitted new crank sensor .. started 1st time. JOB DONE >>>>

 

[bellboynz]

I am using a tipo (tip) and having the same problem I can see it doesn't help where it has been placed I am placing a new one in ($118 nz$), then making a heat sheild to protect it.
It seems it is big design fault in the car.