Troublesome 80SX

[Morgan]

Got a troublesome 2000 Bravo 1.2. It has been on a diagnostic at a Fiat specialist and it is running rich. Although not well looked after by the garage of the previous owner, I have done a fair bit of work. The pressure sensor and stepper motor were changed shortly before I bought it, I have since found it had the wrong plugs, the cambelt had been replaced but was out by a couple of teeth, the coil and leads have been replaced, along with the lambda and the temp sensor.

The lambda was covered in black soot, so its rich for sure, but that was before I replaced the coil pack that missed out No4 and No1 cylinder from time to time.

The temp sensor change has made things better, it runs about 8 miles before the red 'injector' light comes on whereas it used to do that after 3 or 4 miles. The only other fault is that it does not run at higher revs when cold, struggles to keep going without blipping the throttle.

Any idea chaps on how to sort this car out once and for all? Suggestions welcome.

 

[Anonymous]

when you say the timing belt was out "by a couple of teeth" what exactly do you mean? There are no timing marks on the sprockets so how did you measure it?

 

[blue80]

I measured it by finding TDC on the crank pulley, then removing plugs 1 and 2, dropping down two equal length dowel rods, then moved the crank until they were set level, I then unscrewed the caps in the head to find the slots on the camshaft and used a screwdriver of a similar size to ensure I found the slot. This I felt was a reasonable replication of the Fiat tool. When comparing the new position to the old (I marked that with Tippex) it was out by a couple of teeth.

I was going to experiment by putting the timing back to how it was, to see if that made a difference, getting desperate I know, but I am running out of ideas and options.

 

[Anonymous]

That will give you the general setting. Best way (in the absence of the locking tool), Is to use a 10mm twist drill for the camshaft slot. You only need the exhaust camshaft.Line up the shaft so that you can insert the drill then put 3 equal length rods down the plug holes and place a straight edge across them. They should all touch the edge. If not, slacken the camshft bolt and turn the crankshaft until the 3 rods are level, ensuring the pistons are in line. Tighten up the camshaft bolt. The camshaft sprocket is a taper fit on the camshaft.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advise, sounds a better way.

I have pulled the plugs again and I have found that No4 looks blackened, so I am thinking that No4 injector must be playing up, the plug.coil and leads having all been replaced with new correct spec parts.

Does this sounds likely?

 

[big al]

the belt on my 1.8 slipped 12 teeth..lol
dont ask how but it ran.it was really bad to drive loss of power pinking etc.
but i locked the cams and reset the timing and its miles better..the timing method you are doing is a good way of checking/fixing the belt if its out,but lets hope its not hit any valves while it was out..

big al

 

[Anonymous]

Could be a faulty injector, Have you changed the air filter?

 

[Anonymous]

yep, air filter changed, new oil, plugs, leads, tried BP ultimate as well,

 

[axle]

It looks now as if only # 4 cylinder is affected, If you are now satisfied that the ignition/valve timing is correct try giving the engine a hard run, this might clear the soot off #4 plug. If this does not effect a cure, get a compression test done

 

[Anonymous]

I have pulled the injectors and they will be cleaned and checked over tomorrow. I will update once they are back in, hopefully they will have found something.

Timing was spot on, double checked it, compression test is a pain as I do not have a deep reach extension, they cost £12 too off ebay, even the specialist who did the diagnostic did not have one.

I will update tomorrow.

 

[morgan]

Right, I give up, injectors checked and one was under fuelling, put it back in, sounds a bit smoother, but now the light came on after sitting on the drive to 10 mins doing a reset. Will not rev over 2000rpm until the light goes off, thereafter sounds crisp and responsive as an Italian engine should.

I have now left it at a garage who will check over its poor, stupid German brain and see what the fault is, I am now thinking it must be in the ECU itself, almost all of the sensors etc have been changed.

No wonder the later cars had Marelli system, I do not like bratwurst in my pizza.

 

[axle]

You're having trouble mate, Diagnostic should sort it. Keep us informed

 

[blue80]

down to either the motor in the throttle body being faulty (despite being new in April) or the ECU being faulty and telling the throttle to behave in a weird way.

All Bosch though, Grrrrr.

 

[Axle]

Renewed motor in april? Should not be that then. hope its not the ecu

 

[blue80]

and its the throttle motor, yep , the nearly new one.

Bl00dy German sh1te parts spoiling my Fiat.

At least I can get it done under warranty, but I will still have to pay for time tracing the fault.

I'm off to watch the Dambusters by way of revenge.

 

[Anonymous]

well, glad it's sorted but wrong it's costing you time and money for a part thats already been renewed

 

[blue80]

thats life I suppose, a bit like when the cambekt snaps, your £25 will be refunded, but not the £1000 consequential damage.

 

[blue80]

it gets worse, just done the last job, replaced front shocks, and the old ones were bl00dy German too.

They are spoiling my Fiat, if I wanted a Golf I would have bought one.

 

[Anonymous]

Dont tell me! The last owner was cald Hans.