145 1.4 ts 1999 - red injector light

[reddeath]

hi all, jesus its been 2 years since here last appologies!

im looking for a magic trick / miracle and im sure this will have been covered, ive searched but found nothing specific so here goes

problem - car stinking of fuel when running( outside not inside as if the emissions are high)
when warm the revs at idle are wild from almost stall to 2500rpm
occasionally engine cuts out whilst driving for no apparent reason - wont then restart off the key unless left for a couple of hours

only obvious symptoms are red injector light has come on ( similar time to the smell) so im guessing some sort of fueling sensor issue

the wild revving altho a bit funky has done it since new ( in laws bought car new so always been in family) so dont think its related to recent red warning light so not really a worry if that makes sense.

i did go to change the spark plugs and i noticed a sensor to the top right of oil filler cap appears to be somewhat dirty with no corresponding leak from filler or under the engine cover i had removed - what is this sensor??

please help
Andy -
im over in ROI and dealers are infrequent and wildly expensive so taking to one for fault code reading would be a last resort

[stevepx]

try unplugging the MAF, see if the symptoms persist.

[reddeath]

Just done that and no difference. So does that mean I should have done some sort of reset or Knackered MAF?
Now just to check MAF is online with air intake hose after filter box?
Cheers
Andy

[stevepx]

Originally Posted by reddeath

Just done that and no difference. So does that mean I should have done some sort of reset or Knackered MAF?
Now just to check MAF is online with air intake hose after filter box?
Cheers
Andy

yep thats right with wires and plug in the top. would suggest that your MAF ain't happy. you could try cleaning the sensor part inside before replacing it or do a quick swap with a (known) working item but certainly sounds like thats your problem there. I am sure others on the forum will confirm this.

[reddeath]

Cool thanks for taking the time, I'll remove and clean up anyway, no harm I guess - would a spurious eBay type replacement do or should I be looking to genuine ( I know the arguments both ways but is there a known reliable source that members commonly use etc) any idea on cost?
Anyone else thoughts?
Cheers again

[Pujazuba]

The sensor near your filler cap is a variator solenoid and known to leak.
Here's some more information. The cam variator

[DIYJan]

Originally Posted by reddeath

Just done that and no difference. So does that mean I should have done some sort of reset or Knackered MAF?
Now just to check MAF is online with air intake hose after filter box?
Cheers
Andy

Reddeath: If you unplugged the MAF, and the symptoms remained the same, then I believe it means that the problem is somewhere else. The MAF might be knackered as well, as I heard it's not uncommon, but it's probably not the cause (or at least not the main cause) of the problems you have.
If the engine is running rich, then the next thing I'd try is unplugging the lambda sensor and seeing what happens then.

Jan

[reddeath]

Thanks Jan, lambda that's the one on the exhaust system?
Ta
Andy

[DIYJan]

Originally Posted by reddeath

Thanks Jan, lambda that's the one on the exhaust system?
Ta
Andy

Yup, that's the one - the lambda probe measures the amount of oxygen left in the exhaust gasses, sending a signal to the ECU which then adjusts the amount of fuel injected (if I remember correctly, anyway ).
Found two guides describing how to change the lambda probe with pictures for you - hope this will help you find it (not that I mean that you should go blindly ahead and just change it - just try unplugging it first).

Board Message
Board Message

I think the two guides both show how the connector is positioned on a phase 1 engine (alloy top), if you engine is phase 2 (plastic top) then the connector should be clipped to the inlet manifold, a little to the left side from center.

Jan

[reddeath]

Thanks Jan yeah mine is phase 2 I'll get to check out this weekend, what results would I expect if I unplug? I'm guessing if sensor ok then I will see s change, if not I won't?
I tried cleaning MAF but no difference they cost a fortune here so I'm gonna have to research a source

[reddeath]

Righto lambda disconnected and no change in symptoms, Tis possible that it's being going downhill gradually but I didn't notice it driving badly until the light / smell appeared so........ Lambda bugged? What would I have witnessed?

[guiliasuper]

Originally Posted by reddeath

occasionally engine cuts out whilst driving for no apparent reason - wont then restart off the key unless left for a couple of hours

only obvious symptoms are red injector light has come on ( similar time to the smell) so im guessing some sort of fueling sensor issue



please help
Andy -
im over in ROI and dealers are infrequent and wildly expensive so taking to one for fault code reading would be a last resort

Could it be the crank sensor ?

[reddeath]

Having done a few miles now with lambda disconnected there is deffo no change, I would have expected if it was working properly that I would have now seen crap idle and poor fuel, both of which I already have so assuming it's a sensor only fault ( rather than say a hole in exhaust causing bogey 02 reading, or temp sensor giving low reading to ecu although gauge temp is good) then I'm looking lambda / MAF/ temp/ crank ??

[reddeath]

Ooo forgot BBOD relays etc, is lambda fused?

[DIYJan]

Originally Posted by reddeath

Having done a few miles now with lambda disconnected there is deffo no change, I would have expected if it was working properly that I would have now seen crap idle and poor fuel, both of which I already have so assuming it's a sensor only fault ( rather than say a hole in exhaust causing bogey 02 reading, or temp sensor giving low reading to ecu although gauge temp is good) then I'm looking lambda / MAF/ temp/ crank ??

When you unplug the lambda, the ECU notices there is no signal and starts using some default reasonable values instead. This means that, if the lambda is working well, then unplugging it will make the engine run a bit worse (the consumption will increase), and if the lambda is knackered, then unplugging it should make the engine run better. Since you unplugged it and there was no change, I think it again means that the lambda is not the culprit either.

The lambda is not fused in my opinion, but cleaning the BBOB could be a good idea anyway

As a last resort, you could try to put together your own diagnostic and read the faults off the ECU yourself, but I'm not sure if that wouldn't be more trouble than getting it to a dealer Anyway, here's a really good guide on that that was written just recently, if you are interested:

ECU Diagnostics (DIY) - Alfa Romeo 145 - 146 Forum

[reddeath]

Before writing this morning I bought a 3 pin to 16 adapter from eBay as a buddy of mine has a fancy code reader thing ( a vag version but has a generic mode also) if that dosnt work on mine then I can at least use his serial cable and download fiatscan myself so this was going to be my next step anyway, I kinda think it might be marginally smoother with lambda unplugged but I reckon with both that and MAF unplugged I should deffo see a difference unless there all just Knackered,
Somewhere there has to be a faulty sensor lol
Cheers for the help guys, I'll keep u posted and by all means keep chipping in
Many thanks for your time lads
Andy

[reddeath]

Check this out - one of the fuses in the BBoB is a ****ing lambda fuse!!

Wasn't happy so I set about re- cleaning etc the BBoB and found a duff fuse holder ( internal termination corroded away from crimp but was inside the blue plastic holder so not obvious) just didn't feel right so I crimped on a fresh holder, hey presto red light goes out!

I figured that unplugging sensor didn't make enuff of a difference to the running and thats because sensor signal wasn't getting anywhere anyway
Now I'm still to take her for a run to make sure it's not a fluke but baby is asleep so will have to wait a while
Wish me luck!!!!

[DIYJan]

Reddeath: Good find :-) I didn't know there was a lambda fuse.
So how does she run now?

[groovylee]

nice one reddeath i had exactly the same symptoms after faffing around with thte BBoB last weekend. i wiggled the offending fuse this morning and voila! she runs sweetly again!

thanks for the info mate, much appreciated

[reddeath]

Running sweet as, including fixing the wandering idle it's had since birth! Now just looking to extend the cabling and put the components in a waterproof box out of harms way,
If I can get her thru NCT next month then I will keep for another 2 years before it's my turn for new car, I was originally gonna scrap in 2 month as unreliability was killing me and have to spend a couple of grand for a put me on motor until finance on wife's cleared do am delighted
Thanks again for everyone's input
Andy

[DIYJan]

Good, glad to hear that