Hi all, iv purchased an alfa romeo 156 1.8 t.spark 2001 (never owned an alfa before) & im having a major problem with the car. I'v read many sites including this one but no one has the problem that im having.
What happens is that the car drives for like 10-15mins and then just cuts out (no lights on the dash). If i step out of the car, lock it, then unlock it the car fires up and does the same again. Iv read many sites about the crank sensor but i dont know if that could be the problem as i have to lock and unlock the car. They key itself is the red one and has selotape around it as the previous owner's son had damaged it but the whole key is there ie the plastic trim, button etc.
Im sorry for the long post but ive been reading for over a couple of days trying to find a cure but to no avail.
Please could someone shed some light or point me in the right direction as I would be ever so grateful. Sorry for any mistakes, but im just new here.
Many Thanks and Kind Regards to everyone reading my post
After the engine has cut out, what happens when you try to restart, does the engine just turn over but not start? Are there any dash lights when you try to restart?
Hi, many thanks for replying. Once the engine cuts out i get the flashing immobiliser light and then have to wait for 10-20 mins before the car can start again. I really did think its the crank sensor but thats been changed so im really clueless now and have only had the car for 2 weeks.
Can't say I've heard of that issue.....so if you lock and unlock the car it will restart immediately, but otherwise you have an immobiliser light flashing - but after a while it will restart?
Weird - the locking system isn't connected with the immobiliser....the only thing I can think of is that the chip in the key isn't being read by the aerial around the ignition key barrel, but I thought that only applied when the initially starting the car - didn't think that it operated constantly...but I could well be wrong. You could try replacing the aerial - or even just unplugging and reconnecting the aerial connection into the code box......
Hi, many thanks for your reply above. Yes thats what happens. The car cuts off with the immobiliser light flashing on the dash, I get out of the car, lock the doors, unlock the doors and the car fires up but then 10mins down the line it happens again and so on. If I stay in the car, it will not start for approx 10-15mins. The key does have selotape around it as its broken and i removed the selotape thinking that it may be interfering with the signal but to no avail.
Some people say that it may be the key/immobiliser problem but the car does start as i thought that if it was the immobiliser or the key causing the problems, it would not let me start the car (i may be wrong).
Don't worry, I've seen this, in front of the battery is a group of relays under a cover, give them all a good wiggle and see if that resolves it, if it does then it's the good old corroded relay pin problem.
Hi, thanks Smaky. Iv just tried that but im still having the same problem. Im sorry if this sounds silly or stupid (iv never had this problem before) but could it be that the car has had its engine replaced in the past or that the key is broken?
Im really sorry to everyone who has either viewed or responded to my problem for all the headache im giving but im just having really bad luck with this car.
Are you sure the crank sensor was put on correctly ? After the engine dies on you,does it take 15 mins to start up again...if so,sounds like crank sensor.
Hi Ronan (thanks for replying, been sitting infront of my computer waiting for someone to reply). Yes the crank sensor was put on correctly. Once the engine cuts out, if I leave the car, lock it, unlock it and then start the car it fires up but if i stay sitting inside the car once it cuts out, it will only start after 10-15mins. (the immobiliser light flashes on the dash).
Many Thanks
PM Gus (Alfatune on this forum)....he might be able to help.
It seems to be a mixture of both immobiliser & crank sensor.Strange !
As a test,start the car and let it sit for 20 mins to see if it cuts out.....this would be classic crankshaft sensor problems.
By the way when my immobiliser problems were sorted,kind of,i was advised to lock & unlock the car.......but after a while i didn't need to ,as the car seemed to build up a recognition of the key after time.
How weird are these Alfas !!
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