HELP...Rev problems in myTS

[evotai7]

Hi

I started on this forum a year or so ago with a problem with my revs. They'd be fine below 3-3.5k, then, in any gear, start juddering violently as soon as I went above. I visited Gonnella Brothers who reckoned it was the Throttle Body. I got them to clean it (something I now know I could have done myself very easily and not get charged £70 for). It cured the problem for about 3 weeks, then returned just as before. Then about 3 weeks later, just as I was about to fork out for a new TB, it just fixed itself. One glorious sunny afternoon in Greenwich, I pressed the pedal and flirted with 3.5k, then 4.5k, then woo-hoo! All good! Never returned..until this morning that is. Just as before. Full circle It has however gone from being a weekend car, to a work horse, as I've moved down to South Kent coast, and drive 140 miles a day to and from London Monday to Friday.

So about to go and buy some carb cleaner and get spraying. Could this really be causing my problem? (I've disconnected the MAF, and problem still remains)

Is there a preferred method of cleaning? It's a W reg (2000) Gtv. Not sure if this is an electronic throttle.

Thanks for your help.

[evotai7]

Ok I've cleaned the TB. sprayed with Carb cleaner, wiped, and brushed with tooth brush, but to no avail. Have now disconnected the battery and am gonna wait 45 mins and do the ECU/Throttle reset thing! See if that sorts it. Bit worried though as if it still doesn't work, wont be able to thrash it so that it relearns the parameters (trying to sound like I have a clue.)

Any other advice would be really helpful!!!!!!!! Just started a new job last week, and on week 2 had to ring the boss to tell him the good news. Thankfully seems to like me, and I worked my **** off last week, so he said I should take today off and get it sorted.

HELP!!!!!!!

[joeydawson]

hmmm you havent actually mentioned your problem!! ok so its reving..but high or low?? does it fluctuate?stay at certain revs? cut out at roundabouts?

[evotai7]

Sorry Joey You're right.

As I said car judders violently once you get to over 3.5k, then I can literately plant throttle, and it'll just keep juddering, sometimes dying away sometimes just sustained juddering with the odd pop from under the bonnet.

When I rev it in neutral, it'll rev freely to around 3.5k, then sort of pulsate between 3.5k and 4.5k back and forth to time. Sometimes it'll rev freely in neutral, but more often the former.

I hope that makes it more clear. Up till yesterday it was running beautifully. Got rid of the resonator box, a few months back and fitted an Autodelta air filter. Running beautifully. Had it doing 138mph the other day and felt as though it could do more. Ran out of clear motorway!

Help!

[joeydawson]

could it be fuel related? i had a MGTF where it had these symptoms,but if i feathered it,it would be fine,foot to the floor it shuddered and wouldn't get anywhere! turned out to be fuel pump.
When was it last serviced?im not too sure on the autodelta filter but i know many people have problems with after market filters,especially after taking off the resonator box.my old gtv had a new maf,a month after i fitted a K&N air filter,then sold the car and the new owner broke down a day later! turned out to be the maf as the K&N filter had covered the maf in oil and crap!

[thebutty]

I wonder if it could be the coil packs, i.m not sure how you could test this but i know they arnt to expensive when i have seen them on ebay, i have read on here in the past that they can crack or something similar, i'm sure someone with more knowledge on this will be along shortly

[evotai7]

Nah I did my research with re the filter, and the Autodelta filter is a dry filter. As I said I disconnected the maf today and problem still remained. That would suggest it isn't the maf right?

It was only serviced about 2.5k miles ago (about 3 months). It could be the pump, but it feels more ECU related. If this reset doesn't work I guess I'll have to go down to the local specialist and get them to hook it up to the diagnostics.

[joeydawson]

but if its ecu then a management light would pop up wouldnt it??
coil pack is a possibility like thebutty says,i also had that changed on the TF so could of been either,i never did find out,but it was defo one or the other!!

[johnnyboy71]

Had a similar problem on my last car and it turned out to be the leads. They were fine at lower revs but started doing the same when revved. Basically, it was arc'ing the charge at higher revs. Changed the leads and all was fine.

[evotai7]

Yeah hadn't thought of that. I use to run a Fiat Coupe. It had similar problems. It suffered from water ingress problems, which would sometimes lead to water entering the coil pack. Some WD would sort it, but it would display same kinda shudder, just less rythmical (i know that makes no sense) but the Fiat would judder more sporadically, you can almost set your watch to the Alfa. That's why I feel it's amanagement issue. I don't know!

[evotai7]

Ok reset didn't do a bloody thing!

Just spoke to my local mechanic, Ian @ Mobitech in Canterbury(Good guys!). He reckons I should take a closer look at the flexible pipe coming down from the TB. Any small cracks could cause the problem. If there are any I need to tape up, and problem should good. Failing that he reckons it could still be the maf, even though disconnecting it made no difference. Still confused!

[joeydawson]

my 1st gtv had a small slit in the rubber flexi pipe but it made the revs fluctuate,up and down when idling.made no difference to performance. but i guess if you have a big slit then it might as it will be sucking un-regulated air.

[evotai7]

Nah..give up! Not sure there's any point spending money to hook it up to diagnostics, when there are no warning lights. Thinking of buying a new maf on ebay and seeing if that fixes the problem.

[FoxtrotOscar]

I would strongly advise you to only use Bosch or genuine Alfa MAF's. Those unbranded Ebay specials are a waste of time. Might as well throw your £40 straight into the bin...
Sounds like you have a fuel starvation issue. Normally, if the MAF was faulty, disconnecting it would allow the engine to rev freely.
Unfortunately, there are a number of things that could cause the problem you have described, and some of these are a bit difficult to test with no diagnostic machine and no "known good" parts to substitute.
You really need to test the fuel pressure to eliminate possible fuel pump/pressure regulator problems.
If fuel pressure is OK, then move onto the electronics, such as throttle position sensor.
A couple of long shots for you: check the ECU and injection loom earths (as well as checking the ECU is bolted on nice and tight, as the casing needs to be earthed).
Another possibility is a blocked exhaust/catalytic converter.

[johnnyboy71]

Any GTV/Spider owners nearby who can assist you with a quick swap and test on the maf or other simple swapovers??

[willis]

i'd check that flexy pipe. actually take it off and have a close look. mine looked ok from the top but was shot underneath. same problems as me. taped it all up and been fine for two years lol

[evotai7]

Hey

Just an update....

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...of-issues.html (Got 156 2.4 JTD. Couple of issues!)