Fuel/Injection Issue?!? Please help a newbie in need!!

[RandollS]

Hi all,

Symptoms - Randomly - Spluttering for a second then dying usually after low idling, lack of power etc.

Have done so far -

Crank Sensor
Idle Control Valve
Coolant temp sensor
Cleaned Lambda Sensor
Cleaned fuel rail and cleaned outside of injectors
Changed spark plugs & checked coils
Changed Fuel filter and removed and checked fuel pump

The problem... Its still doing it!!!!!

No ive got a feeling its fuel related somewhere along the line as when i spray a very small amount of carb cleaner into the air intake it splutters just as it usually does and then stalls. I beleive i am correct in thinking it should rev normally when i do this?! Does this mean its running very rich? If so whats the next step?

Please can someone help me with this or suggest where to go next? Im reluctant to pay £45 on a diagnostic until i have checked all i can check.

Its a '96 1.8 16V.

Many thanks

[teamster1975]

I'm still thinking Lambda sensor, if it's failed or gone intermittent then cleaning it won't really help.

[RandollS]

Thanks for reply.

However i beleive i read in another post that you can unplug it(Lambda) and the ECU doesnt know any better, i did this and yet it still cut out as usual. If it is faulty should the engine run ok if unplugged?

Thanks

[teamster1975]

Have a look here, quite an interesting read.

[steve_earwig]

However i beleive i read in another post that you can unplug it(Lambda) and the ECU doesnt know any better, i did this and yet it still cut out as usual. If it is faulty should the engine run ok if unplugged?

Fuzzy logic? Your car will go wrong if you unplug it, it's doing that already, so if it makes no difference then it's probably broke.

[RandollS]

However i beleive i read in another post that you can unplug it(Lambda) and the ECU doesnt know any better, i did this and yet it still cut out as usual. If it is faulty should the engine run ok if unplugged?

Fuzzy logic? Your car will go wrong if you unplug it, it's doing that already, so if it makes no difference then it's probably broke.

True.

However I did have one other thought. Could the inlet air temp sensor be broken or need cleaning. Could it be thinking the air temp is cooler than it actually is, pumping more fuel into the cylinders? Then that gets flagged up by the lambda sensor?

Sorry, im kind of clutching at straws now!

[RandollS]

Mr Diagnostic said it was the MAP sensor. Quoted me £200 to change it, £80 sensor and £120 labour.

Considering i had taken it off and cleaned it already i dont think i will give them £120 for something as easy as that. As for the sensor I am headed to the scrappers tomorrow morning, if no luck there then £50 from Autoquip.

I hope this finally solves my problem!

[RandollS]

Free from the scrap yard and it fixed the problem

[steve_earwig]

Woohoo! Nice one (free? )

[teamster1975]

Nice one Randoll! I'll copy it to the knowledge base!