Car cuts out/won't idle

Strider590

Add Lambda sensor to the list......

tberry6686

Problem occurs all the time, hot and cold, Car was moved around a few times while at the garage that I am aware of.
Temp guage reasct the way it always has so I think it's probably ok.

I went out and started it up again and kept it running for about 10mins and there was a lot of smoke from the exhaust (if that helps)

Car_Complaints

If they kept moving it about very short distance and no EML is illuminated then it sounds like carbon build up on the plugs, sometimes you can cure this with a good run sometimes it kills the plugs,

Certainly change these first

TrickyWicky

tberry6686 wrote: »

Temp guage reasct the way it always has so I think it's probably ok.

That doesn't mean much as there could be one for the coolant and one for the engine and you've no idea which one is right / working. Admittedly though I wouldn't really suspect a temp sensor initially and as you say the problem happens hot or cold I think we can rule this out.

Lambda as strider says is another possibility but this measures the oxygen and burned fuel emissions. If the lambda sensor itself is faulty it could upset the ECU however if the sensor itself is ok it would suggest that something is affecting the engine running (like the fuel / air mixture - again possibly pointing to the ICV or air intake pipes). Not all cars have an ICV so if you can't find one don't waste too much time looking for it but do check the throttle body is moving smoothly as that could give you problems.

On a final note.. I did have a car a year or two back that had a knackered distributor cap. You could hear it sparking and when dark, you could see it too lol. Not many cars use a dizzy these days so again don't waste too much time looking for it.

jase1

How much have you been driving it since you got it back?

I have an old Mitsubishi that takes a while to 'learn' the correct idle etc settings after the battery has been disconnected. During that time it idles at very low speed -- around 400rpm or so. It doesn't stall but it hunts quite a bit when in that state.

After around 10 miles or so it's fine.

Nodding_Donkey

My first port of call would be the throttle position sensor or the idle air control valve. Unplugging them and giving them a squirt of contact cleaner might do the trick. Next would be looking for any leaks in the intake system.

BeenThroughItAll

Having had an MX-5 which exhibited just that issue on the test drive, it's worth checking that the garage haven't given the car too enthusiastic a wash and filled the spark plug recesses with water.


On the one we bought, they'd cleaned the engine bay and the above result caused the same problem, fixed by blowing the water out with an airline and drying the leads.


Sadly for the garage selling the car, it cost them a catalytic converter too as it was knackered by all the unburnt fuel flooding into the exhaust, and it wouldn't pass the emissions test when they MOT'd it.


That's another story, it's not a great idea to be driving a car with a fundamental running/misfire issue, it'll not do the cat any good at all.

Richard53

I noticed my cat coughing when I started the car a few cold mornings ago.

tberry6686

Finally got the time to do some work on the car. pulled air filter and plugs etc and they were all fine - barely even any dirt. Took the car for a run and got an engine warning light come on. OBD code was P1170 which says O2 sensor problem. Looking at the data from that sensor it gives a constant 1V so looks like that is goosed. New one ordered and should get it on Wednesday.