RE: [alfa] Dead GTV-6, stymied mechanics

["Jeff Greenfield" <alfaguy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alan -

I can't tell you what exactly is wrong with your car. You obviously have a
component somewhere or an electrical connection that is doing a slow death.
When mechanic number two worked on it and had it running all was well.
Between then and the next morning when it did not something quit or is
affected by temperature.

You need to start over at the top of the diagnostics flow chart that is in
the manual.

Some more information would be helpful ...

Assuming that the car is still in the 'no start' phase -

1 - Is there spark?

2 - Is there an injector pulse?

3 - Does the fuel pump run during cranking?

4 - What is the battery voltage during cranking?

One and two could both be a result of a failed hall effect sensor in the
distributor, or faulty wiring. I've seen flakey connections at the connector
to the distributor before.

Three could be a result of a faulty dual relay (I know you said it was
replaced, does not mean that the new part is not defective, I've seen DOA
parts out of the box more often you'd think). Could also be a failed
microswitch in the AFM.

A week battery can cause all kinds of weird problems. Just because the
engine turns over ok, does not mean that the battery is good.

There is a very straightforward and easy to follow flow chart for diagnosis
in the manual. Start at the beginning and don't skip any steps. You will
need a scope for a couple of the tests (especially the hall sensor).

If you get it running without really having done much, try the wiggle test
on each and every connector you can find to see if you can find the problem.

Also, you said that another ECU was tried. What about the timing control
unit that is up under the dash? If that is bad there won't be any spark.

HTH,

Jeff



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided] On Behalf Of Alan
Lambert
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 9:55 PM
To: Alfa Digest; Alfa Digest; Alfa Racing
Subject: [alfa] Dead GTV-6, stymied mechanics

First, my apologies for double posting--I wasn't sure which address for
the Digest was correct.

A few weeks ago my GTV-6 (Milano 2.5 engine) stopped dead and acted as
if the fuel pump had failed ---it would start, run feebly, and die if
you tried to give it gas.

Mechanic number 1 replaced the filter (he didn't ask if the one in
there was new, which it was!) replaced the double relay, and told me it
was fine.

Two days later it died on the freeway.

Towed to mechanic two, who replaced the ignition module (on the left
front fender toward the front) checked the injectors (they were all
pulsing) the fuel pressure, the oxygen sensor wire, and went through
everything in the Alfa diagnostic book he could find. Somehow, between
the evening before, when there was feeble spark (which he fixed) but
the injectors were pulsing fine, the next morning the injectors stopped
pulsing. He has swapped the ECU for another. He is now baffled, says I
have to tow the car away from his shop, and that he can't find the
problem.

As a result, I missed the Laguna time trial and lost (or didn't get
anything for) a bunch of money.

Please, someone out there tell us where to look--Two mechanics and one
owner are baffled!!

Thanks,

Alan Lambert
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided