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Help needed: Engine Stalling


Tea3
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Hi Tea,

 

Look like your ride is giving lots of headache and a couple potential problems which is intermittent and need to address before things get worse.

Just for info, my fabia failed to start in KL one morning last year and had to replace the fuel pump because it failed suddenly without any symptom of stalling at all. Just failed.

 

Lately, my Fabia's engine has been stalling or threatening to stall spontaneously, regardless of whether I am driving (on the expressway) or engine is in idle. I recently sent it to Servo/Dennis & had my whole clutch system changed, which cost me a big bomb.

IMO, there shd not be any relationship between the clutch and engine having stalling symptom. Unless the clutch slip badly, or the cae got no power in h'way and up the slope. Anyway the tell tale sign is rpm go up but speed did not increase.

One possibility is the additive F-22, do read the instruction carefully when using it. I had tried the product before and thus experience the symptom you describe but cannot conclude the cause is due to the additive. I would not recommend fabia owner to try this product.

Probably causes might be the fuel system is not functionally properly, water in fuel,fuel pressure low or incorrect, injectors clogged, or plugs not firing properly.

Related component/symptom maybe your ECU have problems and sensor related to fuel metering and engine management are questionable.

 

Only sure way is to plug in the engine analyser and check for the computer readout. Bear in mind, even if the workshop might have the engine analyser but no gurantee they know how to interpret the readout. I have a friend who have to teach the mechanic how to use an expensive equip to check BMW car to troubleshoot problem as an example.

 

I stepped on the accelerator but nothing happened - engine didn't rev at all. It felt as if no petrol was being pumped into the engine. Can someone help...maybe enlighten me on the mechanics of the system that makes the car move from the stepping of the accelerator to the workings of the engine? I am trying to figure out what may be wrong & what may be the contributing factors. Thanks!

 

Your accelerator is electronic and not mechanical. When you accelerate you are actually sending an electrical signal to the ECU and some other device before the rpm can move.

New sunny are now employing this system. Control by wire.

 

Don't know why, u do not want the agent to fix your ride, maybe the price is cut throat, service is poor etc etc. But the fact is when something like this happen, you have to really find someone who really know the mechanic of your car well and nib the problem and fix it once and for all.

 

For me, I go to agent for such kind of problem, and, by the way, I'm not working or in any way connected to the agent, just a skoda fabia owner who want what is best for my car.

 

my views

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Neutral Newbie

Hi Veron,

 

Thanks for your reply. I had problems starting after I bought my car because of the temperature sensor. Changed it last year & no problems with starting since then. Happy Chinese New Year!

 

[sunny]

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Neutral Newbie

possibility is the additive F-22, do read the instruction carefully when using it. I had tried the product before and thus experience the symptom you describe but cannot conclude the cause is due to the additive.[/color]

 

Yeah, so what I have decided to to use the "elimination" method. Decided to stop using the fuel additive & use Vpower maybe once a month. Can't afford to pump that expensive petrol on a weekly basis.

 

Don't know why, u do not want the agent to fix your ride, maybe the price is cut throat, service is poor etc etc. But the fact is when something like this happen, you have to really find someone who really know the mechanic of your car well and nib the problem and fix it once and for all.

 

 

Well, it's from all the threads that have warned us about CA.

 

Look like your ride is giving lots of headache and a couple potential problems which is intermittent and need to address before things get worse.

 

Well, I still some components in the car that haven't been changed i.e. fuel filter & alternator. As I gradually eliminate each possibility, I hope the problems will be solved as time passes. If not, then I will have to take other measures. I do enjoy driving my Fabia but all these intermittent problems are accumulatively expensive, & time consuming, both that I do not have excessively.

 

Appreciate your advice. Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!

 

 

[sunny]

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Apparently your current mechanics is more of a part changer - maybe he is student by night and mechanics by day. How does he verify and then justify that the cause of the intermittent problem is due to the clutch system. I think it's time you look for a mechanics that is armed with right tools and diagnostic skills to make a thorough check on all the systems. Trouble shooting by elimination is a costly and time consuming affair.Preventing maintenance and regular serving is the key to having a trouble free & safe car.

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Neutral Newbie

The shop is reputable. Not too long after the stalling problem started, I sent the car to the shop after my car started to produce metal rubbing sound from the engine while driving. He took it for spin, checked the clutch & told me it was badly worn out. So I asked if there was a connection between the worn out clutch & intermittent stalling & he said, "Yes."

 

I do agree that prevention maintenance & regular servicing is the key & that is why I send my car for servicing after 10K but somehow these problems were not prevented. I am not a mechanic but I do basic stuff like check the engine oil level, tyre pressure, coolant level but some things are beyond me. I want to learn more to the point that I am looking for a maintenance & repair manual for skoda fabia.

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Neutral Newbie

My car is almost 3 years old - bought it 2nd hand.

 

So what did your friend do? Replace the whole unit?

 

Well, the mechanic check it when i was present & he said nothing wrong. Is it accurate to check belt's timing just by listening?

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yah... C&C replaced the ECU for him.

 

if your car is only 3 years old, shouldn't be a timing belt issue... unless the mileage is really really really high. you went back to the original agent ?

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For info,

 

Fabia engine here (Singapore) do not have timing belt but rather timing chain is used for valve timing.

 

Timing belt is replaced on recommended mileage by the manufacturer. Listening is technically incorrect.

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Good advice there about checking the very basic stuff - spark plugs...i can't stress how many times I have been caught dead with dead spark plugs, or other electrical problem in the past.

 

While it is possible, I do find it very queer too that the mechanic chose to replace the clutch first.

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If mechanics have good grounding in the basics and pay more attentions to car owners complaints, thier job will be much easier.

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[reply]

Well, I still some components in the car that haven't been changed i.e. fuel filter & alternator. As I gradually eliminate each possibility, I hope the problems will be solved as time passes. If not, then I will have to take other measures. I do enjoy driving my Fabia but all these intermittent problems are accumulatively expensive, & time consuming, both that I do not have excessively.

 

The fuel filter cost abt $50 before discount agent price. So you shd be getting less for that outside. Fuel filter cum regulator are pressurised type, so get the correct type or else complication may occur. Info Part no : 6Q0-201-051. This is the one agent use which is a different number from the original one in the car from czech republic.

 

Don't understand why u need to change the alternator [dizzy].

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Neutral Newbie

If only they listened....& not have the perception that owners don't know their cars, & that they are the pros & car owners should just leave the technical stuff to them. [crazy]

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Neutral Newbie

Thanks for the fuel filter info.

 

 

As for why I think I need to change the alternator, allow me to explain myself:

 

When I bought my car last year, I changed my battery. The person who sold me the battery kindly checked my alternator (before & after changing the battery) & informed me that it wasn't working at optimal level (a 5 over 10 scale) but still can work. Servo/Philip checked it for me too & said the same thing.

Friends who more knowlegable in cars than yours truly have driven my car to help figure out why my car is problematic. Some have noticed a flickering of lights & dimming of dashboard lights, headlights & radio. I too have observed that since driving it last year.

So I have 2 choices now - wait till the alternator totally fails which means that battery would have been drained too & change everything at one go or change the alternator soon so as not to risk the battery being drained totally & my car breaking down somewhere in the middle of the road.

I am not one who has so much time & money to spend, nor one who does things without thinking, but I have been discussing matters with people & thinking... [gossip]

 

[sunny]

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I believe professional automotive technicians should spend about 90% of his time educating their customers and 10% diagnosing and serving their cars.

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Any professional auto tech should be able to carry few tests and determine whether the battery is faulty or the alternator is not generating enough wattage.

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