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146 1.6TS - A few questions


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#1
smeagol

Posted 12 February 2005 - 03:09 AM

smeagol

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Hi guys,

I'm driving a 146 1.6TS yr2000 (facelifted) model (stock std) and have a
few questions that u guys might be able to answers.

1. I'm using Castrol RS for about 2yrs now. Everytime I service the car it
feels a bit sluggish or at least no different from before service until at
least a week or about 1000km after the service. Only then the engine feels
smoother and slightly more 'torquey' (the way it should feel with fresh oil
change IMHO). Been monitoring this 'behavior' for a while now and I dont
think it's just a feeling I get. Anyone feels the same?

2. The mileage is slightly above 120,000km now- did all the necessary
maintenance/part changes by the book (including a few more), plugs, cam
variators, clutch (twice already), air filter etc etc- the car feels a bit
jerky when it touches 6000rpm. Any ideas why?

3. Today the car engine died twice while I was crusing- lights were on,
aircon, radio etc etc- cant be the batteries or alternator (both are new).
No warning lights flashed. I just had to glide the car to the roadside
(without power steering!!) and start the car, everything will go back to
normal.It also died twice when I started the engine at the parking lot (I
thought it was just a timing issue). Pretty scary since a few minutes
before the first time it died I was doing a 3rd gear 90km/h corner with
tyres screeching and all, if it died then I would've been in trouble. A
friend who drives the same model says it might be the airflow sensors but
we're not sure (that goddamn thing cost RM1800 I heard!). Due to CNY I
doubt they'll be any Alfa workshops open till Monday so I'm stuck.



Thanks in advance.

#2
Nirmaz

Posted 12 February 2005 - 11:28 AM

Nirmaz

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i had face the same problem a few month ago and i'm driving 146 1.8TS.
After stranded a few time and checked by mechanic, they replaced the fius
located next to battery but it still happened. After few xperiments,
they found out it was electric power supply cabel from battery which
caused the problem - leaking. Try do it urself, it can be cable leaking
or fius failure.

regards

#3
lhl4pg3

Posted 13 February 2005 - 09:28 AM

lhl4pg3

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I am having the`146 1.6TS, I had the same problem as yours, engine died
out of sudden. I solved my problem by:
1)Replaced the fuel filter
2)Replaced Fuel pump relay
3)Change the gas station to the old brand I used to (caused I just
changed to a new gas brand)

There are many possibilities, what I did were the cheapest one.

Hope this will help.

#4
smeagol

Posted 15 February 2005 - 01:42 AM

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thanks for the feedback guys, anyways I went to FA today and they replaced
my fuel pump relay (according to them the diagnostics computer only found
some problem on the relays)- so far the car has done about 200km without
dying and it starts with a single crank now...... but there's a new problem!

The car now semput!! at times especially on first gear when I floor the
throttle the revs goes up as fast as normal (at least to my eyes) but it's
like pushing air- like there's no torque at all. It feels a bit sluggish-
it's intermitten but somehow I feel like it's not pushing as much torque as
it normally does at any time- at 4500-6000 rpm there's a significant feel
of the power dipping off!.

Been asking around and getting all sorts of possibilities- fuel pump,
throttle body and airflow sensors (all costing near RM2k!)- am too busy to
go in/out of workshops man!!


help :-(

#5
lhl4pg3

Posted 15 February 2005 - 09:29 AM

lhl4pg3

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I had this problem also, but now....feel like is gone, not
sure....sometime ok, sometime not ok. Or may be the clutch pad is wearing
out, so might not feel the torque.
What I did now is press more fuel, and release the clutch higher. I think
my will be the worn out clutch pad, because the clutch pedal is getting
heavier. mmm.....


#6
smeagol

Posted 15 February 2005 - 10:41 AM

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I suspected it was the clutch too but my clutch is 20,000Km old, the pedal
is light as a feather (ok as light as an Italian car clucth can be)- the
car has been feeling slightly weired around 5000-6000rpm for a while now
but the feeling is so minute that I brushed it aside.

Plugs are less than 30,000Km old.

#7
lhl4pg3

Posted 15 February 2005 - 04:05 PM

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Have you replaced the fuel filter? Air filter?

#8
smeagol

Posted 15 February 2005 - 05:05 PM

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Air filter was a while back but everytime service the workshop always says
it still usable, fuel filter nope- maybe I try those.

#9
lhl4pg3

Posted 16 February 2005 - 10:21 AM

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You will feel a big differrent after changing the fuel filter. A lot of
people did not aware this.

Good luck.

#10
smeagol

Posted 17 February 2005 - 01:37 PM

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Thanks to a HUGE hole in the pocket, the problem is solved.

Turned out as suspected, it was the air flow sensor- costed me RM1500 (plus
labour) at MegaAuto.

Apparently the thing has been deteriorating for quite a while now because
as soon as it was replaced the car was performing like I cannot remember
before!! I guess it was the 'boiling frog' effect, I didnt realize that the
car was not performing as it should for a while. After 5000rpm the revs
just keeps on going and there's a feeling of a slight jerk of (more) torque
coming in- all the way to redline.

I'm selling my kidneys for a 2liter twinspark (or if it's worth more that I
think it is I might be able to get the JTS).