Aaamrit145QV

Smaky you genius! Fixed! A pair of need nose pliers and a steady hand = Happy Alfa! Now just need to pass the dreaded MOT tomorrow! Thanks again for the priceless advice.

Thanks again Smaky, Will check ECU pins first and the other bits and report back. Didnt go anywhere near the relays but will be borrowing a multimeter today to check all. Thanks again

Hello all, Hoping someone can help. over the weekend on my phase 2 145 QV to sort the Replaced my throttle body which had a new stepper motor already fitted to it which had been correctly calibrated, ran Multiecuscan before and no errors were present. Straight forward job, no issues - reset ecu / recalibrated via Multiecuscan and now have a rock steady idle without any fluctuation. However, have found a new error after having done this: P1653 - Variable Camshaft Timing Control - No Signal/Intermitent Have been told via the 145 forum its the variator solenoid, which rarely fails so need to look at connector/loom etc which I have done and still getting the above error. Cleared it, Did another Full Reset and it pops up straight away Have back tracked and check all connections/relays etc. No issues that I can see. The only thing I did different when fitting the new throttle body is add some red hylomar to it to eliminate any possible air leaks. There is a brown earth left of the ECU which is the only thing I havent checked as have no multimeter. Could the use of the additional gasket be causing a poor earth and this error? Will be taking it apart again tomorrow either way! Any help appreciated!

Quick update on this. Rechecked and cleaned all electrical connetions, took for 5 mile drive and srill sputtered and jerked around 3000 revs. I was running on reserve (tesco unleaded) - put £15 of Texaco unleaded and car seems to run fine again?! Took for another 5 mile drive, no issues... so far anyway! As said already, Tesco unleaded always makes my car run lumpy but never this bad! Surely it cant be the fuel?

Thanks smaky, where you based? Im going disconnect everything today, clean & double check everything again. MAF Is literally brand new as is the Lambda - both genuine bosch parts Will let you know how it goes.

Hello all. As also posted on the 145.co.uk forum and am hoping for a little more info before giving in and taking to garage. My phase 2 qv has suddenly started to play up with sudden power loss and jerking from 3k revs upwards underload. im getting the fuel starvation symptoms (ie. the bucking, jerking and loosing power) but yesterday it drove ok for around 15mins without any issues whilst getting up to temperature then suddenly started playing up when putting it under load. <-- Temp Sensor Faulty? Suspected MAF / Lambda straight off as the car was running slighly lean during last Mot in June. So plugged in to Multiecuscan - no errors logged Ran the graphs on Lambda/MAF etc. shows occasional blips/voltage drops on idle and replaced both with genuine new Bosch ones Check plugs etc. All good. Plugs were s nice golden brown on all 8, no soot & dry. Only done 20k. Crank sensor is genuine and a month old. Temp sensor is 2 months old. Check BBOB (Fuses & Relays) - All good and where professionally rewired and sealed with heat shrink tubing last year - Never had any issues No water or oil in wells. Air filter 6 months old. Reset ECU, took for a blast - all great, gave it a good blatt through full rev range and all the gears. ICV Is a little twitchy and have cleaned throttle body + reset. Done about 50/60 miles since and have noticed the slight hesitation, powerloss around the 3-4k rev range, almost like its starving of fuel and then just bucks and clears. Cat is not rattlling or giving of any funny smells, havent checked exhaust for blockages yet but car drives fine except when on an incline or turning. Next suspected coils so put another set in which I also know where working. Again, same as before, revs fine through full rev range apart from the very slight twitch at idle, ran diagnostics again and no errors logged. Suspecting either a wiring issue or an intermittent fuel pump failure or even both. Found the pump but am asking whether it has a separate earth somewhere. I put some Tesco regular unleaded in yesterday as I forgot to fill up by at my local Shell, Tesco fuel usually makes my car run really sluggish but never had anything like this. Will check the exhaust inlet as this was taken off when I had my sub frame fitted in January. Cant hear any blowing at the moment but will check anyway. Exhaust currently has a minor leak after the CAT which has been like that since June and has never really caused any problems but will be fixed in the coming days. Questions: Is there a separate earth for the fuel pump? Am I missing something really obvious? Any help appreciated. Oh and if anyone needs a diag doing around Shropshire, give me a message as laptop is free most weekends.

Thanks Smaky, will be keeping an eye on it & will give you a shout if needed.

Doing my crank sensor today. Give the battery a full charge and will monitor it from there. Forgot the battery was 3 years old so will need replacing at some point soon. Also, did notice this morning when attempting to start again, she struggled twice with the engine management light coming on twice but fired up after 2 attempts. Gave the relays and wiring a good going over on Sunday, cleaned and checked all connections, fuses etc so am now hoping it was/is only a crank sensor issue. Will update again soon.

Sorted it. It was where the flexi join is on the downpipe which is a solid sleeve on mine. Patched it with a bandage repair as it was only a very small crack. Looking in to getting a stainless one made up to sit in line with the rest of the Ragazzon set up.

Afternoon all. Quick question. Does anyone know whether the solid sleeve between the cat and the lambda can be replaced with a flexi sleeve or am I looking for a new front pipe as mine is blowing. Will post a pic up when I find one Thanks in advance. Anil

Thanks Anjenha, my old phase one caught me unexpectidly whilst overtaking at 70mph+ ... Just died on the outside lane with no power steering etc. That was my first scary experience of learning about the crank sensor and its functions. Bit more clued up now with my 12 years of owning an Alfa and still love them despite the surprises they throw at us.

Im having this exact issue now. Wouldnt start / fire one evening after having driven 30/40miles during the day. Went to start it, cranked over but just would not fire. We got it on the back of the recovery truck, got it home, thought Id give it another go and.. boom.. started.. Wierd! Got the car plugged in and no errors were logged and had no problems with it for a couple of months now until this weekend. Check all the usual suspects, fuel cut-off switch, relays, fuses, injectors, fuel feed, plugs etc. Code light goes off, have checked all connections on ignition barrel, all ok. Car turns over but will not fire and am guessing its the crank sensor that has finally given in. Any other tips/advice would be appreciated.

As said above already, a good wire brushing & clean off. A good zinc rich primer or rust convertor on any iffy looking bits followed by a good coating of underseal which has Waxoyl in it. I actually use a product called POR15 I got from Frost's after a friend recommended it. So far Ive used it on my sub frame, suspension parts and of course the floor pan itself. Doesnt look like much in the tin but let me tell ya... its awesome. Goes on easily as its quite thin, sets to a rock hard finish that will not chip/crack o flake etc. Google it. Seriously. its like liquid powder coating.