Hi all. I'm new, googled my problem and this forum came up.

I've had my felicia for 11 years now, been brill never once broken down... until yesterday.

The engine keeps cutting out, usually after driving for 10-15 mins. It just stops. Restarts straight away sometimes, other times have to leave it for several minutes. Embarrassing at busy junctions.

The breakdown man thought it might be the crank sensor thingy, he cleaned it but this didn't seem to solve the problem.

Looking on here, it looks like it's worth changing the coolant temperature sensor. But I'm no mechanical person, wondering if someone can tell me what this actually does, and why a faulty one will cause the problem I'm having? Thanks in advance!

The coolant temperature sensor supplies data to the EMS. If the sensor is faulty, it often spoofs the EMS into thinking that the car is cold when it's hot.

Thanks for the reply. Why would this make the engine cut out though? Wouldn't it just adjust to a richer mixture?

(I used to be quite good with cars, always used to fix my old Renault myself, but like I said 11 years without any trouble has made me forget! Didn't have an EMS in those days either).

It can cause poor idling and running so the engine tries to return to idle from running in gear it can't keep itself running due to the lower than normal idle etc so will cut out.

I had the same problem where it could cut out when I dipped the clutch to stop. Replaced the sensor along with a new thermostat and housing and all was well!

Phil

Hmm wonder if this is the problem then.

Idling seems fine, engine cuts out totally randomly, could be in neutral, accelerating, braking... it just seems to stop. No warning.

But it does take 10 minutes or so before this problem appears, and if the car won't restart straight away then leaving it for a few minutes seems to make it better (although briefly). Which does seem to indicate something temperature related. So maybe I'll change the sensor and see what happens.

Thanks for the reply. Why would this make the engine cut out though? Wouldn't it just adjust to a richer mixture?

(I used to be quite good with cars, always used to fix my old Renault myself, but like I said 11 years without any trouble has made me forget! Didn't have an EMS in those days either).

Did you ever try and start a hot engine on full choke, or even feel the engine choking when it got hot on choke? Basically it's the same thing wetting the spark plugs with liquid fuel and putting out the spark.

A good tip I found is that if I unplug the connector from the coolant sensor with the engine warm and running the idle instantly drops and you can hear the engine start to chug. Before I replaced the sensor it didn't do this and made no difference to the way the engine ran.

Don't think the sensor is a lot of money so I would give it a go. It will probably need replacing at some point anyway even if that isn't the problem at the moment.

Phil

Ok thanks for the advice, I'll try that later and see if there's any change.

I can't get to the parts shop until Thursday, I'll post up what happens then.

Just had the same problem with my Felicia 1.3 Glxi 96, and replaced the crank sensor, was Ok for a while but had to replace the ECU in the end. Now is fine.

Edited 1 September, 200916 yr by Suzi-Q
to put in year of manufacture

Well, I got a new coolant temperature sensor but it hasn't made any difference.

I tried disconnecting the connector with the engine running and there didn't seem to be any change in the engine tone at all, both with the new sensor and with the old one. So would this indicate there's something wrong with the ECU? If this is the case... help! Is this something I can change myself, and where do I get one from (I can't see one for sale on jorily)?

Or should I try changing the crank sensor first?

I would try crank sensor next before running to an ECU.

I must stress again. We don't list everything on the website, we just haven't got time to do it. However as it says on the Home page of the Site. "WE CAN SUPPLY ALL PARTS, IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON OUR WEBSITE PLEASE ASK"

Sounds like a candidate for a throttle body clean.

Heya buddy, i had the same sort of problem with my 1.3 97 felicia found out it was the speed sencor once i had the job done by my local garage everything was hunky dory. Hope this helps, put mine on a computer this may help in your case . Cheers Jemma

This sounds promising. I've got a speed sensor on order, should be with me tomorrow. I'll post up what happens.

Slightly aside, I told a friend about the problem, he asked if the engine warning light was on. Well, it's not. But I'm not even sure if the Felicia has one of these. I've never noticed it, but it's possible the bulb's gone and I can't see what warning lights I should have. Can't find my manual either. Do I have a warning light?

Don't think there is a warning light no.

You have to actually look via vag-com to see any problems in the ECU.

Hope it sorts it. A Throttle body clean won't hurt anyway btw.

Phil

Did the throttle body clean and replaced the speed sensor, and it seems to be running fine now. At least, I tested it twice for 30 mins then again for 40 mins and it didn't cut out.

Thanks all!

Mine tended to cut out when stopping if the engine wasn't quite warmed up. It always restarted right away. The only thing I was able to link it to was weather conditions. Temperature seemed irrelevant. Cold and dry - no problem. Cold and damp - problem. Warm and dry - no problem. Warm and damp - problem. Possible solution - move to somewhere like Spain.

Mine has also been cutting out since i brought it. I changed the radiator along with coolant temperature sensor as well but not sorted problem. I think the electrics may have got wet in the process, is there anyway in drying it out? (although this was about 4 weeks ago now, so it should be dry). I have also noticed that the temperatute gauge is a bit dodgy, sometimes it reads normal operating temperature and other times its about 70 degrees. How easy is it to change the speed sensor and do a throttle body clean, is it in the haynes manual??

Cheers

Yep both in the Haynes. Changing the speed sensor is as easy as changing the temperature sensor.

My engine keeps cutting out just like mike's. I used VAG and got engine speed sensor g28 error. Where is this sensor located on the engine? I cannot simply find it. I disconnected all cables one by one and only when I disconnect the crank sensor the engine wont start.. Is this crank sensor the speed sensor aswell?

My engine keeps cutting out just like mike's. I used VAG and got engine speed sensor g28 error. Where is this sensor located on the engine? I cannot simply find it. I disconnected all cables one by one and only when I disconnect the crank sensor the engine wont start.. Is this crank sensor the speed sensor aswell?

I think so.

Yes it's the same thing. Crank sensor = speed sensor.

Thanks, hope it is this thing. I will order one tomorrow at the local garage. The car runs fine for a while and then it just stops. When I was monitoring with VAG it dropped in RPM sometimes. If the enigne runs idle it just stops. Sometimes it stops for 0,1 seconds and then start again immededity..

I've already changed the fuel pump and fuel filter.. Just hopes it doesn't is the ECU thats broken..

i just had this on my favorit it was the crank sensor but it blew the ecu as well i had a spare so i was lucky. i know roadside rescue do second hand ecu for £40