I have an N reg (95) Felicia LX 1.3Ltr SPI 5 door. It's recently developed a weird intermittent dying problem! Just randomly it seems, it will die on me completely, like someone's turned the ignition off. I then have to wait a few minutes til it will start again. When it's running, it sounds, drives and behaves perfectly well. Obviously I've checked all sorts of basic stuff, nothing awry that I can see. As it has the SPI monomotronic ECU controlled fuel supply, I suspect it to be something to do with one of the several sensors. I changed the fuel filter, only took about 3 days! I've looked at all the sensors I can access, checked their connections, jiggled the plugs & wires etc. Still this irksome problem persists! I'm now flat baffled! Does anyone have any ideas as to what it might be?

A car mechanic friend checked it with his diagnostic plug in tool & nothing showed wrong. He suggested changing the crankshaft sensor on the off chance it has a slight fault. New one's are costly, so I checked people breaking Felicia's here & there's a 1.3 MPI being broken. Do you think the crankshaft sensor from that would be correct for mine, given it's a Multi & mine's a Single Point?

Thanks.

Yes the crankshaft sensor is the same so it should work.

Have you checked that the ignition coil is working properly?

RetroRunner

I was wondering on what basis are you prepared to replace the crankshaft sensor? Did you know that a faulty crankshaft sensor stores an error (00515) ? On the other hand, how can a sensor have a 'slight' fault? It's like saying a woman is slightly virgin

 

TeflonTom's assumption makes more sense. The ignition coil is old and has an intermittent failure, most probably from heat (it's summer, right?) You need to replicate as much as possible the conditions of failure. I am thinking at heat, moisture, and vibration, in this order.

 

Start the engine, let it idle and warm up with the bonnet on. After the radiator fan kicks in, open the bonnet and:

Spray some soapy water on the coil.

Tap moderately with an insulated object on the coil.

Heat slightly the coil with a small propane torch. I'm pretty sure the engine will die.

Edited 9 July, 201511 yr by RicardoM

Thanks guys. I haven't checked the ignition coil per se, didn't know how to before Ricardo's tips. Not sure about the blow torch idea, as it's encased in a rubber coat! I have an electric heat gun tho, so I will try with that. The 'partly virgin' sensor scenario is not as bizarre as first seems. I've had problems in the past with fine circuits/wiring that have developed a fracture that only plays up during temperature &/or load extremes. The crankshaft sensor is, I believe, a coil of fine wiring that generates an electrical pulse on the passing of a magnet, so it's at least a possible suspect. I'm now thinking that the coil is perhaps best investigated first though. My only slight doubt,is that it's not obviously linked to temperature. On one occasion, on a rare hot day, it was cutting out, but would start again after a few minutes, then drive well for quite some time. If it is a temperature aggravated fault, I would have expected it to cut out much more frequently on such a hot day. However, I will try Ricardo's tricks for coil checking & see how much a new one of those costs too. Thanks again chaps.

Edited 10 July, 201511 yr by RetroRunner

Not sure about the blow torch idea, as it's encased in a rubber coat! I have an electric heat gun tho, so I will try with that.

I suggested the cheapest solution, but it's good you got the idea and you have a better tool for diagnose.

 

The crankshaft sensor is, I believe, a coil of fine wiring that generates an electrical pulse on the passing of a magnet, so it's at least a possible suspect. I'm now thinking that the coil is perhaps best investigated first though.

Actually the cranhshaft sensor is a Hall-effect sensor which is a semiconductor. But leaving that aside, you could try stressing the sensor the same way as the ignition coil hoping the engine will die and thus have hard evidence.

Edited 10 July, 201510 yr by RicardoM

It could be the fuel pump also. It is worth checking fuel pressure when it is running...