It won't start :(

[AJLintern]

Ok chaps - now I was expecting a few teething troubles with my bargain Alfa and I've got my first ones less than a week into owning it!
The car has started first time everytime until a few days ago when it was very cold - turned the key, started turning the engine but it wouldn't fire. Tried a few times but the battery was starting to get low so I left it. Tried it again in the evening, still nothing, so recharged the battery but still wouldn't fire. It's been a couple of days now - checked the cambelt (just incase!) and it's still intact. Any ideas? I know my 944 has a relay that can cause a similar problem if it fails - is there something like this on the Alfa?
Just when I was starting to have some fun too!

[number 46]

Might be the safety cut out switch, on my 2.5 v6 156 it is under the passenger seat, the switch may need to be reset, it can be accidently turned off when vacuming the interior etc. Most alfas/fiats have them somewhere.

[interloper]

Any progress AJ? Have you checked that you are getting a spark, are all the connections to the coil sound (had a low tension wire going to the coil on a one of my minis snap, had the same efect starting wise and that took a while to spot).

Checked all the fuses ?

[AJLintern]

I've not had a chance to look at the car this weekend. First thing I'll do is check for a spark - when I can find a plug socket and extension

[Maycott]

Only the later Alfas and Fiats had the safety cut out, I think the 155 was the first to be blessed with it

These engines are quite sensitive to timing and the condition of the ignition system. That would be my first port of call. After the obvious checks for spark and fuel obviously

Hope its nothing serious, if its any help these engines are very robust, its usually niggly faults

Good Luck

[Maycott]

Any progress AJ?

Hoping you've been too busy enjoying the car to make any posts!!

[silverback mike]

Ignition transistor? Had one of those on my old 33 cloverleaf......Might be worth checking it out...
Same symptoms.

[AJLintern]

Thanks for the replies
Not had much luck actually I've been replacing the plugs today. The old ones were the wrong type and the gap looked too big, so if it flooded would probably not fire. Got 5 in and left the tricky one at the back under the brake master cylinder until last. Put the plug socket down the hole and couldn't get it on the plug. Tried to get the socket out and it's stuck! Was quite a close fit but it went in fine. I'll take the rocker cover off tomorrow - not sure if it'll help though

[kinky]

I've had the same problem on my 146.

It all started off on Sunday morning .... started up ok, reversed out of the drive, put it into 1st and it stalled - and would not restart at all.

Gave it a quick check over - all looked ok - but still no go.

Came back later - started ok. Took it for a quick 20 min to get it charged back up ... approached a junction about a mile away, slowed down, then it stalled again.

Got it going eventually - got home. Another check over - all ok. Tried to start it again. and basically all the same over again - down the road and died a death - started up again.

Got fed up so called out the AA - he drew a blank - but one very peculiar thing he noticed. It started ok when the bonnet was up - but when the bonnet was down it would not !

Anyhow - we left it - it started perfectly on Monday and has been fine ever since !

Perhaps it was out on the beers on Saturday night?

It tries to start up ok - but just won't catch - like the immobiliser has kicked in. Getting SGT to service it soon.

>> Edited by kinky on Wednesday 28th April 22:24

[provam]

My 75 from years ago kept blowing fuel pump fuses, sounds simple but u never know.

Its always worth checking general condition of the relays at times like this as well.

Good luck

[AJLintern]

I found out that if you move the airflow meter with ignition turned on, you can hear the relay clicking and the fuel pump start up. I can also smell fuel at the exhaust pipe - I think it's probably getting too much and flooding it
Anyway I charged it up again today, so tomorrow I'll have another look, if it's not raining

[AJLintern]

Well I was looking at this Bosch relay block today - I'd been told by someone on the Alfa 75 mailing list that it had cause a similar problem with their car...
Tonight I just unplugged one of the two multiconnectors on the block and tried to start it - it ran for about 5 seconds! I then plugged it back in again and it started fine!
So I suppose it's just one of those things - something as simple as a random loose connection
Anyway - looks like it was a bargain all along

[Kinky]

As a follow-up to my own problem (above) ....

The same thing happened again, AA drew a blank but towed it to Baldocks in Bracknell.

They traced it to a corroded immobiliser wire.

Fortunately they found it first and not after hours/days of searching.

Running fine ever since. So fingers crossed.

K