Engine cut out and slight fuel smell
Discussion
I'm hoping you guys might be able to help before I take my wife's MX5 (mk2 1.6) into a garage and give them the difficult task of solving a problem which has gone away and they may not be able to recreate.
I wasn't with her at the time but the engine cut out on the M3 in heavy traffic over the weekend. Apparently the traffic was stop start for a long time so the temperature got very high. There's still plenty of coolant and the fans kick in and bring the temperature down. Apparently the engine juddered as if it ran out of fuel (she's done that a couple of times before!) and then cut out, but there's plenty of fuel left. The engine would turn over but not start, but 10 minutes later it started. She also says there was a slight fuel smell.
Later that day I took it out and left it running in the heat, but it was fine.
So, anything I can check? Any suggestions gratefully received.
Ollie
I wasn't with her at the time but the engine cut out on the M3 in heavy traffic over the weekend. Apparently the traffic was stop start for a long time so the temperature got very high. There's still plenty of coolant and the fans kick in and bring the temperature down. Apparently the engine juddered as if it ran out of fuel (she's done that a couple of times before!) and then cut out, but there's plenty of fuel left. The engine would turn over but not start, but 10 minutes later it started. She also says there was a slight fuel smell.
Later that day I took it out and left it running in the heat, but it was fine.
So, anything I can check? Any suggestions gratefully received.
Ollie
Sounds electrical? The smell of fuel would I guess simply be a result of turning the engine over repeatedly. Does the car run smoothly or can it be a bit rough/odd idle/not picking-up cleanly when you accelerate? HT leads tend to be weak points and are not expensive to replace. Coilpacks can also go but these are expensive.
Do you know how to check the car for fault codes?
I am not a mechanic btw so I'd def' get someone to look at it before replacing parts on the strength of a post on PH
Do you know how to check the car for fault codes?
I am not a mechanic btw so I'd def' get someone to look at it before replacing parts on the strength of a post on PH
Edited by bluetone on Monday 26th July 14:14
bluetone said:
Sounds electrical? The smell of fuel would I guess simply be a result of turning the engine over repeatedly. Does the car run smoothly or can it be a bit rough/odd idle/not picking-up cleanly when you accelerate? HT leads tend to be weak points and are not expensive to replace. Coilpacks can also go but these are expensive.
Do you know how to check the car for fault codes?
I am not a mechanic btw so I'd def' get someone to look at it before replacing parts on the strength of a post on PH
Apparently there was a smell of fuel earlier in the journey. Do you know how to check the car for fault codes?
I am not a mechanic btw so I'd def' get someone to look at it before replacing parts on the strength of a post on PH
Edited by bluetone on Monday 26th July 14:14
Yes it runs smoothly and accelerates as usual.
No i don't know how to check for fault codes - can you please explain how?
Battlecat said:
bluetone said:
Sounds electrical? The smell of fuel would I guess simply be a result of turning the engine over repeatedly. Does the car run smoothly or can it be a bit rough/odd idle/not picking-up cleanly when you accelerate? HT leads tend to be weak points and are not expensive to replace. Coilpacks can also go but these are expensive.
Do you know how to check the car for fault codes?
I am not a mechanic btw so I'd def' get someone to look at it before replacing parts on the strength of a post on PH
Apparently there was a smell of fuel earlier in the journey. Do you know how to check the car for fault codes?
I am not a mechanic btw so I'd def' get someone to look at it before replacing parts on the strength of a post on PH
Edited by bluetone on Monday 26th July 14:14
Yes it runs smoothly and accelerates as usual.
No i don't know how to check for fault codes - can you please explain how?
Have you checked for fuel leaks under the car - stick your head under there after a run and see if you can smell petrol and/or see any drips on the drive. If you have a leak = fuel starvation could cause a stall of course - it would have to be a pretty substantial leak though..
Green Temperature Sensor on the back of the block underneath the coil pack.
Will cause bad running, overfuelling (causing the stalling) and general lack of performance and idling issues, before finally giving up the ghost and stalling all the time.
£30 and 20 minutes work with a 17mm spanner and jobs a good-un.
Do the sparks and HT leads at the same time, and the car will be transformed.
Will cause bad running, overfuelling (causing the stalling) and general lack of performance and idling issues, before finally giving up the ghost and stalling all the time.
£30 and 20 minutes work with a 17mm spanner and jobs a good-un.
Do the sparks and HT leads at the same time, and the car will be transformed.
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff