HEEELP! Saxo dying

1. bluefloydy Newbie Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 6

   #1 23rd October 2008, 15:47

   Hi All,
   
   After failing MOT with high emissions, bought a throttle body from ebay (I know, when will I learn), which was fitted and ran like a bag of spanners so swapped my old one back on. The old one ran fine, a bit rich but ok, prior to the replacement being fitted, now however, the car runs really badly when cold. Smoking, stalling and drinking petrol like Kerry Katona before a TV appearance.
   
   Changed the Coolant temp sensor, the idle control valve goes in and out OK, Carb is clean, air filter is clean and pipes securely fitted, ermm anything else please ask. Also had a new back box fitted at the same time if this is of any consequence.
   
   Really at a loss. The car's a 1.1x 1997, battered bruised and on it's way out if I can't get this sorted!
   
   Cheers
   Lloydy
2. frankie Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2006 Frome, down deepest, darkest zummerset Posts: 12971 VTRallye

   #2 23rd October 2008, 15:48

   timing could be out
   
   coilpack/HT leads
3. bluefloydy Newbie Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 6

   #3 23rd October 2008, 16:45

   Checked leads and coil pack for arching last night, none visible. It sounds like timing is out when cold, but when warm runs fine. Unfortunately my journey to work is only 20mins so by the time I've got there the car's only been warm for 5 minutes!
   
   The stalling generally comes from overfueling after revving and then letting off the throttle completely. It stinks of petrol, got around 80 miles from £20. If I was getting Porshe like performance it would worry me too much, but most of it is 20mph!
4. Caesar9 Newbie Joined: Jul 2007 Nottingham Posts: 16 1998 Citroen Saxo Vtr

   #4 23rd October 2008, 17:46

   Have you tried checking the Lambda sensor(s) are working ok?
5. bluefloydy Newbie Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 6

   #5 23rd October 2008, 19:39

   I changed the Lambda sensor last year so I'm guessing it should be OK. I haven't tested it however, how would you do that?
   
   My brother in-law has found a cannister in the driver's side wing and wonders whether this may be at fault. What does it do?
6. Caesar9 Newbie Joined: Jul 2007 Nottingham Posts: 16 1998 Citroen Saxo Vtr

   #6 23rd October 2008, 23:01

   Try http://www.buzzle.com/articles/oxyge...r-testing.html for the Lambda sensor testing, although you'll need a voltmeter.
7. bluefloydy Newbie Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 6

   #7 24th October 2008, 08:28

   Cheers will test lambda tonight.
   
   Amendment to my post above: It's not the cannister but a purge valve in the driver's wing which he thinks isn't working properly. Apparently it's supposed to open when the engine's warm but mine stays closed. Plenty of vacuum in the system when the pipes are removed.
8. bluefloydy Newbie Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 6

   #8 26th October 2008, 19:46

   As this post will probably be found on google - Car sorted.
   
   New spark plugs & clean lambda sensor. Can't say which solved it but I think it was a combination of bad spark and bad reading from the lambda sensor.
9. Tsaxovtr Established Member Joined: Apr 2008 BasingJoke Posts: 1058 x3 saxo's and a 306

   #9 26th October 2008, 23:03

   timing could be out
   
   coilpack or HT leads