Alfa Romeo 156 cut out and won't start!

football365

I know it was a risk in doing this but I paid for an Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 litre spark at an auction. It's in cracking condition and when I picked it up it started straight away and sounded great. I drove it out and then a mile down the road as I slowed down in traffic it cut out. When trying to restart the car it fails. So we pulled it to one side of the road and repeatedly attempted to start it. The guy I was with in the car said the engine looked great and is probably the battery. It doesn't sound like a battery problem. It sounds as though it's almost going to start but doesn't kick in. There's no straining sound where you would find with a dead battery. I've had to leave it in its current location but I'll tow it to mine tomorrow.

Does this sound familiar with anyone? Could it be the crank sensor? If it's no good then no problem I'll get money back from it...

Bodhan

Ahhhh Alfa, motoring life would be boring without them.

Anyway, could be the starter motor if it has been lying up for awhile, but that wouldn't explain the cutting out at the traffic lights.

great car to drive, I hope you get it going.

beam99

Most of the fiat's alfa's have a fuel cut off switch, have a look under the bonnet its most likely red in color, possible mounted on the bulkhead, it may also be under the pass side fr seat. black box with a rubber button

alias no.9

Is there petrol in it?

mickdw

alias no.9 wrote: »

Is there petrol in it?

Good point actually. An alfa I had would run out within a few miles of the light coming on.

Nonoperational

If it's the crank sensor then it will start when its cold. Try starting it in the morning. It'd put a nice wager on it being the crank sensor myself. They are generally good engines Just please please check the oil weekly and top up with 10w40 semi synthetic if needed. Also timing belt kits are needed at 36k or 3 years whichever first. They do fail.

pcardin

Yes. It is sensor. Had this problem with my 166. Your car will start again when cold. Little black box. Doesn't cost much and easy to replace.

Guy:Incognito

It could well be the battery . See can you borrow a working one and try it. At least it will be one thing checked off the list at no cost.

I've had a couple of old batteries over last winter in 2 different cars go like that.

football365

We thought it was the petrol so we nipped to the petrol station to get a little bit of petrol.. Most of it went on the floor due to the sealed tank but enough went in the tank to surely start the motor but it still failed. The stick shows that it has an almost full tank of petrol. It flashes yellow for a bit however when I try to restart it.
It's a really nice looking car so I would love to get this started. It worked beautifully when I first started it up at the auctions! It worked the night before too as they drove it through the building to show the bidders for about 5 mins. I got a few revs out of it to test the speed. I think it could be just when it starts to get warm or something that it cuts off. I don't know too much about it as I've only just got it but I can describe what happened... I couldn't get it started back up again. Perhaps tomorrow I can until it gets hot.

analfabets

Did you check the fuses? Could be fuel supply gone. Does the fuel pump kick in when you turn on the ignition? You should hear it for a second. I'm not familiar with Alfas but most cars have a little relief valve. Might be covered vith little valve cap similar to those on the cars vheels. Try to press on the valve. There should be fuel under pressure (be carefull)

Nonoperational

I'd try starting it this morning before I do anything else. If it doesnt then try all the other suggestions.

DemoniK

I'd go with crank sensor for the start up problem - the cutting out may be related, may not...
Might be worth posting over in alfaowner.com and see if someone might have a look over the car for you or at least help you diagnose the problem.
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/republic-of-ireland/

Barname

sounds like the sensor, it happened to mine last year and symptoms were similar.

(110,000 miles and counting 2.0)

cjt156

beam99 wrote: »

Most of the fiat's alfa's have a fuel cut off switch, have a look under the bonnet its most likely red in color, possible mounted on the bulkhead, it may also be under the pass side fr seat. black box with a rubber button

Fuel cut off is under the passenger seat in the 156 - worth checking though its unlikely to cut out while driving. Crank sensor seems like the culprit.

football365

Thanks for the replies. I'll take note and I'll even advise the guy at the garage to check the sensor out. It's only done 78,000 miles which isn't too bad. Just got to get the bugger towed...!

Nonoperational

So it didn't start this morning? Did you have a peek and see is the timing belt ok?

football365

I picked it up yesterday afternoon from where I dropped it off and DROVE it onto a towing truck. Yes it did start but as soon as it warmed up it conked out AGAIN. It's now in the garage and they've hooked it up to the computer so we'll see. So it definitely has the symptoms of a bust crank sensor. It starts when it's cold but cuts off when it warms up.

Nonoperational

Did you get this sorted?

football365

gpf101 wrote: »

Did you get this sorted?

Yeah mate cheers. I had a new crank shaft sensor installed aswell as 2 new relays. It all cost me £110 which is incredibly cheap considering it got passed from a mechanical garage to an electronic garage.
It runs like a dream now... TOUCH WOOD!

Nonoperational

Great stuff.