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lovenoodles
07-06-2014, 11:44 PM
Hi, suggestions on what could be wrong / how to fix would be greatly appreciated. Car is a Euro 2006 Auto (mileage 95k km). Today's events,

10 AM - First cold start. All normal all good. 5mins into the trip, when turning at an intersection (i.e. slowed down, on low rev), the car abruptly came to a complete stop. The engine had stopped. Restarted the engine - car did start OK, no warning lights observed on LCD.

11 AM - Took car out. 15min into the trip, again at an intersection (so again low rev), car (engine) came to complete stop. Started engine back up with success, again no warning lights, car not limping.

12 PM - spoke to mechanic and suspect alternator fault. Changed to brand new alternator. Went for a drive. 10 mins into trip, again at intersection with low rev, car engine came to complete stop. Mechanic advised battery looked ok, but did advise idle for 1hr to charge, which I did.

1 PM - 10 mins into drive, same abrupt stop on low rev. On restart attempt, car shaked and couldn't start. Re-tried, car started ok. Another 10 mins drive later, same low rev abrupt engine stop. On restart, "check oil" light flicked on LCD. On subsequent restart, the "check engine" light came on the LCD. Since then, the "check engine" light has remained on the LCD, regardless of how many times i start the car.

I'm confused as to if alternator is at fault. I'm guessing it wasn't, and the problem is somewhere else - but what ? So far the consistent symptom is "car (engine) comes to complete stop when lowering rev". I did let the engine idle for 1hr to charge battery, during this entire 1hr engine didnt stop.

Now the "check engine" light is always on the LCD. My next step is obviously to get the mechanic to read the error code....

Also worth mentioning, the last thing i did yesterday was put full tank of 98 octane Shell petrol (paranoid bad petrol??).

Confused. Any thoughts ?

ChaosMaster
08-06-2014, 04:00 PM
I doubt it's bad fuel, but one easy way to check is to pull a spark plug out and look at it. If it's white, then there's been water in your fuel tank. Still though, I doubt it would be that. When talking about low revs, how low do you mean? Sub 1000rpm? It's an Auto though, so I doubt it'ld stall because of that.

Jasemas
08-06-2014, 11:08 PM
Get the check engine light code first
and see where you go from there

tknova
09-06-2014, 08:45 AM
Could be many things, but even though there is no CEL, there could still be a code to pull form the ECU, Have you completed a diagnostic yet?

Fredoops
09-06-2014, 01:49 PM
could even be alternator/grounds, not enough voltage in the system can cause that too, pull the code and start from there.

BigBen
09-06-2014, 09:08 PM
Get a multimeter and check the voltage across the battery with the engine on, should be between 13.5v - 14.5v. Turn on the headlights and see if the charging voltage drops below 13.5v. you might just have a loose or worn alternator belt. Check the grounding points as Fred stated.

lovenoodles
10-06-2014, 06:20 PM
Scanner on the engine light suggested the throttle body was faulting. What's the 2nd hand or brand new cost to replace this ?

Fredoops
10-06-2014, 10:57 PM
Sounds like TPS sensor or APP sensor

lovenoodles
14-06-2014, 04:05 PM
Scanner error was "Throttle Actuator System Malfunction".

Mechanic agreed would be TPS. He replaced the entire throttle body with a 2nd hand one (I was told the sensor was inside the black box on the throttle body, and we had to change the entire throttle body).

Car drove fine for 2 days, but then the Engine + VSA lights came back on ! Just before the lights came on, I noticed the car shake and the idle RPM was 400rpm, which is well below the 700-800rpm it normally should be.

Another 2nd hand throttle body was put on. Drove for 5 mins, same Engine + VSA lights happened. Scanner says the same error.

Very confused. Am I just bad luck ? Is there something missed ? Is calibration required when replacing the throttle body ? Or maybe I should just get a brand new throttle body (they cost 1.2k apparently) installed ?

Advice greatly appreciated...

Fredoops
14-06-2014, 04:36 PM
CHECK. VOLTAGES.

that sounds like theres not enough electrical charge to keep the throttle open.

PS.... you got your old throttlebody still?, a TPS can be brought on ebay for 25 bucks, just have to calibrate it.

also, it could be the APP sensor as well not reading the correct pedal.