General My new purchase stalls literally every time.. can't even make a 5 miles trip in 2 days

Currently reading:
General My new purchase stalls literally every time.. can't even make a 5 miles trip in 2 days

Sylvester22

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Messages
116
Points
80
Location
Hungary
Hi all, I've just posted my newbie-thread, unfortunately I've mentioned there's been a very odd and big issue, and I'm looking for some opinions please.

Just in nutshell: my Bravo, The Tazmania Devil, according to the previous owner, had no issue like this before. He looked very honest, even told me stuff I'd no chance seeing, had all paperwork, M32 was done as well, car seemed well taken car off.

After buying the Bravo, driving back home 20 minutes on a bumpy road went fine, but then reversing on the driveway, after few seconds the engine slowly died. I thought it has Start-Stop, which hasn't got, so I didn't think much of it, but a bit later it didn't want to start again.
After 30min wait, it started right up.
Talked to the seller, I said let's wait and see.

Then next day, I went to register the car on my name, a few quick engine start-ups went fine, as the station had to checks vin numbers by law, but when all was done, the car didn't start again. After 45 minutes it fired up suddenly, but 2 streets later the engine CUTS OUT during drive! I barely managed to pull off a busy street. Bit of wait and car starts again, I'm very stressed, but thinking it must be something of a small issue, I drove home those few streets.

Next day, on Saturday afternoon I went for a 30min drive, it was really nice, but after reversing to the parking bay, the engine slowly cut again, and didn't want to start.
Hill-start and ASR, ESP lights come on usually, but they dissappeare after few minutes drive.

Sunday I drove to the seller, we checked the car and found the fuel cap broken. I was thinking that may be the issue, the seller felt bad and gave me 4 alloys, which I payed 50% off, I needed them for winter anyway. I didn't want to give up on the car, so I carried on.

Unfortunately I couldn't even driven off, the engine didn't want to start. I waited an hour, still nothing, so left the Bravo there and came home. Thanks mum for the lifts.
Today, I went back and engine fired up right away. Changed the fuel cap too. Then 5 min later, I had to reverse back due road closure, then in 2nd gear, with a sudden jerk, the engine cuts out again. I bought a not-cheap but simple OBD scanner, only one in my area, and the fault code mentioning Turbo Solenoid came up. I deleted as could've been an old code, but the car still didn't start, even after an hour wait. No more fault codes after that either.

2nd time the car has been parked on some street far away from me, as it stalls so often, it can't even make a 5 mile trip back home.

What I've noticed:
-the battery was suspicious, but it's only a few months old and has 13v.
-Half of engine cuts happen shortly after reversing
-No EML light. The occasional ASR and ESP lights go away after 1-2 minutes drive.
-apart from the Turbo Solenoid code, no other codes shown, but it's a cheap scanner. I'm getting Multiecuscan, but order takes over a week.
-Brake light switch has been changed, brake lights don't show when they not supposed to.
-engine temp solid around middle
-no beeping sound, the engine just cuts out like it has Start-Stop.
-Chip tuning is 2.5 years old
-Oil bit dark but been changed 4 months ago.
-After a few hours wait the engine fires up, but cuts out soon enough, then requires many hours of wait again
-During driving sudden jerk and engine dies(2 times) or after reverse parking (8-10 times). These happened in a span of 4 days. For now, my only suspicion is Turbo Solenoid failure, perhaps the turbo over-heats and cuts the engine.

QUESTIONS: I've found the 1.4 t-jet Turbo Solenoid part number, 55203202/70060700, but can't find info on it's location, and how to change it. Any link on that?

With the chip-tuning is around 150hp, so should I look for part for original 120hp verison, or 150hp version?
I've good basis with cars, I'd changed Throttle Bodies, adapted EGR etc, but never had a Turbo car.
I'm going back tomorrow as well, I may even make it back home...
Thanks in advance, any help is appreciated.
 
That's interesting, the issue things like that don't get flagged up unfortunately, so even on engine idle, it'd be 100% ?
It shouldn't be 100%. Actually, the turbo, as shown, is just 5% turned on. The problem is that the pressure value - 1011.17 mbar is as if the turbo would be 100% on. That if you don't have a Performance Turbocharger, where the max. pressure value is double, 2000 mbar and that 1011.17 on screen would probably be correct in that case. But... the turbo on yours is standard, right?! So... as I mentioned above, check for vacuum leak.
 
The recorded pressure is kind of the same as the atmospheric pressure. That means, I'd say, that you probably have a vacuum leak there. You should throughly check for vacuum leak.
I've checked the hoses, I've only found 1 dent but no leaks, on one of the turbo bypass valve. That was on idle, so definitely not good the pressure is literally on max. Yes the turbo is standard.
Could it have been a bad bypass valve, which is always open?
The battery is charging now, so later I'll check the new Bypass valve for codes. Cheers
 
Could it have been a bad bypass valve, which is always open?
The battery is charging now, so later I'll check the new Bypass valve for codes. Cheers
Yes, it could. And it also kind of suits to this particular behavior of working ok while cold and not ok while hot. But that is to be tested, if this was really the cause.
Hope that new valve fixes it!
 
If (knock wood!) the valve was not the culprit, you should check some metallic components for vacuum leak I think, as when getting hot that could get loose.
It's important to put the scanner on and see how's the pressure when engine runs ok.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys, unfortunately I've run out of ideas and things I'm able to check and change.
Even with all I've done for 2 weeks, the engine still stalls and refuses to restart for a hours.

I've given up trying to fix this myself, I've spent a lot of time and money as it is.
I'm arranging a car trailer now, and gonna call the nearest Fiat service tomorrow, it's like 45min drive away.

Thanks for all the advice and infos, I'll update when I find out what's the problem. Cheers
 
Any news sylvester
Hi, Fiat service gave me an appointment in 2 weeks, so that was a no.
A mechanic is recommended as Italian cars specialist, he gave me an appointment a week and a half, he also recognised the car as he'd worked on it before. This week has just gone, so next week Wednesday I'm taking the Bravo, a car trailer has been arranged as well.

I haven't driven the car for so long, it's been parked at my mother's double garage, I almost only remember I actually have it, when I look at my lowered bank account :confused:
I'll update when I find out more, cheers.
 
Last edited:
The Bravo has been picked up today, fingers crossed. I'll update when I know more.
20241210_125343.jpg
 
Hey Mr@Sylvester 22, sorry to hear you re story.
Advice 1: please use the second original key from fiat bravo, you said the guy who sold you the car was a honest man( i doubt that) , hope you have the original second key from fiat. Use only that 2nd key, if the car doesn t start there can be problems with the starter or the ignition system key /holder( i presume) , but please use the 2nd key , instead of the one you used because it has problems.
If you had used the 2nd key to start the car and it didnt start, then talk with the mechanic who fixed the problems from the previous owner, try to question him if he knows the car, tip him, find the truth, go with you re mother, you re wife, you need to fix the Bravo, it s a ok car. Good luck.If it s not from the ignition system then the tuning garbage it s the problem, remove it at a garage. A conclusion for New Buyers: Don t waste money on a car with tuning chips! They are overclocked for nothing!!!!! Also, if you don t fix it, at least go to the Police and tell them what happent, maybe the previous owner is a...fraud. take care, keep us posted!
 
Hey Mr@Sylvester 22, sorry to hear you re story.
Advice 1: please use the second original key from fiat bravo, you said the guy who sold you the car was a honest man( i doubt that) , hope you have the original second key from fiat. Use only that 2nd key, if the car doesn t start there can be problems with the starter or the ignition system key /holder( i presume) , but please use the 2nd key , instead of the one you used because it has problems.
If you had used the 2nd key to start the car and it didnt start, then talk with the mechanic who fixed the problems from the previous owner, try to question him if he knows the car, tip him, find the truth, go with you re mother, you re wife, you need to fix the Bravo, it s a ok car. Good luck.If it s not from the ignition system then the tuning garbage it s the problem, remove it at a garage. A conclusion for New Buyers: Don t waste money on a car with tuning chips! They are overclocked for nothing!!!!! Also, if you don t fix it, at least go to the Police and tell them what happent, maybe the previous owner is a...fraud. take care, keep us posted!
Hi BogdanGeorge, the seller is a police officer, so I hope he's trustworthy, he also been keeping touch and has already reimbursement some of the money I've spent so far. The 2nd key works as it should. The ECU scan revealed CAN issue, either software or cables/connections, the mechanic is looking into the issue. Hopefully I'll know more soon. Cheers
 
UPDATE:
Hi guys and everyone who has commented on my thread I started a month ago. It's been a long 4-5 weeks, but finally looks like the Bravo has been fixed! 🤞

The technician has changed the ECU and it has been programmed as well, which means I've lost the previous chip-tuning extra horsepower, but well, if that means the car is gonna work great now, I'm fine with that.

So far the engine didn't stall at all, and I have driven it for over an hour, usually stalls after 10-15 minutes, of course more testing is required, but looking very promising!

Seems the issue was the ECU, there's some marks around the egdes too, so chances are during the chiptuning it was opened up, which was over 2 years ago, some internal parts had been damaged, and it literally manifested just recently. Goes to show, gotta be careful with modifications, especially the ones involving sensitivity parts.

Cheers for the infos provided throughout this thread, it maybe useful in the future for others too.

Have a good Xmas to everyone!
 
Nice to see that you have a happy Bravo! Avoid with all cost s a Chipp-endale Fiat or other car!!!! Merry Christmas and happy Holiday s! Take care! So everybody guessed it was the chip! Buhuhu!!!!
 
Back
Top