14 replies to this topic

[THEMELV]

hello people
ive got a 1997 MPI, with twin DTM exhaust and a pipercross filter/induction kit.
my problem is sometimes when i put my foot down on the clutch the engine stalls.
usally when im on my way to college it doesn't do this but does on the way home.
ive also tried putting the clutch down whilst doing 50mph and the engine stalled again.
i brought it about a month ago and aparently the ignition coil unit and engine steady mounts had been replaced.
has anyone got any ideas what this maybe?

[MinipixMatthew]

I'm no expert on the MPi engine, but I doubt it takes into account whether you're going to college or not!! A better indication would be what the difference is between going and coming back. Is it more uphill? Downhill? Faster? Engine warmer? If you could give us an idea of how the return journey might be different, maybe we can help pin down why it cuts out one way and not the other!

When you dip the clutch does the engine slowly die, or is an instant stop as if something is forcibly stopping it? If the clutch is worn then fully depressing the clutch won't completely disengage the engine from the gears, which would put extra load on the engine if you're not giving it some on the go pedal as well - it's like lifting the clutch slightly without bringing the revs up first. Does the engine cut out when you're at a stand-still? In neutral?

[Sprocket]

Sonds like you may have a problem with the Idle Air Control Valve. It may just need cleaning, but it may need replacing.

[THEMELV]

cheers for the feedback
only difference i can possibly think of for there being a difference going too and from college is the car maybe warmer coming back but i travel about 25 miles to and from college so not sure about theat apart from that nothing. when i put my foot down on the clutch the revs just drop, but i have found if i slow the car down in gear untill its judderong about to stall and then put my foot down this can stop it stalling as the engine then speeds back up to normal idle.

Edited by THEMELV, 27 March 2008 - 11:39 PM.

[Sprocket]

Sounds to me the stepper motor needs tuning, some recon there is a method of operating the accelerator pedal to do this, but im not convinced. You need a diagnostic service tool to do this

[coopertrooper2001]

Clean the IACV although in my experience a dirty IACV usually leads to creeping revs (upwards).

Fit a new O-ring when you refit it.

[elvisthepizzaman]

Thats funny, I had the same problem with my 97 mpi it worked fine going to college but coming home it would stall if I shifted or wanted to coast a bit. Only difference was the temperature, mornings were cool and the afternoons were warm. As stated previously, take the IACV out and spray the insides with carb cleaner and then I followed up with a few shots of electrical contact cleaner and the valve began to operate properly.

IACV position is here below the air filter on the left side.

[THEMELV]

right took off the stepper motor gave it and connecor a clean using some electrical contact cleaner then put it back on sunday. today drove to college it seemed to be fine but on returning home it stallled a couple of times. i also realised that my engine is misfiring slightly, but not sure if this is to do with the stalling. also so cheers for the feedback so far

[elvisthepizzaman]

The weather has finally warmed up to 65+ degrees F. and mine has started acting up again. Wish I had an acr4 to datalog the trip to try and catch what is happening (or not happening). It only happens while cruising at constant speed to decelerating when it begins to surge and if you catch it just then by getting out of gear, it will die. When it does die, it does it very quickly as if you had turned the ignition off.
I think its quite curious that it only happens when engine temp is right near the middle line just slightly above normal.

[elvisthepizzaman]

I noticed something today as I tried to get it to stall. Once the motor is warmed up to the point just past the white dot on the temp guage, as soon as the fan kicks on I can get it to stall as long as my foot is off the throttle, but once it stalled the temperature reading dropped back down to cold but the fan stayed running. The temp continued to fluctuate between normal and cold the rest of the trip. I disconnected the plug when I got home and cleaned the contacts on both the temp sender and the connector and tomorrow I will try to get it to stall out. When I do my coolant flush I am going to swap out the sensor for a new one and see if my problem goes away.

[THEMELV]

I noticed something today as I tried to get it to stall. Once the motor is warmed up to the point just past the white dot on the temp guage, as soon as the fan kicks on I can get it to stall as long as my foot is off the throttle, but once it stalled the temperature reading dropped back down to cold but the fan stayed running. The temp continued to fluctuate between normal and cold the rest of the trip. I disconnected the plug when I got home and cleaned the contacts on both the temp sender and the connector and tomorrow I will try to get it to stall out. When I do my coolant flush I am going to swap out the sensor for a new one and see if my problem goes away.

yeah mine does exactly the same when it stalls the temp drops right off and then takes forever to go back up

[Dylan8660]

If I remember correctly the instructions I got from Burlen to reset the stepper were:

Turn the ignition key to position 2

Press the accelerator peddle 5 times

Turn off the ignition and wait a minute

Start engine.

If tick over doesn't settle, repeat.

[elvisthepizzaman]

Its not the stepper motor. that thing is working properly.

After a particularly bad run on the highway with some bad stalling and stuttering, I had an idea. On a hunch, I pulled the plugs out and noticed that the electrode surface was very pitted and not very nice looking. I cleaned them up with some sand paper and regapped them. Driving around today I had no problems whatsoever, so I think it was just an issue with the plugs not firing properly at steady speeds but I dont want to say that it was the problem.

Does that make any sense that there would be a different spark response between acceleration and steady driving?

[Dylan8660]

If you're going to change your plugs try some splitfire v groove ones, they made a fantastic difference in my mpi, I've honestly not been so impressed by something so simple. My mini is smoother, more responsive and as a result become a little bit of a hooligan and my mpg is better. These plugs must be made with witchcraft! plug No SF6C.

[THEMELV]

hi everyone
i replaced my coolant sensor as it thought this may be the problem after reading a couple of things to see if this would help. it hasn't and still stalls