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GTV 2.0 T Spark 1999, will not idle.

11K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  Erik 
#1 ·
Hi,
Does anyone have any ideas regarding a problem with the idle on my T.Spark GTV. It will start from cold ok with no problems and choke until the temp rises and will settle down to its normal idle revs.However,when it has been driven and warmed up,at times you go back to the car to start it and it will fire up and then die unless you keep the throttle down slightly to keep it from stalling,restarts still produce the same problem and therfore does become very hard to drive as its not easy to keep the revs up.It has been back for this problem and the garage found that a lambda sensor fault appeared,so this was changed but the problem came back again,so the next visit had another sensor replaced with the air flow meter. All was well for for approx 500miles and lo and behold the other day it tried this trick again.It does not happen every time it is hot but when it feels like it.Has anyone had similar problems with their GTV or T.Spark engine.
 
#2 ·
Same problem but not with an Alfa. It was the fuel pressure regulator/secondary fuel pump on the fuel rail. Most fuel systems now have a primary pump in the gas tank and a secondary booster pump tied in with a regulator on or near the fuel rail. yours and my problem sounds identical. We had to plumb in a manual pressure gauge and monitor it till it ocurred. Joe
 
#5 ·
GTV will not idle

Hi Carswaps,
Many thanks for extra advice, is going in again this Friday,will stress to technician that they should recheck air flow meter, hope this will sort this niggle out for once and for all,will let you know.Thanks again.Vaughan.
 
#6 ·
Idle problem on GTV 2.0 T Spark.

Hi All,
Just to let anyone else know with the same problem,turned out to be idle speed actuator. This car spent a lot of time at the main dealer who should know these problems(under warranty thank goodness) The stepper motor kept sticking this caused bad starting or failure to idle. I must say though I will not return to any main dealer for work to be done on my Alpha as this incident has not given me any confidence in to trusting they know what they are talking about.It actually took a chat with another independent specialist who after I told him that the airflow meter and lambda sensor had been replaced and rechecked put his finger on the problem,however the main dealer did not want to listen to my ramblings and decided to pull the whole system apart to only come up with the same conclusion.Again many thanks for all your suggestions.
Vaughan. ps car running as it should now,a pleasure to drive.
 
#7 ·
GTV 2.0 T-Spark wont idle

Hi

My GTV after running fine decided this afternoon to start and then stall imediatly... i tried again and she wont start unless i give her some gass.. then she starts but the rpm needle wont stop jumping and the car feels erratic... it drives but wont idle... any ideas... has anyone had the same?
O
 
#8 ·
Failure to idle on GTV 2.0 T Spark.

Hi Omar,
Yes as you can see I have had my fair share of what sounds like the same problem with my late 99 model 2.0 T Spark GTV. I had 3 items replaced eventually,those being the lamda sensor,air flow sensor and finally the idle speed actuator on the throttle box. I wish I could say this has cured all my problems, but it has not.Like yours mine is again starting with a rough idle as you say wobbling about from 200 revs to 1200 roughly,and has also failed to idel at all unless i keep my foot on the throttle. You could try any of these items and you might solve the problem.However, I have spoken to a local Bosch expert who is willing to look at it for me to try and solve this problem,he stated that the main dealers only go on what the computer tells them and in my case it keeps coming up with no faults found.If you find the solution could you let me know through a new thread and if I get the definative fix via my expert I will place a thread to help youself and any others with this mysterious problem. This is a great shame as the cars design is still I believe one of the best Italian sports cars and when running right is a joy to drive.Good luck, I will keep you posted with any news.Advice,steer clear of Alpha Main dealers try to find an alpha expert near you or a Bosch expert.
Good luck.
Vaughan.
 
#9 ·
My 99 GTV 2.0 t Spark has the same problem and it is getting progressively worse. I have noticed that disengaging the A/C on the climate control stops the erratic idle at start-up. There has to be a component failure either a monitoring component or a functioning component in the system, spark plugs, leads, fuel pump etc.

Think a/c puts load on the engine- engine revs fall - component calls for more fuel etc engine does not respond fast enough so over compensates- then corrects the overcompensation… vroom vroom vroom

I have only owned my GTV for around 6 weeks however the history show that the problem was dealt with previously by an annual service and cleaning of the airflow sensor.
 
#10 ·
we think its sorted

right my super mechanic who is a die hard alfitsi who eats cloverleaves and drinks selenia said after checking my car on the diagnostic...that the only sensor that does not register on the fault machine is the tempreture sensor... this displays an erratic reading but not a fauly... if your cars fan kicks in when you start it when its cold then switches its self off then its that. what this sensor does is takes a reading when the car starts... it should read 0-25 digrees as the car is cold... if it is faulty it reads that the car is running hot and thus sends wrong data to the ecu and thus the ecu attempts to adjust...this sensor is £20 ish (not from those robbing swines at alfa) + labour.... i bet its the only thing the alfa guys dont check!
see how you get on...for £20 its worth changing... also make sure that the plugs are good... as T-Sparks have 8 of them he said that it is not uncommon that one goes on the fritz.
 
#11 ·
gtv will not idle reply to omar/only me silly

Thanks to both omar and only silly me, both answers make sense and could be down to this sensor as the a/c could encourage the fault.The temp sensor has not been checked on mine either and will replace it for a new one and will let you know if this cures it,until I can doe this will switch a/c off before I start to see if this helps and although my 99 car has only done 33k will check plugs.Many thanks guys for advice,glad we can chat on this forum as Alpha main agents cant come up with the goods Agree that prices are well over the top for the service you seem to get.Keep us posted.
Thanks,
Vaughan.
 
#13 ·
It could be a dirty air flew meter or faulty lambda probe - or any number of faults.
Go to a reputed repair shop like an Alfa dealer or specialist. They have equipment and programs to interact with the engine management systems. Saves lots of time, $$$ and frustrations.
Erik
 
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