Beloved Terios 1.3EL 2001 letting me down for first time!

Submitted by Cluelessinfrance on

Forum: 

Last week she wouldn't start and now when she does start idle speed is low....rising after driving for half an hour(furthest Ive dared go since the scare last week)
As name suggests Im not technically minded and dont really want to take "Wee Beastie" to the horrendously expensive dealership here in France so wondered if anyone had similar experience and how to make her better....also where best to mail order any parts needed.
Many thanks in anticipation

Air filter.

Submitted by Mace on

Has it been serviced? Wink
I know the French expect their car to run at maximum speed, fully loaded to the roof and towing a tiny overloaded trailer, until the engine explodes. Have you replaced the air filter lately?

Might also be worth cleaning the distributor cap and rotor arm - this assumes the French are able to recognise a few engine components which often get scattered from exploding engines upon French motorways. Biggrin

PS .... yes I have seen French mechanic using a sledge hammer on a customer's engine. Shok

Yes she had one of very few

Submitted by Cluelessinfrance on

Smile Yes she had one of very few services last October....in Scotland. A friend with more knowhow than me checked the airfilter when it wouldn't start last week and there was a puddle(condensation?) in there! Dried it out and he checked for any loose bits he thought might be connected with fuel....one of above perhaps helped her to start? Now the fast idling has kicked in though. Weather here has been very hot and dusty with a few heavy downpours thrown in so dont know if that will have any bearing?
PS Are you trying to tell me the French have got it wrong? Here I was boasting about running my Wee Beastie on total neglect with no problems....or is that blonde and senior moments colliding? Wink

as a further to this...could

Submitted by francophile69 on

as a further to this...could anyone please let on the secret as to where the diagnostic port is hidden.

Also what make of ECU is fitted and what software people use to interrogate it..

a quick perusal of the forum would tend to point at the ignition module as being a first point of call..(similar symptoms to a failing crank position sensor)..

would the full technical term be a "coil ignition module"...

After 10 years of driving Alfas and then sticking my head under the bonnet of a Terios....my conclusion is.....Alfa drivers haven't got it that bad after all!

thanks in advance and apologies for all the questions..