Help! Engine cuts out at Idle

[JD]

A little bit of a story to this one, but bare with me, please........

Cigarette lighter never worked so the other day I connected it up - it seemed to work OK utill I tried to charge my Phone through it - The phone said "not charging -Stop" - I thought I might have put the wires to the sig lighter the wrong way around so i swaped them around - and when I plugged back in the phone to charge it I blew a fuse - the fuse that blew was in the engine bay - as you're looking at it it's the third fuse up on the left hand side.

I drove home (from Waterford) no problem. Got home and replaced the broken fuse. From then on in the car cuts out when in idle. No other problems - starts, drives, no fuse blowing just wont stop cutting out when in Idle (cuts out every time). Here's a strange thing - If I put the air-Con on it doesnt cut out - I'm guessing that's becuse the air con increases the idle speed and keeps it going.
Anyway I'm really stuck so any help or ideas would be much appreciated.

Cheers
JD

[kevinod]

Sounds very strange, most problems with idle seem to be the stepper motor. If you disconnect the cigarette lighter again does it work ok? Maybe thats why the previous owner left it disconnected...

Does the phone charger work ok in other cars?

According to the owners manual I have (pdf) the cigarette lighter is in the INTERIOR fuse box, in the 3rd slot down from the left top corner, a 15A fuse. For the engine bay fuse box the 3rd slot up from the left is blank. Bottom left is 20A MPI, next is 20A Lamp, and the next fuse listed is the 4th slot up, a 30A radiator fuse.

If the fuse that is being blown is in the engine bay I'm thinking that there's either something crosswired or someones been doing some creative electronics in the car at some stage, especially when that slot is blank in my diagram.

Any unusual extras in the car?
Kev.

[JD]

Cheers for the reply Kev.

If you disconnect the cigarette lighter again does it work ok?

I've disconnected and isolated the wires that I had connected to the cig lighter - no improvement thought.

Does the phone charger work ok in other cars?

Yeah it works fine on my wifes car.

According to the owners manual I have (pdf) the cigarette lighter is in the INTERIOR fuse box, in the 3rd slot down from the left top corner

Yeah, same here - and that fuse is OK

For the engine bay fuse box the 3rd slot up from the left is blank. Bottom left is 20A MPI, next is 20A Lamp, and the next fuse listed is the 4th slot up, a 30A radiator fuse

My manual shows the fuse that blew as the air con fuse - it's the fuse box in on the right hand side of the engine bay - (I think there are two fuse boxes - you might be refering at the other one).

Any unusual extras in the car?

No, no unusual extras - there was a fog light put in before I got it, that's about it. I've had it a year and a half now with no problems, I think I must have pulled a wire or something when i was wiring up the cig lighter.

I think you're right and something is crosswired - I'll have to get it to an auto electricain this week - I'm just up to my ti&s in work and can't take any time off this week

[JD]

Spoke to an auto electrician on the phone and he said it's probable an ECUB fuse blown, he said it could be an ECUA, ECUB or ECUF fuse blown, to check them out and come back to him.

I can't find these on the fuse layouts I have - Anyone any idea where these are situated, and are they a specialist item, or would they be generic) ?

Cheers
JD

[CJ]

Not sure exactly whats he's referring to JD, but check all of the fuses if you han't done so already. Definetely sounds like a dodgy stepper motor mind you, take it off and give it a clean to see if theres any improvement.

CJ

[steelroe]

agree with CJ, without doubt the stepper motor is the problem. Me thinks it is just a coincidence that it happened at the same time as the cig lighter problem. Take it out and clean, there is a test procedure in the manuals and on the FTOOC site

[JD]

OK - cleaned the stepper motor and that made a huge difference. Doesn't stall at all during normal driving - got it good and hot and stop started tonns of times no problem, but it DOES stall if I coast to a stop!!!!! so if I slip it out of gear as I'm stopping (eg. 5mph) she stalls. If I stop in gear (tip) and take it out of gear when stopped - no problem.

Is that a bad sign for the stepper motor? and if it is do you think I need a new one.

As a matter of interest I found a place in Australia ( http://www.nardek.com.au/isc.htm ) that sell new OE MITSUBISHI IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTORS for AU$195.00 including worldwide airmail shipping (that's only about €120). I've asked how long it will take to ship to Ireland - I'll let you know when they get back to me.

JD

[steelroe]

Would say the ISC (stepper motor) is sticking have a look on ebay usually one for sale on there and also bear in mind the Hyundai Sonata has the same unit fitted. Enssure you buy the correct one as there are several models.

[pergau]

Correct me if I'm wrong here but isn't is bad to coast in an automatic car. Obviously it's bad if you coast and then try to put her back into gear whilst still moving but I thought that you should never coast at all in an auto.

[Myfeckin FTO]

As a matter of interest I found a place in Australia ( http://www.nardek.com.au/isc.htm ) that sell new OE MITSUBISHI IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTORS for AU$195.00 including worldwide airmail shipping (that's only about €120). I've asked how long it will take to ship to Ireland - I'll let you know when they get back to me.JD

Camkill are also selling these for €142 for a brand new stepper motor - not bad value when you consider the Mitsi dealer price -

See here - http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m3b0s9p362

[chuck]

Had a bit of idle trouble a while back car would start and run then when i indecated car cut out then take a minute or so to start again did all the usual clean stepper reset ecu even bought new battery, after that no difference, so checked immobliser and found two wires were burned out, the extra voltage of the indecators seemed to affect it and stall engine, cut out wires and replaced. Car has been going well ever since even better i think... just a thought

[JD]

Thanks a million guys for all the info. I've been driving her now since I cleaned the stepper motor and she hasn't cut out once, so I guess that was the problem.

Back in the land of FTO.........and at no cost - thanks to fto-ireland. Well done to all concerned, this is an invaluable resource.

Cheres and happy Easter to everyone.
JD.