Engine Cutting Out !! HELP PLEASE

[FTO_SUPREME]

Hi I have a 1995 GR with 60000 miles which has been running great for the past year. However since the really bad cold spell something has killed my FTO. Basically the engine cuts out when it comes to a stationary position e.g Traffic lights. It then stays dead not giving me the chance to get out of there so i've had to push the thing quite a bit!!!!!!!! I took it to the local mechanic in Holywood Co. Down who recently replaced the starter motor 4 months back no problem. He was at a loss as to what was wrong so he recommended a local electric mechanic in Belfast which is called Greenaways. I mentioned to him about FTO's having problems with their alternators, stepper motors and having bad batteries. He's told me the stepper motor is fine as is the alternator. He has given me a much bigger battery and secured it but it hasn't helped and took he has now taken the alarm system out and back in as that didn't work either. Now he wants me to come and take it away as a lost cause and I'm at a total loss as to how to get it fixed other than maybe take it to Mitsubishi Donnelly Bros who might spit at me for owning an FTO. Does anyone out there please have any advice on where I could maybe take the car to get it fixed? I still think it's the stepper motor for some reason even though they told me it was fine but either way I have to get the car towed so Belfast, Newtownabbey, Bangor etc are close. Another thing I noticed is the front fog lights come on when I turn on the normal lights and I can't get them turned off unless I turn off the main lights. Don't know if this related or not to the problem but thought I'd give as much info as possible. This site is my last hope as nobody seems to know what is wrong. My FTO is in good order other than this problem that has started. Again many thanks for any help out there.................

[CJ]

I still think it's the stepper motor for some reason even though they told me it was fine

How was the stepper motor tested? Was it cleaned? This is the most common cause of engine cut outs and should be addressed first. Try a stepper from another FTO or better still, buy a new one. Another possibility is the throttle position sensor. Under take a diagnostic check (search for 'diagnostic') to check the status of the engine sensors.

Welcome to the forum by the way....

CJ

[Aido C]

When were the plugs last changed?

[FTO_SUPREME]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, I really appreciate it.

In terms of the stepper motor I thought it was on it's way out as my FTO was having a little problem in the mornings when if you tried to drive off straight away the engine would cut out but switch back on straight away with the turn of the key. If you sat in the car and let it warm up first before driving it wouldn't happen so it didn't bother me too much. It also had slightly high revs but not to the extent you read about with other FTO's with stepper bother. During the really cold period over December/January where it dropped as low as -8 I couldn't drive the car because it is really hilly where I live and way too dangerous on the roads so it sat there for nearly a week. When I returned to the car it was as dead as a Dodo until the local mechanic started her up again. Since then though is when the car comes to lights and will cut out in idle and then stay dead(NOT GOOD)!! Sparks have been checked, alternator, new bigger battery fitted and apparently the stepper motor is fine after getting a good clean??? Now I'm no mechanic so when he tells me the stepper is fine I take his word for it but I'm still thinking do I take the gamble and pay for a new one to see if it works. The throttle position sensor is another good idea which i'll throw back to them although again my knowledge is a bit limited on it. Is there a certain level it should be set etc?? Again thanks for the help on this area. I'm just worried the cold has killed something deep inside the FTO that they are struggling to fix. I'll go back to them with what you have told me though to see if anything more can be done. When your in love with your FTO it kills to see it in such a sick state.

[Kace]

The stepper motor will make the car cut out. One easy way to test this is to just take it off completely - it's a 5 minute job.

Once you do this you will need to rev the car a little while stationary for a few mins while it warms up - it will run fine without stepper motor after that. I did this for a while when mine was on the way out.

Try it and see whether your symptoms remain.

[steelroe]

Stepper Motor or Throttle position sensor. Have you noticed any increase in fuel consumption.

[FTO_SUPREME]

OK spoke with the mechanic and he said he already completed a full diaognistics check and all sensors were showing up OK with nothing unusual so that might put the throttle position sensor out of the equation. I've asked him to do what Kace mentioned in terms of trying to run the engine without the stepper to see if it cuts out.

In terms of petrol i'd say it's average for an FTO especially as I have nice big 18 inch wheels on it which I'm sure causes a thirst. But again let me know what happens if petrol is high and I'll have them check it out.

Again thanks for the help.

[steelroe]

Diagnostic check will sometimes tell you nothing. I would bet you a jam scone that it is either the stepper or TPS. My money would be on the stepper.
TPS is easily checked using a volt meter.

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[Kace]

...I've asked him to do what Kace mentioned in terms of trying to run the engine without the stepper to see if it cuts out.

Why not just do it yourself - the car should be perfectly driveable once stepper is removed after about 5 mins.

In terms of petrol i'd say it's average for an FTO especially as I have nice big 18 inch wheels on it which I'm sure causes a thirst.

Somehow I don't think that the size of your alloys has anything to do with fuel consumption. If it does - can anyone point me in the direction of a clean set of 12" rims

[FTO_SUPREME]

Well Kace when you think about the size and weight of the tyres round an 18 inch alloy compared to those round the standard GR 15 inch I think the car works a little harder to move it all. Having said that it does well on mpg but I did notice a little difference when the wheels were put on. If the car would just keep moving without dieing i'd be well happy

[FTO_SUPREME]

Hi folks Spoke with spark mechanic who tells me again he doesnt think it's the stepper or the TPS after testing both. What he has mentioned he thinks it might be the crank shaft sensor but can't be sure and I think they are about A 100 quid according to him?? He tells me that when the stepper is wrecked it will cut the engine off but he said it should start again a little later. What is confusing him is when the car dies it won't start again. I have to pick the car up today to get it out of his yard and I'm at a loss. Can anyone tell me who has experience of stepper motor bother that when your stepper motor died did it keep your FTO from starting up again for good while???? It's the not starting up again part that is confusing the life out of him and he said Mitsubishi would tell me the same. Ready to top myself now at the prospect of losing my FTO............................. Think I can fit a stepper on no problem so might just buy a new one and bite the bullet if it doesn't work.

[mcgon1979]

Im no expert, but I don't think the stepper motor should prevent you from being able to start the car again?> anyone??

[CJ]

Im no expert, but I don't think the stepper motor should prevent you from being able to start the car again?> anyone??

I agree, if the stepper is at fault, you still be able to start the car but you'll need to keep your foot on the gas to keep the engine running from cold.

Spoke with spark mechanic who tells me again he doesnt think it's the stepper or the TPS after testing both. What he has mentioned he thinks it might be the crank shaft sensor but can't be sure

If the crank angle sensor is faulty, it will show up on the diagnostic check. Can you confirm if he used a MUT II/III tester or the DIY method to check for stored error codes? Has he confirmed that the engine is getting fuel and spark? Has he checked the fuel filter / fuel pump / coil packs / spark plugs etc?

Without knowing what the mechanic has checked to date, its difficult to provide a plausible diagnosis.

CJ

[steelroe]

a faulty Crank angle sensor will prevent the car from starting and should flag up a code. Have you ever No sure wher you are located but if you post your location I am sure someone on here would oblige you and swap over theie stepper motor (10 min job) and confirm for definite it is not at fault. How has he tested the Stepper, If he is just doing a diagnostic it may tell him nothing.
Eliminate the stepper fitstly and then we can try alternatives.

[steelroe]

OK spoke with the mechanic and he said he already completed a full diaognistics check and all sensors were showing up OK with nothing unusual so that might put the throttle position sensor out of the equation.

Sounds to me like he is just hooking it up to a diagnostic unit and because it says everything is ok, he is assuming all is ok. This may not be the case. Does the car cut out even when it is warm???

[steelroe]

If it does turn out to be the cranlk sensor, I have several good ones available.
If the stepper is at fault I would recommend buying a new one as they are prone to failure and a secondhand one might not last that long.

[Kace]

The stepper shouldn't stop the car from starting. I drove mine for several days without the stepper at all so it shouldn't be an issue. As I mentioned before - just remove it so that you can confirm that the faulty stepper isn't causing a problem when connected.

Also you may as well do the diagnostic yourself to confirm that no codes are showing - search the forum for the instructions on doing this - it's another simple job.

[FTO_SUPREME]

Hi everyone, had to pick up the car tonight after work from the mechanics yard. When I got into her she started first time and stayed very well in idle without cutting out. Looks like it's not the stepper as it seems to have started and idled better than I can remember so he must have cleaned it up well. I managed to get the car home safe although there was a lot of praying when it came to traffic lights. I didn't get a chance to read the other responses tonight so I don't know if he used the MUT II/III tester but he seems to be one of the main auto spark garages in Belfast with the latest gear but i'll ask him. He mentioned no codes were coming up so again I just took his word for hit. He did no mechanical work on the car as my local mechanic checked that all out but i'd say he is a bit more low spec and maybe not too clued in to an FTO. It might be more a mechanical problem like you guys mentioned. I've been reading into the service history on the car and I couldn't find any evidence of rear spark plugs being changed although again local mechanic said all sparks were fine about 6 months ago but I know the rear ones are wild to get at so maybe he skipped on that one. Any ideas on the best spark plugs for front and rear. Think I got ngk ones fitted about 18 months ago in front but I use my FTO as a weekend car so not many miles get clocked up. She is currently sitting at 60000 miles. For now it's very much unknown as to what has happened. I'm going to get it a good service done in the mean time and see if a good mechanic can spy anything.

Again the people on here have really helped and I want to keep you posted in terms of anyone else ending up with the same hassle.

[gfalls]

Looks like it WAS the stepper motor. Usually is...