FIAT BRAVO
I have a 2007 Fiat Bravo M-Jet 120 with the 1910cc 8v turbodiesel engine. The engine code is 192A8000. The car spends its life on the motorway with a daily commute of 120 miles; mileage is 215,000. It's regularly serviced, returns 54mpg, and has been totally reliable – except that two years ago it became difficult to start with the engine warm.
The symptoms are as follows: if the engine is cold, say first thing in the morning, or when hot immediately after a run, or where the engine temperature is starting to rise, the car will start without problem. However, if allowed to cool, say for an hour with no movement of the temperature gauge, starting becomes difficult.
In this circumstance the engine turns over as normal on the starter, and while it tries to start it never quite makes it. However, after 5 to 10 minutes of cranking it does start and then runs without problem.
There are no fault codes. I have replaced the crankshaft sensor, as suggested on various forums; it’s a non-Fiat part but from a reputable supplier (FAE), but it made no difference. The timing belt is replaced regularly (50,000 miles); both the battery and charging system are in good condition.
The problem is seemingly temperature related but I don’t want to start randomly changing sensors.
As the problem does appear to be temperature related, I would check and if required replace the coolant temperature sensor (CTS). This is a two-wire sensor and can be quite easily tes
