Kappa 2.4 JTD engine control system failure + defective electrical connection failure

[Dragan]

hello,sorry for my english,car over 3500 rpm is stroking witch engine control system failure error,sometime witch defective electrical connection failure,acceleration is not very good,my suspicion is tank fuel pump,by the manual she work on MAR only 3 seconds,in my case work 45 seconds and then go off,service diagnostic found nothing wrong (found EGR valve only who got nothing with that),is it possible that the tank fuel pump is weak to send enough fuel to engine,or fuel lines making problem,car have 308 000 km,year 1998.

[Anton]

Have you ever change the fuel pump? if not start with that...

[Adrian]

I'm getting the same "defective electrical connection" sometimes when starting the car after a while. The problem goes away if I turn off the engine and then turn it back on. The car is a Kappa 2.0 (155 BHP), made in 1997. Could it be the fuel pump as well?

[Karsten]

I don't like the "defective electrical connection" message... I don't like it because it could be so many different things?

I got this message some months ago, and it turned out that a "light-box" had zapped itself, causing all rear lights to stop working (including brakelights and front/rear foglights). I am pretty sure that I wrote about this in a previous subject.

Så Adrian check your lights (foglights too) if you haven't done that already!

[Adrian]

Hi Karsten,


Yep, I remember your message, will do another check of the lights tomorrow. Thing is: (1) I've been getting this message for quite a while, I guess police would've pulled me over by now if there were something wrong with the lights; (2) It only shows up on the first attempt to turn on the engine and goes away on a "restart"; (3) it looks like there's a broken cable underneath the battery - cable appears to be going straight down - maybe that's the cause?

By the way, is ASR standard on Kappas (or at least on mine - 1997, 2.0 20v, 155 BHP)? I've noticed there is a check light for it in the dashboard, but I don't remember seeing it turning on/off on the start of the car.

More questions: 1. Is the onboard computer smart enough to tell, on the diagnosis, which is the "defective electrical connection" exactly? 2. What's the average MPG for a Kappa as the one above (maybe someone could help with the users' manual values)? I just discovered today that mine eats about 14 l of LPG for 100 km - under some not-so-peaceful driving and with A/C on -, is it normal?

Many thanks,
Adrian

P.S.: just discovered a Lybra 2.4 jtd, made in 2000, 100k km - roughly 4500 EUR. Would it be worth the upgrade?

[Karsten]

Hey Adrian

ASR = It is not standard on a Kappa (maybe on the V6?). Do you h

1. I doubt the computer is smart enough to tell exactlly where the "defective electrical connection" is. Perhaps one of those little computers that the Lancia dealerships/garages have could investigate further? But that broken cable could be the solution?

2. I am pretty sure that the official digit is 9,3 km/l or in other words 10,8 l/100km
The official km/l for the 20VT is 9,4 km/l due to a higher gearing. As far as I can see its very different how many km/l our 20VT it can drive, but several times I remember seeing 700km on the tripcomputer just before the fuel-warninglight turned on (there should be about 8 liters left then). Last time it I remember checking it only drove 600km before fuel light turned on so it all depends on trafficjams, A/C and of course turbo
But it's a little hard to check how many km/l here in Denmark because I always try to fuel up when prices are low no matter if I need it or not.

Hard to say yes/no about the Lybra 2,4jtd question. You know by now that you can't discuss prices with a guy from Denmark haha... I have never driven a Lybra or any of the Lancia/Alfa/Fiat cars with the 2,4jtd and I don't really know if the buildquality is better than Kappa or not... Hard to say if it's a downgrade or an upgrade? Size is smaller but engine is bigger. Not faster (unless you chip it) but more km/l.
Is it the SW version?

[Adrian]

For the Lybra: nope, it's a sedan, engine gives 135 BHP - moreover, being a diesel, the full power is available at a lower rpm (so I think), so it's more "usable" by a regular driver.
As for the mpg, if the official figure is 11 l benzine / 100 km, then I guess my 14 l of LPG isn't too bad - the "official" transformation ratio being 1.24 (caloric power of benzine is 24% higher than LPG).

[Karsten]

If you tried a 20VT you'd be shocked how much different it feels - especially in gear ratios!
The "regular" 20V can be tricky to drive smoothly through the gears (but then again I only drove one for about 50km or so).
I haven't got much knowledge abotu LPG - is it much cheaper than regular benzine? If the caloric power of LPG is 24% lower than regular benzine does that equal less l/km and less power when driving on LPG?

[Adrian]

LPG is half the price of benzine - so it's a good deal, considering the Kappa is my daily commuter. Now, as the caloric power of LPG is lower, it means the car needs to drink more for the same distance. You can definitely feel the difference when it comes to power - the Kappa on benzine feels like a totally different car, in the good meaning -, I would say it loses like 15-20% of the acceleration when running on LPG. On the other hand, what the heck, it's half price!

[Lindsay]

Can I come into this late? Is the Lybra an upgrade from the Kappa? I don't think so!! If you want the jtd, get a Kappa! Lybra to me is very bland, although the interior is nice. Or sell your house and get a Thesis jtd! LPG is worth it in the UK, half the cost of petrol and diesel. But the conversion cost can be 3000 euros, so need to know you will do the miles and keep the car long enough. Don't know if you can do LPG on the 20vt, but I wouldn't. It is reasonably economical given its power. V6 on the other hand......

I have decided I really want a Thesis. Can't afford one and a total pain to import to the UK. Any suggestions on the best engine. It would not be the main car I dont think. 175bhp jtd makes most sense, 3.2 the nicest, 20v turbosoft best compromise....and has to have the 17" alloys.....

Karsten, how much is a new Thesis in Denmark???!!!!