Alfa Romeo Repair: alfa romeo 156 fuel pump, alfa romeo 156, alfa romeo

Question
Hi Dave,

i've an alfa romeo 156 1.8 ts and it refuses to start. when the problem came up first time it took me almost 10 attempts to start it and then it ran fine for a few days then it happend again and it started after 10-12 attempts again,first time it appeard in a cold start second time was when car was left idle for 20 mins drove a few km stopped it  and tried in the morning it started fine but after a few km it stopped by itself and then it didn't start now its really not starting the engine turns fine but dosent start up.its  not backfiring nutting else except i treated it with an injector cleaner a few days ago i donno if that means anything.the car is 1997 model with 160k km on it.

i'm scratching my head here....

Answer
Alia,

Wow, there are a million reasons why it could do this.  Intermittent problems are a pain in the butt to figure out.  The computer stores codes that can tell what the problem is, but since I've never even SEEN a 156, I wouldn't know where to begin to tell you what they are.

Your opening mentioned, Fuel Pump.  If you know where it is, you can listen for it to hum or tick while you are cranking the engine.  It might take two people to do this.  I've had fuel pumps act like this but also it could be the cold start injector, or a temperature sensor or a myriad of other things.

I'm sorry I can't help you further.  I'd love to get my hands on it to check it for you, but I have a feeling you are a little too far away from Florida, USA for me to do that.

Dave