stalling on take off

one-eyed riley · 15th January 2009, 15:00

Hi Folks
I have a Zt 131bhp with Pierburg MAF sensor and MF 1/75p set at 1 o'clock installed by the previous owner, done 90K miles.
Problem is that the engine has a tendency to stall when starting off unless you are careful to give it plenty of welly and feed in the clutch slowly. If you forget about this it will stall - often happens when you are trying to nip out into a gap etc and not concentrating specifically on the clutch. Clutch operation is also quite heavy compared with previous cars which doesn't help.
I have had the car 3 months and thought it was a matter of getting used to it but it still happens, to my wife as well. I am afraid that its going to cause an accident one day.
Are they all the same or is there something I can do?
Thanks.

Parker · 15th January 2009, 15:46

I had a similar issue when first had my 75 after driving a 1.4 Fiesta diesel, the clutch and aerospace style acceleration on the fiesta made it all very light whereas the 75 I find both very heavy. Can't say I would stall pulling away but needed to release the clutch gently with plenty of revs plus gentle on the clutch upto second. Took me a while to get used to it but find it the norm now, infact driving my fiesta again the other day it all seemed far too light. Guess I'm saying stick with it & you'll get used to it.

FROGGY · 15th January 2009, 17:32

When I bought mine it was the first car I have had that I stalled constantly, but I can't really say what the problem was. I have done quite a few mods/changes, and I never stall it now, but I don't need to use revs to set off. In fact, since I put the 2T oil in the fuel tank, I can set off with the engine at tickover, feeding the clutch in slowly.
One check point might be the injectors, because if they are worn, sticking a little etc. they may not be happy at small throttle openings.

HTH

Mick

stef_uk · 16th January 2009, 08:54

same as froggy i can pull off on tickover...but yes the clutch is on the heavy side but you do get used to it, is your tickover low or lumpy?

one-eyed riley · 16th January 2009, 13:51

Thanks folks. In reply to Steph, yes it is a little - if it was like older petrol engined cars I am used to I would probably want to raise the tickover. My previous car was a Ford Scorpio with the excellent though slow VM 2.5 litre turbo diesel and that would take off cleanly every time with almost no throttle. I guess its just something to remember about but the trouble is if you are in a difficult traffic situation concentrating on something else its easy to forget - OK if the guy coming towards you round the roundabout is on the ball and can avoid you when you lurch forward then stop, which so far has been the case!

calibrax · 16th January 2009, 14:45

Stalling on take off?

Head for the river!

stef_uk · 16th January 2009, 15:37

slow lumpy tickover is not the norm so will need sorting, as to what it is, i don't know...try putting this in the main forum as you will get more looking and hopefully solving your issue

hth stef

one-eyed riley · 19th January 2009, 17:51

thanks will do

pondweed · 19th January 2009, 19:24

I think I recognise that car! Did you change your seats in the end?
Have you tried tweaking the MAFAM up a tiny bit? Some seem to say that if the MAF isnt right, then that will force you to use more revs. It may be that the dial has moved back or that it just needs a bit more support. The other thing to do is turn it right down, to amplify the lack-of-power effect -you'll see what I mean, then introduce it gradually to see what it does.

one-eyed riley · 19th January 2009, 19:56

I've been watching your car progress too! I'll give you a call...

15th January 2009, 15:00	#1
one-eyed riley Regular poster MG ZT-T CDTi 135 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sandbach, Ches Posts: 50 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	stalling on take off Hi Folks I have a Zt 131bhp with Pierburg MAF sensor and MF 1/75p set at 1 o'clock installed by the previous owner, done 90K miles. Problem is that the engine has a tendency to stall when starting off unless you are careful to give it plenty of welly and feed in the clutch slowly. If you forget about this it will stall - often happens when you are trying to nip out into a gap etc and not concentrating specifically on the clutch. Clutch operation is also quite heavy compared with previous cars which doesn't help. I have had the car 3 months and thought it was a matter of getting used to it but it still happens, to my wife as well. I am afraid that its going to cause an accident one day. Are they all the same or is there something I can do? Thanks.

15th January 2009, 17:32	#3
FROGGY I really should get out more....... MG ZT CDTI Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 17500 REAUX, CHARENTE-MARITIME Posts: 2,749 Thanks: 2 Thanked 133 Times in 90 Posts	When I bought mine it was the first car I have had that I stalled constantly, but I can't really say what the problem was. I have done quite a few mods/changes, and I never stall it now, but I don't need to use revs to set off. In fact, since I put the 2T oil in the fuel tank, I can set off with the engine at tickover, feeding the clutch in slowly. One check point might be the injectors, because if they are worn, sticking a little etc. they may not be happy at small throttle openings. HTH Mick __________________ http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps628d4119.jpg IN THE BLACK NOW

16th January 2009, 08:54	#4
stef_uk Gets stuck in ZT75 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: leicestershire Posts: 904 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	same as froggy i can pull off on tickover...but yes the clutch is on the heavy side but you do get used to it, is your tickover low or lumpy? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

16th January 2009, 14:45	#6
calibrax Posted a thing or two BMW 4 Series Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rochester, Kent Posts: 1,975 Thanks: 29 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	Stalling on take off? Head for the river! __________________ Steve 2004 MG ZT+ CDTi 160 (sadly now gone!) 2015 BMW 435d GranCoupe XDrive

16th January 2009, 15:37	#7
stef_uk Gets stuck in ZT75 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: leicestershire Posts: 904 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	slow lumpy tickover is not the norm so will need sorting, as to what it is, i don't know...try putting this in the main forum as you will get more looking and hopefully solving your issue hth stef __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

15th January 2009, 15:46	#2
Parker This is my second home Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6 Auto (X350) & Hyundai Tuscon 2020 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bridgend Posts: 10,342 Thanks: 69 Thanked 559 Times in 356 Posts	I had a similar issue when first had my 75 after driving a 1.4 Fiesta diesel, the clutch and aerospace style acceleration on the fiesta made it all very light whereas the 75 I find both very heavy. Can't say I would stall pulling away but needed to release the clutch gently with plenty of revs plus gentle on the clutch upto second. Took me a while to get used to it but find it the norm now, infact driving my fiesta again the other day it all seemed far too light. Guess I'm saying stick with it & you'll get used to it.

16th January 2009, 13:51	#5
one-eyed riley Regular poster MG ZT-T CDTi 135 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sandbach, Ches Posts: 50 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks folks. In reply to Steph, yes it is a little - if it was like older petrol engined cars I am used to I would probably want to raise the tickover. My previous car was a Ford Scorpio with the excellent though slow VM 2.5 litre turbo diesel and that would take off cleanly every time with almost no throttle. I guess its just something to remember about but the trouble is if you are in a difficult traffic situation concentrating on something else its easy to forget - OK if the guy coming towards you round the roundabout is on the ball and can avoid you when you lurch forward then stop, which so far has been the case!

19th January 2009, 17:51	#8
one-eyed riley Regular poster MG ZT-T CDTi 135 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sandbach, Ches Posts: 50 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	thanks will do

19th January 2009, 19:24	#9
pondweed This is my second home Waiter, Waiter! I seem to have a Roomster in my drive... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sussex Posts: 3,268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think I recognise that car! Did you change your seats in the end? Have you tried tweaking the MAFAM up a tiny bit? Some seem to say that if the MAF isnt right, then that will force you to use more revs. It may be that the dial has moved back or that it just needs a bit more support. The other thing to do is turn it right down, to amplify the lack-of-power effect -you'll see what I mean, then introduce it gradually to see what it does.

19th January 2009, 19:56	#10
one-eyed riley Regular poster MG ZT-T CDTi 135 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sandbach, Ches Posts: 50 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've been watching your car progress too! I'll give you a call...