emiliadrache10

Avantime Mixture Preparation Error

Alright Avantime gurus, I'm pulling my hair out here! My 2002 Renault Avantime, diesel engine, is giving me fits. I'm getting a 'mixture preparation error'. It's got 108684 km on the clock. Basically, the engine power is way down, the check engine light is mocking me, it's running rough, jerks like crazy when I accelerate, and sometimes just dies at idle. I've checked for obvious air leaks and given the catalytic converter a once over, but I'm not really sure where to go from here. Could it be the throttle body needing a clean or the intake manifold having issues?

4 comment(s)

Whoa, that sounds rough! I had almost the exact same symptoms on my old Alfa Romeo 159 (also a diesel). Reduced power, check engine light glaring at me, the whole shebang. For me, it turned out to be a faulty injector. They were dribbling fuel instead of spraying it properly, messing up the whole air-fuel ratio. Have you had the injectors checked?

Injector, eh? Interesting. I hadn't really considered that. How did you diagnose it on your Alfa? Was it obvious once you got in there, or did you need some fancy equipment? And what sort of costs were involved? I'm trying to avoid an expensive goose chase!

Yeah, the injector issue wasn't immediately obvious. My mechanic used some diagnostic equipment to check the spray pattern and flow rate of each injector. Turns out one was way off. I ended up replacing all four to be safe. It wasn't cheap, but it completely solved the problem. Cost me about 450€ including labor. Based on your symptoms, I'd seriously consider getting your injectors tested before chasing other possibilities. Save yourself time and potential headaches!

Okay, you've convinced me. Injectors it is! Booked it into the workshop. Turns out you were spot on! Faulty injector was the culprit. Replaced all four and she's running like a dream. Total cost: 515€ Ouch, but worth it! Thanks for the help! You saved me a lot of grief.

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