Seeking Advice on 2008 Fiat Croma's Engine Problems and Possible Intake Air Sensor Issue

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2010 Fiat Stilo, so we're almost in the same boat. Now, I'm no pro mechanic, just have some experience fiddling with cars out of necessity. Took my ride into a local workshop I trust. After a bit of diagnostics, it did turn out to be the intake air temperature sensor. It was defective which was messing with the mixture of the fuel and throwing off the whole system. The fix, surprisingly, wasn't too bad. The garage handled it well, I was charged around 155€ and everything started running sweet again. To give more specific advice, I'd need some additional info. What are the exact symptoms? Any odd noises or different smells? The more info you share, the better we can pinpoint your issue. Hope this helps anyway!

Hey, thanks for sharing your story! It definitely feels good to know I'm not the only one dealing with such issues. My Croma, at 37983 km, is showing pretty much the same signs you described. No odd noises or smells yet, but I've noticed a distinct drop in engine power and rough idling. Also, fuel economy way off the charts - recently did an extra top-up. Your mentioning of the fuel and air mixture really got me thinking. Makes total sense - if the intake air temp sensor's off, that would mess up the mixture big time. I'll definitely get that checked out. Thanks again!

Glad to hear from you! I can feel your pain. That drop in power and rough idling really does put a damper on the driving experience. Not to mention the hit to the wallet from all that extra fuel! On my Fiat Stilo, when the intake air temp sensor went off, one of the key symptoms was indeed poor fuel economy. It confused the hell outta the engine control unit and it ended up dumping more fuel into the engine than was needed. Rough idling and loss in power were a direct result of that. So yeah, based off my experience and your symptoms, there's a good chance your intake air temp sensor is on the blink. I agree you should get it checked out asap, not just for the sake of your ride but your wallet too. Fingers crossed it's the same relatively inexpensive fix as mine was! Keep me posted on how it goes, okay? Always good to see someone else getting on top of their car troubles. Good luck!

Hey, cheers for the detailed explanation! That sounds super accurate and is exactly what I'm dealing with. I totally agree with how an off sensor can confuse the entire engine and lead to all these issues. I'll be taking the car to the garage ASAP to get the sensor checked and hopefully sort this out without burning a deep hole in my pocket! I’ll definitely keep you posted. It's reassuring to have someone who's been through the same trouble. Thanks for all the help, really appreciate it! Good luck with your Fiat Stilo as well!