2009 FIAT BRAVO fuel pressure

4
FIAT BRAVO LPG
KNOWING YOUR CAR
INTRODUCTION
The LPG version of the car features two
fuel systems, one for petrol and one for
LPG.
Like the petrol system, the LPG system
is timed, sequential multipoint type with
special injectors.LPG MULTIPOINT
INJECTION SYSTEM
This product is produced by working clo-
sely with qualified suppliers in the LPG sec-
tor. The injection system used on the car
is an efficient system in terms of engine
performance and is based on the injection
of LPG in a gaseous state.
In this system with four injectors, one for
each intake manifold, the fuel is injected
directly into the engine heat transfer ducts,
thereby metering the LPG very precisely.
This improves combustion and, at the sa-
me time, excludes any possibility of back-
draught.
By adapting the electronic control tech-
nology of petrol engines to meet the spe-
cifications of LPG, it has been possible to
achieve significant results in terms of dri-
veability and controlling exhaust emissions.
Engines running on LPG have almost the sa-
me torque/power specifications as when
running on petrol and, as a result, the
performance of the car is also comparable.
The system operates at tem-
peratures are between −20 °C
and 100°C.
WHAT IS LPG?
LPG (which stands for “liquefied petro-
leum gas”) is a gas mixture used as an eco-
nomical and safe primary energy source.
Its main components are: propane gas and
butane gas mixed in various proportions.
These gases are a product of petroleum
refinement and are also present naturally
in oil fields and methane-producing depo-
sits.
In its natural state this mixture is in a ga-
seous state but, as the pressure increa-
ses at ambient temperature, it can easily
be turned into a liquid state.
LPG is a fuel with a low environmental im-
pact because it reduces the pollution pro-
duced by vehicle exhaust gases.
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7
FIAT BRAVO LPG
SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM
DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM fig. 2
1LPG tank – 2Multivalve unit and safety devices – 3LPG refuelling cap – 4LPG piping 5Pressure regulator – 6LPG injectors
– 7Gaseous LPG filter element – 8LPG injection system electronic control unit – 9LPG-petrol switch and LPG gauge – 10Petrol tank.
F0Q0809mfig. 2
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FIAT BRAVO LPG
LPG TANK
The car has a (pressurised) tank A-fig. 3
for collecting LPG in a liquid state. It is
ring-shaped and located in the spare wheel
compartment with suitable protection.
The LPG in the tank Ais always in a liquid
and gaseous state, in physical equilibrium
conditions.
The liquid, which cannot be compressed,
dilates by around 0.25 % for each increa-
se in temperature of one degree. For this
reason there is a suitable space allowing
for the increase in volume of the liquid for
all foreseeable temperature increases (e.g.
car parked in the full sunlight in the sum-
mer) without compromising the integrity
of the tank.
There is a safety valve that automatically
limits the refilling of the tank (during re-
fuelling) to a maximum level of 80 % (li-
quid) of its total capacity.Periodically (at least once
every six months), it is advi-
sable to let the LPG in the
tank run out and, at the next
refuelling, check that it does not ex-
ceed the maximum capacity of 41 li-
tres (with a tolerance of 2 litres excess)
(see instructions in the “Capacities”
paragraph of this supplement). If the
value is above 41 litres (with a toleran-
ce of 2 litres excess), contact a Fiat Dea-
lership immediately.
LPG TANK CERTIFICATION
The LPG tank is certified in accor-
dance with the regulations in force.
In Italy, the tank has a life of 10 years
from the registration date of the car.
If the car has been registered in
a country other than Italy, the dura-
tion and the testing/inspection pro-
cedures of the LPG tank can vary de-
pending on the legal requirements in
that country. In any case, after the ti-
me prescribed by the legal require-
ments in the individual countries, ha-
ve it replaced by a Fiat Dealership.There is a plate on the tank B-fig. 3con-
taining the following information:
– homologation country identification and
homologation number;
– type of gas for which it is designed (LPG);
– name of cylinder manufacturer;
– cylinder test pressure (30 bar);
– maximum refilling percentage (80%);
– tank dimensions;
– nominal tank capacity in litres;
– cylinder manufacture date (month/year);
– cylinder serial number.
fig. 3
A
B
F0Q0801m
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FIAT BRAVO LPG
REGULATION UNIT
The regulation unit fig. 4includes:
– cut out solenoid valve with gauze filter;
– pressure regulator.
The cut out solenoid valveopens or
closes together with the solenoid valve on
the tank. It closes all flows of LPG when
the engine is not running on gas.
It also acts as a safety device that prevents
the flow of LPG if the fuel cut-off system
intervenes.
fig. 4F0Q0810m
The pressure regulatorallows the
change of the LPG from a liquid state to
a gaseous state through an expansion
chamber and maintains the pressure re-
quired for the operation of the system at
a preset value.
PIPING
The piping for the LPG in a liquid state
(from the filler to the tank and from the
tank to the pressure regulator) is made
from copper and coated in plastic.
The piping for the LPG in a gaseous state
(from the pressure regulator to the LPG
injectors) is made from rubber.
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13
FIAT BRAVO LPG
SWITCHING FROM PETROL
TO LPG
With petrol fuel supply: press the button
A-fig 8, the switch to LPG will take pla-
ce automatically at the first significant ac-
celeration.
During switching:
– the LPG gauge Bcomes on;
– the amber OFFLED goes out (petrol
operating mode);
– the green ONLED comes on, switching
from intermittent to on constantly (LPG
operating mode);
There are 5 LEDs B(1 red and 4 green)
on the left of the switch that display the
amount of LPG in the tank.
When the amount of LPG remaining goes
below about 1/5 of the capacity of the
tank, only the red (reserve) LED remains
on to signal the need for refuelling.
IMPORTANT When starting up at outsi-
de temperatures of below −10
°C, the
switching times from petrol to LPG in-
crease to allow the pressure regulator to
heat up.Running out of LPG
If the LPG runs out, switching to petrol
takes place automatically with:
– the amber OFFLED on constantly;
– the green ONLED flashing;
– an acoustic signal from the switch (high
frequency).
IMPORTANT The acoustic signal warns
the driver that the engine is running on pe-
trol; therefore, they must refuel with LPG
before it runs out.
THE acoustic signal can be deactivated by
pressing the switching button A.
Do not switch between the
two operating modes whilst
starting the engine.
Switching from LPG to petrol
With LPG supply: press the buttonA-fig.8.
During switching:
– the LPG gauge Bgoes out;
– the amber OFF LED comes on and
stays on (petrol operating mode);
– the green ONLED goes out (LPG ope-
rating mode).
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FIAT BRAVO LPG
REPLACING FUSES
The LPG system components are protected by specific fuses. Contact a Fiat Dealership if a fuse needs replacing.
For all the other fuses, consult the Owner Handbook that accompanies this supplement.
SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
Additional operations to the Servicing Plan in the Owner Handbook.
Thousands of kilometres
Visual check on conditions: LPG piping and connectors and
LPG tank fastening
Replacement of filter inside the pressure regulator
Paper filter replacement (LPG in gaseous state)
Check operation and parameters of fuel supply system
using self-diagnosis socket
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