I bought a fiat brava with engine trouble. Somebody had done the head gasket and put it on the wrong way around, consequently the cam box had seized up and threaded the timing belt. Got a replacement cam box, new timing belt, new head gasket, all new valves, rebuilt it back up had to borrow the special timing tools, but now it wont start!
I have checked the spark plugs and they all have a spark. It just wazzes over but wont fire. I took out the spark plugs and wazzed it over and the petrol that came out is brown and didnt catch fire when lit it with my lighter).
As i know no history with the car i have no idea what on earth this could be? I dont have a compression tester that fits this car either.
Any ideas??? Its a fiat brava 1.2 16v 2000 (w reg)
Im at my wits end with it any help would be greatly appreciated!

You need to find out where the brown liquid is coming from. It sounds like water, which would suggest that there is leak somewhere. If you are sure the gasket and head are OK, worst case scenario is cracked block.

Hire a compression tester if need be.

Cheers

SPD

Hi thanks for replying. I have now stripped it back down again, and its got oil/petrol mix sat on top of the pistons. Do you think it could be the piston rings?? The pistons look ok.

BarryAnNaya said:

Hi thanks for replying. I have now stripped it back down again, and its got oil/petrol mix sat on top of the pistons. Do you think it could be the piston rings?? The pistons look ok.

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My £5 goes on it being the Head hasnt been skimmed & a warped Head... any takers?

I'd go head trouble too, but was assuming the OP had started with a skimmed head.

Rings would not allow water in, so its probably not that.

Cheers

SPD

Its petrol/oil mix not water??????????????????????????
Any ideas

BarryAnNaya said:

Its petrol/oil mix not water??????????????????????????
Any ideas

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Sorry, read it wrong.

OK, however, combustion pressure should be stronger than oil pressure, so ring problems are usually shown up by oil coming out the breather under pressure.

I'd still be looking at the top end being the source of the problem.

Cheers

SPD