Hello. This is my first post so please forgive me.

Had the cambelt changed on my car yesterday? When I picked it up it was smoking allot, white / blue ish smoke from the exhaust. It was also not idling properly. I took it straight back and they told me they had replaced the belt. When I drove away this time it cut out on me 500meters down the road and struggled to start. Never had any of these problems before so im convinced they have done something wrong. Again I took it straight back and now there still working on it but told my girlfriend when she rang they was changing a filter. Not sure what filter they mean.

Anyone have any idea what it mite be? Or what they may have done? And is it likely to have caused any damage?

Sorry for the long post!

Howdy!

Timing belt changed? Sounds like its not timed right....

I'd agree, cock up on the timing front.

Cheers

SPD

They have done the job badly, you may be lucky & not suffer engine damage, but if it were my car I'd advise them they have 1 more chance to set the valve timing correctly using the right equipment or you will seek legal advice, & take the car to a dealer & expect them to pay for their poor workmanship.

Plenty in this Forum about the importance of setting the cam-belt / valve timing up... it's not easy without the right tools...

Just spoke with the garage again, there still wokring on it. They think that there is water getting in somewhere so there removing and refitting all the pipes.
They agreed that the car will run fine for half an hour or so and then will start to smoke and idle very rough.
Im no mechanic and i badly need the car woking for Sunday. Anyone have any idea what it could be and if i am likly to get it back in time.

thanks for the help

Some more feedback;

The garage have given the car to an auto elec as there is a valve not getting power. Would this cause the above symptoms?

what valve?

what valve?

Click to expand...

Exactly !!
Sounds like someone is trying to cover up a cock up here, there are two sensors on the cambelt one on the top by the camshaft pully and one down below by the crank pully one is TDC sensor one is Speed Sensor I think from what I can remember from my cambelt there is no need to go anywhere else apart from this side of the engine they do not have to interfere with any oil or water ways, I would be looking at these two sensors 1st to make sure they are in place and the wires are not broken, would also have a quick glance at the lamda sensor on the exhaust as you do get quite close to it with a ratchet, they may have broken it.
Sounds to me like it is running lean ie white smoke, runs ok at start up becasue the car has operated cold start up (choke in the good old days) once the cold start has done its job normal operating conditions apply in your case to lean at a guess.
So'
Valve timing could be just out.
A Sensor wire has be left off or broken.
Is the top cam sensor seated correctly in the belt cover.

What colour are the plugs? White by any chance.
Can't think of anything else yet, don't think your timing is far out if it is other wise you would hear it banging vales on pistons resulting in dead engine.
If it was running ok before it went to them and now isn't they must have left something off, not fitted it correctly back or broke it, the problem now is finding it!

Is it done at an official FIAT workshop....???

I would be asking for a courtesy car while they muck about with yours.

Cheers

SPD

sounds like they havnt a clue what they have done althou to me lambda sensor symtoms i'd say they broke tugged wiring or the sensor taking the box out did an engine light come on at any point when you drove it also what engine is it 1.2?

if you leave it with them and they havnt a cluse you may end up with a hole host of new parts at there expence trying to fix it could be win win

tbh i would get the timing checked buy someone afterwards weather they manage to fix it or someone else does they are obviously incompetent :bang: