Hi all :wave: Im thinking on getting a Seicento next summer, i have my eyes on the Sporting 1.1, is there any common problems that i should know of and are expensive to fix? Like the Streeing Rack & Head Gasket with the Punto.. Also when buying from a private seller what price should i be paying for a 02 Plate Seicento Sporting, either on or under 60,000 miles, and what should i look out for when inspecting the car.

Thanks in Advance..

Punto.Power said:

Hi all :wave: Im thinking on getting a Seicento next summer, i have my eyes on the Sporting 1.1, is there any common problems that i should know of and are expensive to fix? Like the Streeing Rack & Head Gasket with the Punto.. Also when buying from a private seller what price should i be paying for a 02 Plate Seicento Sporting, either on or under 60,000 miles, and what should i look out for when inspecting the car.

Thanks in Advance..

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If its next summer, the prices will fluctuate over the year, however i wouldnt be wanting to pay more than 15-1700 with 60k for an 02 plate in a years time.

The steering rack problem is not found on the seis however there is the occasional malfunction but that is extremely sporadic.

HG probs not really on the MPI (which is what this 02 one is) occasional SPI ones, but you have to look at neglect in servicing/ general neglect by previous owners or yourself if this occurs.

Clutch cable is crap. It will fail at some point, however an easy fix and the offending part is cheap.

Handbrake cable is crap too, this will fail as well, but again all necessary parts cheap.

Fuel guage readout is rubbish, no known fix and every cento be it a cinq or sei, has the same problem, but you learn to live with it.

After that its the usual places when inspecting a car. With a sei on 60k i would be expecting a nice decent history file and to see the belts recently changed

Yeah i was thinking the price would be around £1500 with 60k on the clock, is the MPI better than the SPI engine or are they the same really in performance wise, also whats the engines standard bhp? The clutch & handbrake problem i dont mind that as i only ever do between 3-4000 a year and i have a friend mechanic that has his own garage so no worries there, when should the cambelt be changed on these is it around 40-50k? And one more question lol how many belts does the sei have 2 or 3?

Thanks for helping..

Punto.Power said:

Yeah i was thinking the price would be around £1500 with 60k on the clock, is the MPI better than the SPI engine or are they the same really in performance wise,

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The SPI is slightly quicker at just 2mph, however it makes a meal of getting there, it is not as refined as the MPI through the gears and also has the flatspot at around 2k revs, something which was eridcated on the MPI

The MPI is the one with the better interior, seats also, but performance wise very little on standard cars

Punto.Power said:

also whats the engines standard bhp?

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54bhp

Punto.Power said:

when should the cambelt be changed on these is it around 40-50k?

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Well during my ownership i had 2 changes at 36k and 65k. The book says every 5 years and or 70k which evers first IIRC according to the book, however this is a car which spends half its time stopping and starting in town, no good on the old belts, if you leave it any longer than 45k between intervals you are very brave indeed IMO

Punto.Power said:

And one more question lol how many belts does the sei have 2 or 3?

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dont understand this one. It has the normal amount, timig belt, auxillary belt, alternator belt, cambelt etc

899 ones are chain driven so no camblet at all with them

dont understand this one. It has the normal amount, timig belt, auxillary belt, alternator belt, cambelt etc

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Sorry, its just im use to having only 2 belts on my mk2 punto it has a alternator belt and cambelt, the PAS is done by an electric motor.

Punto.Power said:

Sorry, its just im use to having only 2 belts on my mk2 punto it has a alternator belt and cambelt, the PAS is done by an electric motor.

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The FIRE engine in my Uno (same basic engine as the Sporting Sei) has just a cambelt and an alternator belt, so I suspect the Sei is the same.

The 899cc version has just an alternator belt from what I can gather from my Cinq. No cambelt, but it does have a timing chain instead. Cambelts are easy to change, timing chains aren't!

Cinqs never had power steering, but I don't know about the Sei. If it does have power steering it's almost certainly going to be electric.

Hope this helps!

Thanks alot for that mate use have been great help, so the sie sporting has the fire engine, so no damage if belt snaps correct?

Punto.Power said:

Thanks alot for that mate use have been great help, so the sie sporting has the fire engine, so no damage if belt snaps correct?

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Well it is regarded as a 'safe' engine should it snap ...however i have my doubts it is 'safe' at 70mph in the outside lane of the M25!

Seis have electronic PAS also. All sporting models from about 99 and every model from MPI has it as standard

AppleSei said:

Well it is regarded as a 'safe' engine should it snap ...however i have my doubts it is 'safe' at 70mph in the outside lane of the M25!

Seis have electronic PAS also. All sporting models from about 99 and every model from MPI has it as standard

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Thanks, well once i buy one i'll get a cambelt kit, clutch cable, handbrake cable and replace them to be on the safe side, a member on here has one for sale yellow sei sporting abrath i noticed it today on the ads but its a 2001 so this would be a SPI? looks in great condition only 37k on the clock hes wanting £1400 for it or nearest offer, if this was may 2008 i would be tempted in buying it.



Smart eh.. abit gutted ah well another will pop up closer to the time hopefully.

2001 would be MPI.
The MPI engine has a different CAM to the SPI. The valve timings different and it has a larger throttle body. This combination gives the engine a better torque and power curve.

Thanks for the info on that cc1..