Hi All,

Its been a while , My mum's W reg 899 Seicento has a few issues, Second gear and 5th gear sound like they are rattling (I know its not a good noise) why is this? The oil in the box is full.... Is this the dreaded ending of the gearbox / can it be saved? I've looked around for a gearbox and can only seem to get one via Ebay (I'm in Plymouth) for £100 delivered - Anyone near Plymouth / Devon have one that will fit? Also, I think the engine needs a helicoil as I can hear hissing when the engine is running coming from where one of the plugs (number 3 *going left number 1 to right), it was quite tight to get out and it is up tight again, is a helicoil an easy process for a ok ish DIY mechanic like myself? I can do most servicing jobs on a car like oil and plugs. I don't feel comfortable on my own taking the engine apart if that is required, but with help of others who know these cars or cars in general I would be ok. The car hasn't really had a plug change since having it (about 3 or 4 years) and is miss-firing (as posted about previously) Any help would be awesome.

I hope the fiat community helps me once again - I still have my 2003 MPI Seicento Active however its in my garage and is a ongoing project to restore to factory condition (Wish I sorted it rather then getting my Dacia Sandero Stepway Diesel - its been nothing but trouble!)

Many Thanks

Martyn

If it's deffo the plug leaking. I would just get a replacement cylinder head. I would say fitting a helicoil properly will require removing the cylinder head and by the time you have bought the tools and bits and pieces you may as well get another head. What usually happens when i try repairing things like this is that it would probably not work and i'd have wasted my money ☺

Might be worth trying to seal the plug as a temporary fix if you need the car? head will probably be scrap anyway.

I have had snapped bolts removed from a cylinder by a specialist which cost £45 so spark plug repair will probably be a bit more.

£100 for a gearbox delivered is not too bad. Perhaps a little cheaper to collect one from a local breakers yard - if you can find one.

[ame]https://youtu.be/3pjUrQOvCYY[/ame]

Might be worth a go I suppose ☺

What's wrong with your sei?

Thanks for the info, I'll see if I can find a head no breakers near have any seicentos,


My seicento the clutch went in north Wales whilst I was on holiday still had to drive to see xh558 and then back home with no clutch she was also well over due a timing kit and water
Pump and was starting to look a little tatty ( and is now getting some tlc )

Sounds like it's at the stage of uneconomical repairs.
To helicoil the plug could be an easy fix to an engineer depending on access to the plug hole. Ask your local garages who they use to get cylinder heads repaired/skimmed etc, they are the guys to do that sort of repair with the highest chance of successful fix. The gearbox rattle could be the clutch and not gearbox. Have you let a garage or fiat specialist listen to the rattle.??

Agreed. Unless your doing this work yourself and love your 899 its getting to that point. You can get a nice working seicento for £500 although in time it'll need some work.

I would be put off doing the helicoil without removing the head by all the thread swarf getting into the cylinder.

I got my sei about a year ago and it started making a nasty noise when cold. So I replaced the water pump and timing belt £30. Then clutch pedal got massively heavy so changed the clutch - about £70. Bad noise turned out to be the alternator which seized up completely last month £40... if you enjoy doing this stuff it can be fun... ?

Helicoil in the head does require head removal, but its only an hour on an 899, so no great issue. While its off, clean it up, wee skim and obviously new gaskets. Will be awesome.

Are you sure the gearbox oil is up to level? How did you check it?

D

rallycinq said:

Helicoil in the head does require head removal, but its only an hour on an 899, so no great issue. While its off, clean it up, wee skim and obviously new gaskets. Will be awesome.



Are you sure the gearbox oil is up to level? How did you check it?



D

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How much would it cost to skim?, I checked level with the box with fresh gearbox oil until it came out of the fill hole ( it was right there anyway )

Thefox said:

Sounds like it's at the stage of uneconomical repairs.

To helicoil the plug could be an easy fix to an engineer depending on access to the plug hole. Ask your local garages who they use to get cylinder heads repaired/skimmed etc, they are the guys to do that sort of repair with the highest chance of successful fix. The gearbox rattle could be the clutch and not gearbox. Have you let a garage or fiat specialist listen to the rattle.??

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It's my mums car to learn to drive in, she doesn't have money to buy another car so was going to try and do as much as I could myself or with help.

I would only skim it if necessary. Some do it anyway while the head is off. Costs about £40. If your getting a second hand head you can get it checked by an engine specialist as you dont know the history of the car.

tduknet said:

How much would it cost to skim?

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Depends on where you are in the world, but £50 would be the max I'd pay.

tduknet said:

I checked level with the box with fresh gearbox oil until it came out of the fill hole ( it was right there anyway )

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thats the way to do it, as Mr Punch would say. Usually these are fine wee boxes until the oil all falls out the driveshaft gaiter.

D

I will see what mum wants to do, I will try and do as much as I can myself and get other bits by someone who knows more