Hi All
I have a Fiat Petra (siena) 2004 with a 1.6 100 bhp petrol engine. Since a month the engine takes few cranks to fire up when the car is not started for more then 10 to 12 hours. Also after the engine fires up the engine shivers a lot specially from standstill till the car has run few kms. After that everything is perfect. There is no shivering and engine fires within half a crank
Is this the issue with spark plugs?

Also since my car has completed 5 years i would not like to know what all parts i have to replace as a precautionary measure. Also what other areas i need to check

Thanks in advance

Try this: turn the ignition on, but don't start right away.
The fuelpump needs a few seconds to pressurize the system, and your ECU needs some seconds as well to check everything.
Wait until the injector light goes of, and the sound of the fuelpump stops ( after 2-3 seconds) than start the car, see if this helps.

After 5 years you DEFINITELY have to change the cambelt and tensioners and bearings.....( in fact you have to change them every three years, if you have the 1,6-16V engine....!!!).

Peter Pick-Up said:

Try this: turn the ignition on, but don't start right away.
The fuelpump needs a few seconds to pressurize the system, and your ECU needs some seconds as well to check everything.
Wait until the injector light goes of, and the sound of the fuelpump stops ( after 2-3 seconds) than start the car, see if this helps.

After 5 years you DEFINITELY have to change the cambelt and tensioners and bearings.....( in fact you have to change them every three years, if you have the 1,6-16V engine....!!!).

Click to expand...

Hi Peter
When i start the car, i wait for the engine light to go off and the "PEEEE" sound to stop and then i crank it up

Apart from the cambelt, tensioners, and bearings do you recommend anything else to be replaced?
Any other belts (fan belt, alternator belt)
Thanks a lot for all the advice

Yes, the alternator, power steering and, if equipped with, the A/C belts need replacement too, the cambelt is most important, though....
Do you service the car yourself, or at a ( FIAT) workshop?

Peter Pick-Up said:

Yes, the alternator, power steering and, if equipped with, the A/C belts need replacement too, the cambelt is most important, though....
Do you service the car yourself, or at a ( FIAT) workshop?

Click to expand...

Hi Peter
The FIAT workshops here in India are too pathetic. They have stopped stocking Palio parts and if you go to buy the spares they quote unrealistic amounts. Also big company workshops here are known to overcharge and not change parts and bill it to you and advise to replace something when it can be easily repaires
There is Hyundai workshop nearby my home who are almost good with all cars. Maybe they wont be able to solve some complex problem but otherwise they are good. Only issue is that i have to get the parts for them. I am trying to find a workshop which has a good knowledge about Palios

I also plan to change all fluids (power steering, gearbox, brakes). The radiator has been flushed and cleaned a year back. Also will tell them to check the suspension thoroughly and advise accoridngly

For my cold start issues do you think the spark plugs will be the culprit?

Again thanks a lot, you surely know the Palio well and you are a lifesaver for palio owners

Well,
If you don't know when the sparkplugs were serviced, better to put new ones in!
Don't forget the fuelfilter at the underside of the car, near the right rear wheel.
And of course the airfilter should be renewed as well.

As for the (cam) belts, I found out, only original FIAT belts will fit right.
I tried to fit Gates belts on my Palio without luck, (although I use Gates on all my other cars....)

Peter Pick-Up said:

Well,
If you don't know when the sparkplugs were serviced, better to put new ones in!
Don't forget the fuelfilter at the underside of the car, near the right rear wheel.
And of course the airfilter should be renewed as well.

As for the (cam) belts, I found out, only original FIAT belts will fit right.
I tried to fit Gates belts on my Palio without luck, (although I use Gates on all my other cars....)

Click to expand...

Yes, i will get all the filters and spark plugs replaced as well. As for the belts i will try to source Fiat original spares and not OEM.

Hi Peter
Any idea about the minimum thickness of the discs?

The min. thickness is stamped on the outer side of the discs.
I use Brembo Max grooved discs on our Palio, there is a special groove on them, when it disappears, it's time to replace them, very useful i.m.o.

HI Peter
Gave the car to the service centre and he says the CAM belt is in a good shape and needs no replacement. Also same with the brake pads
Now in this part of the world you would seldom find any service centre saying the part is fine. When i told that the car is 5 years old they said they checked thoroughly and it seems fine, but still if i feel to replace they are most happy as they will earn out of it
I am no expert and cant judge for myself so am confused :bang:

P.S - The car has done 30000 kms and is mostly driven by my brother who does not rev the engine much. There was a brake warning light illuminating since 2 days. They say its due to a leaking clutch cylinder. Not sure again how the car ran for almost 40 odd kms without any oil

If it is the DOHC 1,6-16V FIAT engine, the cambelt needs replacing every three years or 60000km, whatever comes first, and no matter the (visual) condition of the belt.
It used to be 120000km or 6 years, but FIAT has shortened the interval, because to many belts broke on the DOHC engines.....!

Peter Pick-Up said:

If it is the DOHC 1,6-16V FIAT engine, the cambelt needs replacing every three years or 60000km, whatever comes first, and no matter the (visual) condition of the belt.
It used to be 120000km or 6 years, but FIAT has shortened the interval, because to many belts broke on the DOHC engines.....!

Click to expand...

Thanks Peter
Its the same engine you have mentioned
I think I will opt to change it as i dont want to stranded somewhere without any help and also risk damaging the engine.
If you have the same engine in your car and have a service manual can you help me with the part numbers of the cam belt, tensioners and bearings (assuming part numbers are same everywhere in the world)
Also is there any specific life span of the brake pads? According to the garage the pads are also fine.

No lifespan for brakepads, it all depends how you drive and use your car....
With asbestos no longer allowed as friction material in brakepads, modern brakepads don't wear much, it's not uncommon to drive with one set of pads up to 100000km's....!
I drive about 80000km's with one set of Ferodo brake pads and Brembo Max discs, after that, the discs are shot, while the pads still have enough material to go on for many more km's (I still change them for new ones, together with the discs of course).

I will look up the part numbers for the cambelt etc. tomorrow.( it's almost midnight overhere now....)

Thanks a ton Peter
Take your own time as today being Sunday everything will be closed and i will have to go tomorrow only
Also are other belts as critical as the cam belt? Then maybe i can change them in the next service which i do every 6 months as my cr runs only around 5000 kms every 6 months
Also getting injectors and throttle body cleaned.
Getting spark plugs made by NGK. Will go either for the conventional or G Power as the Iridium ones are too costly

Fiat India should take an example from you and learn something.

The other belts are not that critical, but they have to come of in order to change the cambelt, and while they are of anyway, better change them for new ones.....!!
Here are the FIAT part numbers:
Cambelt: 0055188191
Adjuster/bearing: 0046424716
Bearing: 0055211287
Belt alternator: 0071749427
Belt adjuster/bearing: 0071734799
Belt power steering: 0055192802
A/C belt: 0046542303.


Oilfilter: Fram PH4558
Fuelfilter: Fram G7729 ( this is for the Palio Weekend, not sure if it fits the Siena...)
Sparkplugs: Bosch FR78X Super 4.
Airfilter: Fram CA5627

Before ordering, have all those numbers checked if they are correct for your car!

As for cleaning the injectors etc. always use the best quality fuel available, by doing so, the injectors will stay clean for a much longer time.
I use only Shel V-Power fuel in our Palio for about 7 years and 140000km's, no issues with dirty injectors etc. at all....!!

Hi Peter
Again thank you for all the details you have provided
I will search for Fiat Original spares but if i don't get I will have to rely on OEM's like Bosch.
About the fuel, adulteration is very common over here and cant be helped with

OK, let's hear how it works out!

Peter Pick-Up said:

OK, let's hear how it works out!

Click to expand...

Will take a few days to get the job done. Will post about it as soon as all is done

Peter Pick-Up said:

Cambelt: 0055188191
Adjuster/bearing: 0046424716
Bearing: 0055211287
Belt alternator: 0071749427
Belt adjuster/bearing: 0071734799
Belt power steering: 0055192802
A/C belt: 0046542303.

Click to expand...

Hi Peter
The ones marked in red are adjuster with bearings and you have also given the individual part number for the bearing?

You need all the part numbers.
The cambelt uses a tensioner and a bearing.
The alternator uses a tensioner as well........!!