Technical New clutch, timing belt, tentioner, belt stretcher the works, noisy tappits tickover

[Pookster]

Hey Guys,

As you all know from my other post I have recently had the clutch changed and a new timing belt fitted at my fiat main agent, total bill came to £1247 which isn't too bad I dont think.

I am annoyed though now because since the belt has been changed and the new one fitted, on tickover and at low revv's I am now getting a ticking noise that was not there before.

The car also has missed twice when trying to move off since the work has been done, during the belt change they had to take the rocker gasket off and have replaced it with a new seal. I have been assured that this is normal but im just starting to worry, with the misfiring and ticking noise on tickover. I also can't afford any more money to be spent on the car this month as Ive spent almost 3/4 of my monthly salary on it.

Lots of people have suggested that it may be a failed variator that's causing the problem but im not so sure, also why would it suddenly fail after a new belt has been fitted.

Look forward to your inputs,

Pookster

 

[12[X]]

in my experience this is likely to be timing related.. if they were a tooth or 2 out .. that ticking noise is what you get..and it is easy to make the mistake too (timing kit comes with a crank template/holder.. template is supposed to a. fix crank during timing belt change and b. align the crank to tdc.. this is how fiat procedure describes its use.. problem is - crank timing marks are always off on petrols.. so that template sets wrong tdc.. this is why fiat places don't use it.. a tdc tool is used instead... if they did not use a tdc tool but followed the rest of the procedure - your timing would be off; if they did not rotate engine by hand and verified timing – it is likely to be off.. if they were drunk - it is likely to be off.. if they did not pay careful attention - it is likely to be off..) when timing is off you normally get poor mpg.. (is this the case?) does it knock more when cold? (it is possible they just forgot a wrench bit on/in the engine ). Rocker gasket is supposed to be replaced (according to fiat) but new or old.. if fitted without aid of silicon gasket all around it will leak (new gasket may take about a month to get started.. but get started it will).

edit--
And yes minute changes can finish off a variator on its way out.. this why you were advised (by me if i’m not mistaken) to do variator with your belt (as variator changes timing – symptoms would be the same) – likewise car would have less low rev power and poor fuel economy

 

[Argonought]

Seems clear cut to me.

If the engine runs worse than when it was put in for the belt change then it can't have been done properly.

Really very common issue on the 1.6 at least.

 

[john55]

What engine do you have? Variators do make noise when worn.

 

[Pookster]

Thanks for the input guys, I have a 2.4ltr 20v unit, the car seems smoother and there seems to be less vibration on tickover than before the belt change, the car some misses at low revv's around 2,000rpm and then clears as I exceed it, the ticking noise is more noticable after the engine has been on for about 5-10 min, it's weird though because it seems to be intermittant, I had to nip to the tafford centre yesterday and the car was fine going there no tappit noises or anything, drove over the barton square still no problems, leaving barton square after buying some crap with the other half at habitat missing when moving off in the car park and tappit noise was back, went over to tk maxx in urmston then drove home and everything was fine again, no tappit noise and no missing. I dont hammer the car either, fuel economy seems improved at the mo got 44mpg at 65-70 all the way to manchester down the M62 but this could be down to the new clutch and everything else being replaced, before I was getting about 37mpg according to the onboard computer.

This morning when nipping to the corner shop, it's 2.8 miles away from our house lol I got a "stop engine, check oil pressure error", turned it off let it stand for 30 min and had a brew came back out and checked the oil level and it appears to be spot on. Its currently running on 5-35 silena performer oil which was reccomended by the agent and has been running on this for over 3 years since I bought the car in 2007.

I'm going to drive round to the main agent next saturday morning for them to have a look at it because im just to busy with work to get it in before then.

Thanks for al the input guys, X12, I can't remember if you did mention the variator u probably did and I was just too daft to remeber to ask them to change it. Have dug out the recept and the follwing items were changed on the car:

Timing Belt
Fixed Tightener
Screw and washer
Belt stretcher
Clutch kit
Sleve T/Obearing
Sealing gasket
Rocker Gasket
Tutela Car Technyx hyrolic fluid ltr
Clutch Servo Kit

Parts total £514.80
Labour £570

My dealer has told me to ring up fiat and see if I can get some vouchers for them because this ammount of wear is daft at 52,000 miles, they said if fiat wanted to talk to the dealer they would be happy to provide me with any support I needed. I had to do a similar thing when my front coil spring broke when the car was 3 years old at about 38,000 miles.

So far it has to be said that the stilo has been the nicest car I've had to drive but the most unreliable fiat I've ever had, we got 220,000 out of my rents old 1987 fiat croma turbo i.e. and I had that as my second car after passing my test about 9-10 years ago. I think I may have bought a dud to be honest because the dealer I purchased the car from in Hyde was a complete joke, and spent 4 weeks of the first 8 weeks of ownership back there whilst i had a citreon C1 city car but enough moaning, im where I am now and im stuck, I cant afford to get rid of the car because I've already invested too much cash into it so if I can get at least 5 more years out it I'll be happy as it will probably cover my already 9 grand outlay for it.

Keep the suggestions coming and I'll ask my dealer for more input on this.

Much appreciated

 

[Morty Mort]

100% sure it is the bearings where the rods connect to the crank. Big end bearings. Classic Fiat twin cam (Ritmo Abarth TC130) failure. This is wearing and tearing, so just get them changed. Causes low oil pressure, and before you know it - the rods bend... from here you get the idea. You are very near a disaster here, so acting quickly might be smart. A trained ear should have spotted this just by listening much earlier at a garage.

M.

 

[Argonought]

100% sure it is the bearings where the rods connect to the crank. Big end bearings. Classic Fiat twin cam (Ritmo Abarth TC130) failure. This is wearing and tearing, so just get them changed. Causes low oil pressure, and before you know it - the rods bend... from here you get the idea. You are very near a disaster here, so acting quickly might be smart. A trained ear should have spotted this just by listening much earlier at a garage.

Got to say Morten, I've never heard of intermittent big end bearing wear/clatter other than when running out of oil

Would be worse under load though and as you say I'd expect any competent garage to pick up on it.

 

[Morty Mort]

Got to say Morten, I've never heard of intermittent big end bearing wear/clatter other than when running out of oil

Would be worse under load though and as you say I'd expect any competent garage to pick up on it.

Had it loads of times on the Ritmo Abarth. But there we could kind of follow the timeline. Let's say we have a 100% tuned Abarth engine. Then we had an analogue oil pressure sensor (should be mandatory in all engines, not just the "low pressure" warning, as it's too late then). After time went by, the oil pressure got lower and lower, until we could hear the big ends rattling. Then in to the garage (a Fiat friend) took it in, pulled the sump and fitted new big end bearings. Tamtaa, 100% Abarth engine again! 0-100 in 7,5 sec.

Not necessary due to low oil level - but I'm not an expert. But this sounded exactly as the Ritmo - when idling. Not possible to hear under load.