(G) buying an Abarth , a few questions

Hey


Ive searched the site a bit and havent found what i was looking for

About the cambelt, i was at my fiat mechanic and he opened the hood (we dont have many abarths around so he hasnt worked on one yet) and said that he might be able to change it without taking the engine out (thats why it costs so much,cause there is very little room if you try changing it ) .
So i was wondering if any of you guys managed to change it without messing with the whole engine ??

Besides that he said it sounds,looks ok and overall nothing wrong (its a 02 stilo abarth, 34k miles on it). But im just wondering if there are any 02 production year or overall weaknesses that i should be careful about . though i think everything should have been repaired in these 3 years.


btw. i cant freaking wait

I thought the cambelt didn't need changing until the 6year/72K service, so why worry now?

so my fears are a bit premature. thats sweet cause id rather invest that money somewhere else right now
thanks but im still wondering about it, just not worrying anymore

I checked the servicing costs before I bought mine, they're as follows:

12 - £150
24 - £190
36 - £315
48 - £245
60 - £148
72 - £570

Paul

PS - The servicing costs are nothing compared to your fuel costs - I average 24mpg!

not really worried about fuel costs, thats to be expected from 2.4 but i was wondering if its necesarry to spend 570£ on a cambelt if it could be changed more easily.
besides that, the car im getting looks just like the one in your signature, 17" , yellow,selespeed
Are you satisfied with it ?

A cambelt change? On an '02 - noooo, not an issue yet!

Although will be interesting to see what they charge us in a few years - mine will be out of warranty then, so will use an independent dealer I reckon.

how long does the warranty last anyway ?

And i was wondering, can you rev up the engine with selespeed, like if you want to start from 3500rpm instead from idle ? for example if you want to take off faster or up a hill . is it hold the brake and put you foot down then release the brake or leave it in neutral and flip into first at desired rpm ?

I am 10k off my cambelt change on my 52. It'sgonna be horrible shelling all that out.

i haven't really tried, so i'll give it a go sometime.

3 year warranty, not sure of mileage without looking, 60k maybe?!

One way to get those wheels spinning - get stationary, sit it in manual and turn off ASR - then nail your right foot - oh yes, car will light up, and leave about 5k of rubber on the road.....

As for leaving it in neutral and flipping it, not something I have tried, tbh - may give it a go in the morning

you better not , i was asking if any of you guys know how . The first one i remember working on some auto. transmissions (i think tiptronic, audi) but the second i made up. The car would probably just do a hiccup and then accelerate

I wouldn't if I were you. If it works (I doubt the electrics will let it) then either all you will get is that sickly smell of clutch with a nice replacement due anytime soon or a gearbox turning itself into molten-metal

Foot on the brake and throttle will give you the same result

Best letting the car trickle off the line until the clutch has fully engaged then stand on the throttle

My Punto JTD is costing me £520 to have a service and cambelt at 60K (12,000 miles early but better safe than sorry). My advice with Fiat group products is to change it early as it will be money well spent. Bloke in an Alfa 147 1.6 had his go at 34,000 miles on a '51. No help from Afa (4 months out of warranty) and a nice £1800 bill. It is not uncommon for Fiat cambelts to go early. I normally do mine at half the due mileage, but forgot with the JTD

Monkey

Damn - good job you weren't about when me and Alfanige were doing 0-60, 50-70 and quarter mile runs just after the remap!

Probably explains why I have just had 4 new tyres put on it.....

Alfas are known to need new cambelts & tensioners much earlier. I think they revised it from 72000 to 36000 after a few probs. I had my ex GTV done at about 35000 on the recommendation of a specialist.

Yep, I'm satisfied - I love the car to bits!

As far as standing start go, you really don't need to do anything other than hit the throttle. TBH theres no point in nailing it till the car has got to about 5mph, it simply can't get the power down, even with the ASR/ESP, and there tons of torque on tap.

Where abouts in the UK do you live m8?

Paul