Hello people.
I've just had a call from my Dad, he runs a garage and just opened a trade paper to be informed that the 1.3 multijet has pretty major problems with the timing chain tensioner failing

symptoms are a rattle when cold due to low oil pressure as a result of the chain tension.
It affects cars at around 40k (mine just done 50k)


I've asked him to bring the paper home so I can post the lot up on here

a company called blueprint do a complete kit so no need to get raped by the fiat dealer

I had an experience with the hydraulic tensioner not doing its job properly many years ago - the previous owner just hadn't bothered to change the oil so even my oil change didn't really do anything to help as the oilways were already gunged. consequently, the belt slipped a couple of teeth & the whole head was a write-off (and the crowns didn't look too clever either).

What I have always done, though, is to start the car with no throttle and, especially diesels, allow the engine to idle a while before setting off to allow the oil to warm & circulate.
Thrashing a cold engine does it no good whatsoever.

thevoid said:

Hello people.
I've just had a call from my Dad, he runs a garage and just opened a trade paper to be informed that the 1.3 multijet has pretty major problems with the timing chain tensioner failing

symptoms are a rattle when cold due to low oil pressure as a result of the chain tension.
It affects cars at around 40k (mine just done 50k)


I've asked him to bring the paper home so I can post the lot up on here

a company called blueprint do a complete kit so no need to get raped by the fiat dealer

Click to expand...

The trade paper comes from Blueprint, I guess....???!! :devil:

In all the time the 1.3 has been out, I can honestly say I've never had an issue like that. In fact, bar the infamous faulty batch of head gaskets, I don't know of anyone having to even touch the chain.

Of course, if the engine's weren't maintained/serviced properly............

Peter Pick-Up said:

The trade paper comes from Blueprint, I guess....???!! :devil:

Click to expand...

The "report" does, lol... http://jsaltd.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/1-3jtd-multijet-chain-failure/

I mean honestly- if they were failing under 3 years old, they'd be covered under warranty still. Even if it were true, Fiat/Alfa/Vauxhall would've issued a recall by now- there's no way they'd try to ignore it.

D4nny8oy said:

Of course, if the engine's weren't maintained/serviced properly............

Click to expand...

Doesn't always follow.
The OH used to own a sierra which packed up one day. Turned out the shells on the OHC weren't getting oiled so ran dry causing the cam to heat up & warp.
A mate of mine told me this was a common fault & assumed I knew about it - so didn't think to tell me:bang: and yet the car had been properly serviced throughout its life.
When it came to dropping in a new lump, I discovered that the engine we had was a 2litre - despite the car being badged, insured etc as a 1.6.
Again, quite common practice with Fords - chuck in whatever is to hand.

The old Pinto was a sod for that, and well known for it. The CVH was just as bad- cams were virtually an annual service item! The joy of Fords though was that the bell-housing bolt pattern never altered, so you could drop-in a more powerful/modern lump when you got bored.

Trouble is these days with things like Watchdog, the manufacturer's can't get away with ignoring it, especially a (supposedly) fundamental engine issue that wrecks chains in only 40k.

I've known the Brera 2.2 JTS to suffer from stretched chains, but again, only due to lack of servicing or the wrong spec oil being used, otherwise they're fine.

thevoid said:

Hello people.
I've just had a call from my Dad, he runs a garage and just opened a trade paper to be informed that the 1.3 multijet has pretty major problems with the timing chain tensioner failing

symptoms are a rattle when cold due to low oil pressure as a result of the chain tension.
It affects cars at around 40k (mine just done 50k)


I've asked him to bring the paper home so I can post the lot up on here

a company called blueprint do a complete kit so no need to get raped by the fiat dealer

Click to expand...

Yeah I get that blueprint paper aswell, goes great in the cat tray.

D4nny8oy said:

The joy of Fords though was that the bell-housing bolt pattern never altered, so you could drop-in a more powerful/modern lump when you got bored.
.

Click to expand...

And changing the clutch was simply a matter of resting a plank of wood on your chest, lowering the bell housing, having a good old feel around as you put the new clutch in place then putting it all back together - no fancy tools in them days