General Timing chain broken on fiat 500 diesel
- Thread starter Elwis
- Start date
Currently reading:
General Timing chain broken on fiat 500 diesel
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2016
- Messages
- 179
- Points
- 46
I'm guessing by chain it's a diesel? What year and how many miles?
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2016
- Messages
- 179
- Points
- 46
I've an 08 diesel with 72k miles.
I'd like to think with it being a chain rather than a belt that we would have some sort of recourse with fiat, but deep down I feel they'd probably just say it's a wear and tear part and it's tough luck.
If my chain went now I'd hope I'd have more weight on my side of the argument, but yet I still fell deep down they'd tell me where to go.
I hope I'm wrong.
I'd like to think with it being a chain rather than a belt that we would have some sort of recourse with fiat, but deep down I feel they'd probably just say it's a wear and tear part and it's tough luck.
If my chain went now I'd hope I'd have more weight on my side of the argument, but yet I still fell deep down they'd tell me where to go.
I hope I'm wrong.
Hello and welcome :wave:.
Sorry it's in such sad circumstances.
Realistically I'd say your choices are to source & fit a replacement secondhand engine, or to sell your car for salvage 'as is'. If you go this route, consider replacing the timing chain before fitting it - as easy job with the engine out of the car. There's one on ebay just now; although this won't help you as it's in the UK, it'll give you at least an idea of probable cost.
I'd expect repairing your existing engine would cost more than the value of the car.
I'd be giving serious consideration to getting the chain replaced now. I guess it'd be about £300-£400 if you went to a competent independent garage, but if it breaks, your car will only be worth scrap metal money.
There have been quite a few reports of high mileage chain failure on this engine. Not exactly common, but not unusual either.
As to getting a contribution from Fiat, you can only ask, but last time I looked, the guidelines said you'd need to be the first owner of the car and have a full main dealer service history before they'd consider subsidised out-of-warranty repairs. I'd expect even with that, they'd only be prepared to make a meaningful contribution if the car were under 4yrs & 50k.
Sorry it's in such sad circumstances.
Sadly at that age & mileage, I'd say none whatsoever.
Realistically I'd say your choices are to source & fit a replacement secondhand engine, or to sell your car for salvage 'as is'. If you go this route, consider replacing the timing chain before fitting it - as easy job with the engine out of the car. There's one on ebay just now; although this won't help you as it's in the UK, it'll give you at least an idea of probable cost.
I'd expect repairing your existing engine would cost more than the value of the car.
I'd be giving serious consideration to getting the chain replaced now. I guess it'd be about £300-£400 if you went to a competent independent garage, but if it breaks, your car will only be worth scrap metal money.
There have been quite a few reports of high mileage chain failure on this engine. Not exactly common, but not unusual either.
As to getting a contribution from Fiat, you can only ask, but last time I looked, the guidelines said you'd need to be the first owner of the car and have a full main dealer service history before they'd consider subsidised out-of-warranty repairs. I'd expect even with that, they'd only be prepared to make a meaningful contribution if the car were under 4yrs & 50k.
Last edited:
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
You're welcome.
I've edited the title of your thread to make it clearer that it's a diesel car.
You may find that a local indepedent garage can help with sourcing a replacement used engine. I'd be hoping you can get it fixed for about €1000 all in.
Other high mileage diesel owners might want to take heed of the implied warning in this and other similar posts and give serious thought to replacing the timing chain, sprockets and tensioner before they break. On modern diesels, oil degradation from DPF regeneration does nothing to help the situation and regular oil and filter changes are also necessary with this engine.
Last edited:
Any rattling from cold start should be considered an emergency, that said it won't bend any valves just snaps the rockers It isn't that much more expensive than just changing the chain. I would expect to pay under £500.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2015
- Messages
- 275
- Points
- 58
Why is the engine ruined.?? They don't usually bend valves.
Just remove cam carrier and replace the broken cam followers.
I'd fit new lifters on the valves with broken followers too.
Note: crank pulley bolt is left hand thread.
Hardest part will be getting injectors out.
Just remove cam carrier and replace the broken cam followers.
I'd fit new lifters on the valves with broken followers too.
Note: crank pulley bolt is left hand thread.
Hardest part will be getting injectors out.
Last edited:
In fact £500 is on the expensive side, my brother paid £330 a couple of years ago
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2015
- Messages
- 275
- Points
- 58
I think £500 is realistic, it's a big job.
You need the timing tools before you start.
The sump has to come off to remove the timing chain cover and the sump will be rusty and gets bent slightly when you remove it, a new sump will cost maybe £30. Buy a "febi" one or equivalent quality one. Use fiat sealer.
Buy a complete chain kit, comes with sprockets, tensioner and guides. New gasket may come with kit.
A new cam cover gasket will be needed after removing it to inspect/replace the broken cam followers.
Make sure you fit new copper washers when refitting the injectors.
Use good quality, correct grade oil to prevent any further chain issues as it relies on the oil for protection.
You need the timing tools before you start.
The sump has to come off to remove the timing chain cover and the sump will be rusty and gets bent slightly when you remove it, a new sump will cost maybe £30. Buy a "febi" one or equivalent quality one. Use fiat sealer.
Buy a complete chain kit, comes with sprockets, tensioner and guides. New gasket may come with kit.
A new cam cover gasket will be needed after removing it to inspect/replace the broken cam followers.
Make sure you fit new copper washers when refitting the injectors.
Use good quality, correct grade oil to prevent any further chain issues as it relies on the oil for protection.
Hello !
I am a new member and would like to know if there is any recourse to fiat regarding the breaking of a chain which has ruined the motor of my fiat 500?
Any advice would be appreciated!!
Thanks
Hi, and welcome,
FIAT - unless the vehicle has a full history with FIAT in France I wouldn't expect much support
so - it's probably over to you..
generally there is a sacrificial design to these engines,
and as others have said the parts are not prohibitively expensive..,
my concern would be getting somebody to do the job WELL for a fair price
had a few people who've "done the right thing" getting the chain assembly changed in good time..only for the replacement to fail prematurely..:bang:
Charlie - Oxford - UK
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2012
- Messages
- 325
- Points
- 66
Hi, and welcome,
FIAT - unless the vehicle has a full history with FIAT in France I wouldn't expect much support
so - it's probably over to you..
generally there is a sacrificial design to these engines,
and as others have said the parts are not prohibitively expensive..,
my concern would be getting somebody to do the job WELL for a fair price
had a few people who've "done the right thing" getting the chain assembly changed in good time..only for the replacement to fail prematurely..:bang:
Charlie - Oxford - UK
This is so true,i known people who have had belts changed then had the engine wrecked, because it wasn't done right,
What is the service history on the car? What oils were used? If you have the time and information to answer. Would be helpful to know, thanks
Usually the guide for chain snaps, ignore the rattle on first cold start at your peril
TrevC
Established member
No chance of any manufacturer giving financial support on an 8 year old car. VAG aren't interested in their many customers with chain failure on cars less than 5 years old.
I would agree, also it maybe that it should be replaced every 100k?
Should last the life of car, but if you hear any rattling from cold get it sorted
Is this the same fiat engine as fitted in the vaux combo 1.3 multijet twin cam?
As the chain wears and stretches the cam timing retards then the valves start to touch, warning light on for timing out. Poor cold starting. Then bang.
Good thing is it only snaps the crossovers .its so common there is a kit out with everything you need .
Don't know how accessible on the fiat but on the Vaux about 6 hrs work once you have done a few.
If it's not this engine then Sorry
Ken
As the chain wears and stretches the cam timing retards then the valves start to touch, warning light on for timing out. Poor cold starting. Then bang.
Good thing is it only snaps the crossovers .its so common there is a kit out with everything you need .
Don't know how accessible on the fiat but on the Vaux about 6 hrs work once you have done a few.
If it's not this engine then Sorry
Ken
now it's a popular subject on FF again..,:doh:
I decided to Google "cam chain snapped"
apart from a pointless US V8 thread..they are SAFE engines..
the next hit was a BBC Watchdog thread about BMW UK engine failures due to snapped chains,
typical fix was @£4500,
and BMW UK would only entertain a contribution if all work was done in their dealernetwork - so they "earnt" their money back..
