Technical Problems N mods. Opinions needed!

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Technical Problems N mods. Opinions needed!

I have had Black Diamond Semi race pades on my B for over a year now and all is well.

I went with a set of Ferodo semi race on the back and was so happy with them I am going to replace the Black Diamond front pads.

Give Ferodo pads a go !!! Ferodo have been around for years and are high quality. NOT CHEAP !!!! Dont save money when it comes to brakes.

http://www.ferodo.co.uk/ferodo_home/motorsports.html

Ferodo DS2500 Front - Barchetta 1.8 £75
http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=35489

Ferodo DS2500 Rear £53.63
http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=35936

FYI: Barchetta cars have different types of rear pads, so make sure you get the correct set !!!!!! Dont trust online sites !! look at your own rear pads and then call them. The back plate of the pad has tabs that have been changed. Mine is a 1999 and it had the tabs missing. more info about this can be found on a different brake thread in this forum.

DOc Orange Peel
 
Dear all,
Thank you so much for your interest in the subject and for all your replies.
Soon I will have to go for servicing again and I will definately give the Ferodo pads their shot.
I have been driving the car all weekend and everything seems to be fine. I still get a bit of squiggling right before
the car comes to a complete stop but it is far better than before.
No petrol smell at all, even after topping up the tank.
Take care all!
 
I just got quoted for the remaining repairs and the bill will look something like this:
Front brake tubes + rear brake distributors + airbag cables + labour = 565euros!
And on top of this I need to adjust the windows to firmly press against the hardtop. Oh dear.. this beautiful car is like a beautiful woman.. You need to pay a lot to have her! :p
 
About the fuel leak, there is a valve on top of the fuel tank which slowly releases fumes in order to keep the pressure right in the tank. This valve was stuck in the open position and the rubber seal around it was broken. These were replaced and now everything is fine.

Anyone know more about this breather valve replacement? Is it an easy /safe DIY job?
 
Anyone know more about this breather valve replacement? Is it an easy /safe DIY job?

As far as I was told, they had to strip down all the interior behind the seats as there is no other way to reach it. Once this is done, I think it should be easy. Just make sure you have the least possible fuel in the tank if you do it your self. You might need to remove the fuel tank to complete the job.
Since it is a sensitive spot, involving fuel, I wouldn't recommend it as a DIY, unless you are sure of what you are doing. If you want to save money, you can strip the car down, then take it to the mechanic. should save you some labor $$$.

Good luck.
 
Cheers, I didnt really expect to try it myself, unless someone said 'yeah, just do X, Y then Z, it's easy!'
 
About the fuel leak, there is a valve on top of the fuel tank which slowly releases fumes in order to keep the pressure right in the tank. This valve was stuck in the open position and the rubber seal around it was broken. These were replaced and now everything is fine.

Where is "on top of the fuel tank"? Is that somewhere accessible? I've posted before about fuel leaking just after I've fuelled up if the air temperature changes dramatically, and it happened again this weekend. Left work on Friday in very cold temperatures (windscreen was freezing) and filled up B on the way home. 7 miles later I get home, and overnight the temperatures must have risen from zero (or there abouts) up to about 12-14deg C.

I could smell petrol when I walked to the car park the next day and guessed it must be mine. Opened the petrol cap and petrol poured out at me, which has previously happened only when its been really sunny. Inside the car does also smell of petrol, but I didn't get blown up this morning as I drove to work. (y)

I strongly suspect that the valve on the tank is at fault, though it could be a design flaw in that the pocket of air which is clearly expanding under heat perhaps can't vent properly through the valve if the car is parked on a slope (I park with the drivers front wheel at the highest point, passenger rear wheel at the lowest point).

Its not the sort of fault I can get Fiat to test ("just fill her up, park diagonally and raise the ambient temperature by about 10 degrees will you, Mr Mechanic"), so I'd like to check things out for myself if at all possible, particularly to see if there is a pool of fuel somewhere around the internals.

Thanks!

Matt
 
Dear Larkim,
I didnt really have a look myself, but the mechanic said "there is a valve on the top of the fuel tank that is there to let out fumes". Mine was stuck open and when the tank was full petrol was dripping out. As far as I know you need to strip appart all the covers behind the seats to access the fuel tank. Its not hard, it does take time. Good luck and if you need anything else let us know.

SJ
 
You can remove the panel behind the seats and have a look at your tank. You also can open the top panel to get at the pump from under the trim in the hood bay area.

Pic below to show you what the tank looks like.
 

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Thanks guys, might give it a look over the weekend.

Matt

Matt, I'm wondering if you got this sorted? One particularly bad time, mine actually dripped petrol onto the road. I'd filled it the cold night before, then the next morning it was warm and sunny. I suppose I need to get DTR to check it. :-(
 
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