Ok, to start with thanks for reading.

My car is a fiat brava 1.6 16v on a 96 p reg.

Last wednesday it started over heating. I'm pretty sure that its the thermostat as the top thick pipe to the radiator was hot and the bottom one was stone cold.

I didn't have a spare part with me and being a fiat you can't just remove the thermostat, so i drove it home. Low and behold i break down on the M40.

The next day after being recovered i had a look at the damage. HT leads were melted into the engine.

I removed the inlet manifold to get rid of the melted plastic. Bought some new ht leads and plugs.

Put them in. NOthing! Took them out proved that fuel was coming through by removing the plugs and turning it over. Lots of fuel vapour coming through(doesn't half sting when it gets in your eyes). I proved that all the plugs and ht leads are working fine by swapping them about and earthing them on the engine. Good sparks all round. Still nothing.

I'm guessing that there is a sensor or something that has been killed by excessive heat maybe.

If anyone can help i be eternally grateful. I love my little brava and we've had many good times together. Despite my 6 yr old son and his cousin decorating it with a nail i still like driving it. Plus it's dead cheap to run.

Please throw some advice in my direction.

Ever grateful

Neil

If its been hot enough to melt the HT leads then its not looking too good for the head gasket or the head.

1st thing is to compression check the engine.

check for signs of head gasket failure, check the water and the oil.

Take the head off and check gasket and warped head.

To be honest the car cost me about £500 nearly 3 years ago. I've only spent about £150 in repairs in that time. I don't really want to spend a great deal more. I've already spent £30 on new plugs and HT leads. I could go on skimming the head, replacing gaskets etc etc. I'm not sure it's worth it.

Anyone want to buy a well used brava?

Well it went to the scrappy last night. Shame really because it was really nice to drive. Oh well, picked up a nice Ford Escort 1.6 Si. The first car i've ever had with CD player, alloys and air con.

Brings back memories. I had a similar one in my youth only without the refinements.

npowell28 said:

Well it went to the scrappy last night. Shame really because it was really nice to drive. Oh well, picked up a nice Ford Escort 1.6 Si. The first car i've ever had with CD player, alloys and air con.

Brings back memories. I had a similar one in my youth only without the refinements.

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nice little cars. if it ever starts to pull left of right under acceleration and vice versa under breaking then get the wishbones changed, very common fault.

Bridges mate, how strange. When i bought the car the bloke had just had new wishbones fitted that day. Strangely it was pulling to the right. I risked it and bought it anyway with a hunch that it might be a tracking problem(also knocked him down £180). When i took it to my local tyre shop they had a quick look for me and found that one of the bolts hadn't been tightened up properly.

Lovely little runner now. Just considering putting a white stripe up the middle of the bonnet and roof.