Hi there, i have not long bought a seicento sporting abarth 98 s reg, it had been running fine for the past couple of months but in the last 3 weeks i noticed a strange whirring like sound from the engine or like a buzzing sound as i went up through the revs and changed gear,
it seemed to wear off once the engine was warm but then started again but i just stupidly assumed that it would go away and that it was 'just what old engines do at times' as i absolutely love cars but when it comes to engines and components etc im not too hot on them.

I knew something wasnt right but i forgot to tell my dad about it. One morning, as i was making my way to work the noise was very very loud this time and i was really alarmed and i just thought oh crap its gonna cut out soon, i just know it! sure enough as i neared a roundabout of all places the oil lamp sign suddenly appeared on the dashboard and the lights dimmed and it cut out in rush hour traffic!!!

it just wouldnt turn over at all and the headlights wouldnt come on :OS, to cut a long story it short it was towed away to a nearby garage and they immediately described it as a write off and the engine had seized without really giving it much thought

it wouldnt start up even with jump leads attached to the battery and just didnt turn over at all. its currently sitting on my driveway and my father and my neighbour who is good with cars is gonna try to fix it but im not sure if theyll be able and im really gutted as i dont have enough money to buy another car and i love that characterful little car :O)

the cambelt is intact apparently and the oil is fine so i just have no idea what went wrong?

it has been running fine apart from that, just silly little niggles like the rear window washer jet not working and the door seals coming a bit loose so one of the electric windows stopped working but that was very minor compared to this, the car is dead atm :O(

any help or advise that i could give to my neighbour or dad would be really appreciated. apparently they think that it mightbe the radiator as the water level was very low and because it doesnt have a water temperature gauge i have no idea of when it is overheating, could that be what it is? Any help would be much appreciated as i really dont want to get it scrapped and have to be a soul-less car. Thanks guys in advance, hope to hear from somebody soon,

regards, Tom

.............and BREATHE!


Whereabouts in the country are you, and do you have a decent scrapyard nearby?

Take the plugs out and see if the car will turn over by hand. If it does, chances are it hasn't seized.

If it has, your best bet is another engine. Cinq Sporting or Sei Sporting (pre-2000) should be an almost straight swap. If you're feeling adventurous, a Punto 60 engine can be fitted. You should be able to pick one up for £200 or so.

The shrieking may have been the water pump crying enough.

i used to get a noise like that in my polo it was the oil pressure switch. i replaced it and worked spot on after that.

Oil quantity and oil pressure are two different things.

You might have plenty of oil in the sump, but it needs to be pumped other places. If the system is blocked or the pump not pumping then that is death to an engine.

These engines are cheap emough to pick up, and really easy to change so, as said above, if it doesn't turn over by hand, change it.

Cheers

D