Hi All

Just thought I'd post an update on my car..

I bought it literally about a month ago, and already some things are niggling at me! (Seicento 1.1 Sporting)

Firstly, (as posted previously) I had loud tappets which the garage refused to adjust. I've therefore booked it in at another garage to adjust on the 4th March (£30 to check it - £45 to adjust). Now, along with the tappet noise, my car sounds like a diesel! It is so loud. When my friend and I both had our bonnets up (same year, and model) we could not hear his, just mine! (funny how the engine was silent when i test drove it..sawdust in engine anyone?)

Another noise..when I pull away slowly, I can hear what sounds like the suspension creaking at the rear, until I get moving faster - my friend now tells me that it is the brakes getting stuck on - BRILLIANT!

When I get to 70, the whole car shudders - my friends doesn't do this until about 85-90. It shudders so hard that the roof lining starts rattling! I'm assuming that this is the tracking that needs sorting.

When I turn my steering wheel slightly to the left whilst moving, a 'squeeking' noise happens from the front of the car. Power steering? Front brake? I'm assuming again that it is the brake as this noise doesn't happen when I'm sat stationary. Probably a warped disc or something?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I think my exhaust is blowing too...its about the size of a pea-shooter, but is starting to sound like a powerflow exhaust lol

Does anyone elses handbrake randomly not click sometimes when they pull it up?! The plastic cover on my handbrake often moves down to stop the button from releasing! So I have to then force the cover back which means I can then use the handbrake!

Anyone else have any of these issues?

Search for handbrake problems on the forum.Its a well known problem with them sticking on.

where abouts in the world are you ?

they might of got some readings wrong you never know but a good engine flush wouldn't hurt, imo new oil makes them abit more noisy too


the sound as you pull away slowly could be the rear brakes sticking on, when where they last redone? is also check the condition of the bushes while you are there

the shudders will be the wheels need balancing, and not that your friend would know it shudders over 70

the left bit of "squeeking" could be a bit alot of different things, i would start but checking the condition of hte bushes on the lower arms track-rod end and top mount for wear (including ball-joint), might not be at a standstill a there plenty of weight and no suspension travel happening


lots of threads on the handbrake have a search and see what you find, strip down and clean with replacing necessary parts would help

Ash

the loud sounding engine.. is the exhaust blowing at the manifold/head join, manifold/cat join?

whitz said:

where abouts in the world are you ?

they might of got some readings wrong you never know but a good engine flush wouldn't hurt, imo new oil makes them abit more noisy too


the sound as you pull away slowly could be the rear brakes sticking on, when where they last redone? is also check the condition of the bushes while you are there

the shudders will be the wheels need balancing, and not that your friend would know it shudders over 70

the left bit of "squeeking" could be a bit alot of different things, i would start but checking the condition of hte bushes on the lower arms track-rod end and top mount for wear (including ball-joint), might not be at a standstill a there plenty of weight and no suspension travel happening


lots of threads on the handbrake have a search and see what you find, strip down and clean with replacing necessary parts would help

Ash

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Hi mate,

Sorry for slow reply! Haven't been on here for a couple of days! I'm in Bedford, England...anywhere near you?

I spoke to the garage that I bought the car from, and convinced them to let me get the work done at a garage near me, and they will reimburse the cost - the mechanic I spoke to said he'll do a complete check of the engine, and fingers crossed, he won't find anything too bad!

Thanks for the post - really helpful! I will tell the mechanic about it all, and ask him to sort it - as they're paying

Are you going to the Santa Pod Fast Show in March? I want to get a load of Cinq's/Sei's meeting there!

If i have the dollar ill be there as i live in wellingborough

If u wanna meet and compare ill be happy to when the cars up in Wellingborough

Sure its something simple theres not much to go wrong on a sei

Fiatseicento2002 said:

Sure its something simple theres not much to go wrong on a sei

Click to expand...

dont jynx it

Fiatseicento2002 said:

If i have the dollar ill be there as i live in wellingborough

If u wanna meet and compare ill be happy to when the cars up in Wellingborough

Sure its something simple theres not much to go wrong on a sei

Click to expand...

Thats one person! Fingers crossed my friend is bringing his - he's working on a nice project at the minute...will make it ALOT wider. I doubt he'll be done by March though. Do you know any other Sei owners that can come to show too?

I'm actually in Riseley - just passed Rushden. I can get to Wellingborough in like 15 mins.

few nuneaton kinda way.... mine is eventually going 1.4 16v

*off topic*

your picture, avatar. where did you get it from? lol i designed that a while ago (not bothered just wondering where it is lol)

on topic.

how much are you looking to spend? a full rear disk conversion would solve all sticking problems and handbrake problems forever.

engine wise a flush and clean will do. re-shim and laughing. or a new engine if your that bothered but imo its just noisey they go that way.

wobble. deffo need your wheels balanced. one or more sound buckled tbh

clock34 said:

*off topic*

your picture, avatar. where did you get it from? lol i designed that a while ago (not bothered just wondering where it is lol)

on topic.

how much are you looking to spend? a full rear disk conversion would solve all sticking problems and handbrake problems forever.

engine wise a flush and clean will do. re-shim and laughing. or a new engine if your that bothered but imo its just noisey they go that way.

wobble. deffo need your wheels balanced. one or more sound buckled tbh

Click to expand...

Oh, I got it off ebay - I was looking to buy the sticker to put it on the back window (now I'm getting tinted windows so it's pointless). And I just stole the image from the seller haha..hope it wasn't you? I just really like the pic!

To be honest, I don't want to spend too much. I mean, I want to modify it's looks, but the whole point in me getting this car was to save me money. I'm beginning to miss my MG ZT already however.

Thats weird, because on the way to work this morning I thought it felt like the wheel was buckled. OH well..looks like I'll have to buy some better wheels - thats a good excuse to my misses "Oh, the wheels are buckled..I might aswell buy better ones". I'd like some Euro style ones...anyone know where I can acquire some that fit??? Euro wheels, and the car sat on the floor...lovely! Before I buy them, I suppose I should get the garage to check the balancing/tracking first.

Thanks for the reply btw

If you need any steelies temperarily Pm i have a set

Fiatseicento2002 said:

If you need any steelies temperarily Pm i have a set

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I may need to take you up on this offer...I noticed today that the near-side front wheel is not round lol! Also a big curb scuff...I don't know how I missed this when we bought the car!!! Fingers crossed, my friend has a spare alloy I could borrow. (he's replaced the wheels I have with the 14" abarth wheels and I hoping he still has his old set!)

On a positive note..I added a spoiler today and debadged it...and tinted the lights! Looks much better

PM if u need them lol