Hi all.
It's my first time putting a feed up. I have just got myself a fiat secento sporting Michel Schumacher 1.1 8v. The car has always been well looked after with an oil change every year but a knock underneath the rocker cover has developed. There is no change to the performance of the car and no warning lights have come on. The tapping seems to get powder when the engine warms up. Just wondered if anyone knows of any problems with the cams. Thanks in advance

It could be the shims between the Cam and the valves, only thing I could think to cause a knock/tap on top end

If it's a knock then something is loose. You'll need to take the cam-cover off and have a look. I wouldn't use the car with the engine in that condition... it's really not likely to make things better.

I'd suggest testing the torque settings of the camshaft cap bolts. I'm speculating but one or more of the threads could be stripped so that it's not possible to torque the caps down to the correct torque. You would need to repair the threads with a new insert or helicoil.


Ralf S.

Single cam with bucket tappets adjusted by shims.

It hasn't had a recent head gasket change by any chance?

D

It has had its head gasket

Has it started making this noise since the headgasket job?

Gasket on upside down means no oil to cam

D