wellfan said:

I am sure you wont like me saying this but it needed to be said.

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I disagree I think people need to read peoples good experiences too. Mine too was completely problem free except for a earthing problem which was fixed in 30minutes.

Also what Ffoxy said was fact these are bullet proof engines and for one to go like this is very unusual hence the talk about servicing etc. If you don't like what he posts don't READ IT! or better still add him to your ignore list.

I'm guessing it was on its first cambelt and tensioner set.

Ffoxy said:

But yea you're right I'll bugger off...

Time I went anyway, new pastures & all that... Have to drag myself away... So long FF.

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:wave: ... see you tomorrow

ChrisUK said:

I'm guessing it was on its first cambelt and tensioner set.

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At what mileage should the belt be changed? Is it a belt or chain?

T14086 said:

:wave: ... see you tomorrow

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Lol KMA Mr T!

As if Wellfan would see me off Bwaaahahaha!

jostheboss said:

At what mileage should the belt be changed? Is it a belt or chain?

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Its a belt & I had mine changed at 56,000 along with water pump, pulleys / tensioner.

4 years Max life... regardless of miles covered... Good call Chris...

Ffoxy said:

Its a belt & I had mine changed at 56,000 along with water pump, pulleys / tensioner.

4 years Max life... regardless of miles covered... Good call Chris...

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I have been misled when i took mine to my local fiat garage they said the cam belt only has to be changed after 90,000 i didn't realise that it was only four years. Bugger !!!! more expense

peter7889 said:

I have been misled when i took mine to my local fiat garage they said the cam belt only has to be changed after 90,000 i didn't realise that it was only four years. Bugger !!!! more expense

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£180 all in for all the work done on mine, no big deal really for peace of mind!

Ffoxy said:

£180 all in for all the work done on mine, no big deal really for peace of mind!

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The car is 4 years old in march next year but it only covered 38k miles, can i leave it a few more years ?

peter7889 said:

I have been misled when i took mine to my local fiat garage they said the cam belt only has to be changed after 90,000 i didn't realise that it was only four years. Bugger !!!! more expense

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I had mine done at 90,000 miles, but then mine isn't 4 years old yet

I'm sure I speak for most of us foxy when I say that I would be majorly pi55ed if you were to leave due to your fountain of knowledge!

I'm in the same boat as foxy in that the three grande's I've owned I've never had a problem with any of them apart from me hitting a wall with the tangerine and a lack of power in the 1,2 and 1.4 na engines.

now sorted with the mjet yellow peril I now own!

peter7889 said:

The car is 4 years old in march next year but it only covered 38k miles, can i leave it a few more years ?

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Only if you don't mind forking most of the price for a new engine if the belt breaks .

Age is as bad for rubber belts than wear itself as the rubber breaks down and starts to crack (similar to a old car tyre)

If the cambelt had gone, would you be able to turn the engine over?

jostheboss said:

If the cambelt had gone, would you be able to turn the engine over?

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If it had already mashed all the valves out of the way, yes.

Takes 5 mins to undo a few of the cambelt cover screws enough to see if the lot is turning when the crank is spun.

D4nny8oy said:

If it had already mashed all the valves out of the way, yes.

Takes 5 mins to undo a few of the cambelt cover screws enough to see if the lot is turning when the crank is spun.

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If cambelt has gone & the pistons have cleared themselves a path through the debris of mushed valves, the starter would still turn the crankshaft over yes. It might stil sound odd though, with periodic piston - valve contact... nasty...

But then it might be OK... Whip the cover off the old girl & see what can be found, if the belt is in one piece you can either see that directly or crank it with the valve cover off & see if the camshaft turns.

Good luck, hope it's a minor thing... Just dont keep us in suspense damn ya!

I removed the cambelt cover today and its fine, and after charging the battery a little bit via jump leads it managed to turn over, but made a nasty noise.

I've taken it to fiat for diagnostics, think its worth paying £30ish to find out the exact fault, then I can either replace the engine myself, or get them to fix whatever it happens to be.

jostheboss said:

I removed the cambelt cover today and its fine, and after charging the battery a little bit via jump leads it managed to turn over, but made a nasty noise.

I've taken it to fiat for diagnostics, think its worth paying £30ish to find out the exact fault, then I can either replace the engine myself, or get them to fix whatever it happens to be.

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Did it start and drive?
What kind of noise?

Like a grinding noise, like a bent crank grinding against a main bearing....

And no, it didnt fire up...

jostheboss said:

Like a grinding noise, like a bent crank grinding against a main bearing....

And no, it didnt fire up...

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Makes me wonder if it's suffered oil starvation during the track session, and it's manifested itself later on as the shells have worn through and heat seized.

Sadly this is all speculation without pulling it apart...

D4nny8oy said:

Makes me wonder if it's suffered oil starvation during the track session, and it's manifested itself later on as the shells have worn through and heat seized.

Sadly this is all speculation without pulling it apart...

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that thought had crossed my mind, maybe sustained hard cornering had caused the oil to miss the uptake, and caused some damage that has only now showed later...

jostheboss what has the garage said?