I just bought a 1.6 - 16v siena (palio) for my dughter. In the most part it goes well but when i accelerate it seems to have a slight power lag before pulling away. Power seems to be fine when accelerating after that it is just the initial lag of power that concerns me.

Could it be the cam belt wear I need to replace it as the last owner cannot advise when last it was changed and it is a 2002 model with 95000km on clock so I am sure it needs to be changed.

Has anyone got any ideas what could cause this lag.

The driver airbag light is on does anyone know why this would be and what to check?

Regards
Garry

Check if the throttle body actuator (Idle Air control Valve) is clean.

a nice DIY thread: https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/83260-cleaning-your-inlet-control-valve.html

Do get the air filter changed if clogged.

Timing belt replacement is every 60K Kms.

Regarding the Airbag light ON - it can be a sensor issue / the sensor is usually located near the front bumper / headlight. Scan the ECU for errors at a FIAT Service Center.

I stripped the cam belt covers on the weekend and found that the cam tensioner seems to have been reinstalled incorrectly as the line up mark is not visible. When the engine is reved up the belt seems to vibrate between the fly wheel and cam belt tensioner indicating cam belt tensioner is more or less fixed and not adjusting to the rev chages. I am not sure when belt was last changed and although it looks ok I have booked it in with a mechanic to change the belt. If I had the cam locking tools would do it myself but dont want to risk damage to the engine without the correct tools. In SA mechanic charges R1200 (120 Euro) to chage belt (parts R1000 or 100 Euro not from agent) total 240 Euro cam tools to get to SA are around this price so better get mechanic to do the job.

Thanks for advise on the throttle body actuator I will check it this weekend.

planet_rocker said:

Timing belt replacement is every 60K Kms.

Click to expand...

OR....three years, whatever comes first...!!!!
No matter what the (outdated) manual will say..!!!

Peter, What about the shelf life of these belts? lets say, i put in a new belt as on today, but the manufacturing date of the belt is sometime in 2007?

Garry, even the muck (if you drive the car more in dusty environment) around the potentiometer wheel (black wheel to which the accelerator cable is attached) needs to be cleaned. WD-40 should help getting rid of the muck - keep a small piece of cloth below the throttle body to collect the excess oil drips while you spray WD-40.

The throttle body of the Palio 1.2 can be dismantled and cleaned unlike the in the 1.6, where it is quite difficult to open the throttle body. simply pull out the intake pipe and spray TB / carb cleaner spray around the IACValve

Take care.

Belts age, even when not in use, so I wouldn't use a cam(!) belt that's older than about a year.