As title says...

My Multijet is due new timing chain at the next service. Is there anything I should have done at the same time?

What mileage has it done. I don't know why but always thought timing chains were a part that normally lasts the life of the engine

Almost 60k miles. And Fiat recommends new timing chain at 7 years. Dez will be 7 at his next birthday...

Wee Smurf said:

...Fiat recommends new timing chain at 7 years.

Click to expand...

Really...?

Is that requirement documented anywhere......?

That's what I was told at the last service. So I took their word for it... My car is a long term keeper. I reckon on having it a long time yet. Just want to keep it well.

60K is very low mileage for 7 years. I was told that unless it starts getting noisy (and it will get VERY noisy), the timing chain should have a life of 150K at least, age doesn't matter.

Todays chains don't last the life of the car they are
lighter in construction. Classic example is the vauxhall
corsa designed in conjuction with fiat and the new punto.

VX diesel engines have had serious amount of failures
as well as the low capacity petrol engines. One aftermarket
supplier I know of has produced a special kit with strengthened
chains and Cam wheels to fill the OE gap in the market.

John

My old Corsa B had one of the early 1.2 16v chain engines and by 82,000 the chain was starting to rattle, however it had poor service history and I think the lack of oil changes contributed to that. It was the head gasket which killed it rather than the chain.

The car is still on the road, so the trader who bought it of me must have repaired it.

Mums Petrol Yaris is on 145k at 11 years old with the origional chain and still running ok, not a changeable item on that

I'm a bit disappointed, always thought chains were the better option, seem not now really

60k does sound close to what you'd expect a belt to be changed at, is someone confused or trying to confuse??

Chains are meant to be more durable and what made the old Micra such a reliable car.

As stated, chains can start to rattle when guides are worn and the chain stretches and the self adjusting tensioner is at it's end. When there's too much slack they can jump.

Have a gander at this
http://www.partinfo.co.uk/files/ADK873500.pdf

Might be worth getting another professional opinion on this.

I would have thought that the timing chain should be done on mileage, not age.if you think about it, timing belts decay with age, a timing chain only wears with mileage. Again, as goudrons says it may be worth talking to an independent fiat specialist.

If anyones owned a VR6 engine they can tell you about timing chains
There must be a heap of them with snapped chains about.

Answer is: it depends on the manufacturer's recommendation.

60K seems idiotically low. Does it have a tensioner? Thery are usually changed too.


"That's what I was told at the last service. So I took their word for it..."

Don't forget to change the blinker fluid.

Goudrons said:

60k does sound close to what you'd expect a belt to be changed at, is someone confused or trying to confuse??

Click to expand...

That's my opinion as well. If the correct oil grade is used, and service intervals respected, there is absolutely no need to change the timming chain so early. The chain tensioners are lubricated by engine oil, therefore the need for the correct grade (5W-40). This way, age won't affect it!

As it was said before, change it when it gets noisy and save a lot of money. That's why you bought a Diesel in the first place, am I right?

The chains arent indestructable and plenty of vans with the same engine have problems but thats at a continous 4000RPM+ on the motorway for 100k miles.

Its a low mileage, light use car, the chain will last forever. The tensioner may wear and it will start to rattle but you will notice.

10years and a 100k before changing in this car as a minimum.

Did you see anything in your handbook? I'd ask for a written quote.

That’s odd (or perhaps not), the handbook don't mention checking or even replacing the chain - just belt which excludes MJ - of course

Check page 158 here
https://www.fiatforum.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=267

I'd be speaking to FIAT UK about training gaps for this dealer so they may gain FIAT diesel engine servicing basics and overcome such sales incompetence - if I didn't service my own

Had to pop into see my diesel specialist on the way home with my other car and according to him Vauxhall seem to have had a few failures of chains on the same engine.
A few Ex PO Combo 1.3 CDTi vans have seen them stretch and jump.

This has been put down to dirty oil and gunk starving the chain and guides of oil brought on by poor servicing.

He's not seen a Fiat with this so far, when I mentioned the "recommended 60K" he choked with laughter and reckoned the dealers are doing anything to drum up business these days!
"Robbin' cucking funts" I think he said and something about adding "another 100K" to that figure before it rattles.

I think in short the last few posts have confirmed what I though all along. Keep the car well serviced and don't abuse it and you'll be fine probably for at least another decade, but if you neglect her, and regularly rag the balls off her while 4 up and a caravan attached then expect it to go soon

Indeed, I was wondering if they had thought about it being petrol instead of diesel, lol.
And yes Jon, Dez is a well maintained Panda. He gets serviced regularly. I don't own a caravan nor do I own a tent. I'd have to work out how to tie down two crazy little boys first, lol. I don't even get much of a chance to rag the balls of him as I'm always driving through rush hour. I get the feeling that they didn't sell too many Pandas with the diesel engine here. They once said about changing the spark plugs! And there was me thinking that diesels didn't have them, lol. Makes you wonder sometimes! I'm thinking I might need new glow plugs soon as we're getting a bit sluggish to start.
I don't think I'll be starting to service my own car though. I've enough to do between working full time and looking after my two blond haired loony monkies. I barely get to sit down.

I guess you'd be better off finding a new garage, the one you use sounds like they think you're a fu, er dimwit!
If you're out of your warranty, look around for a good indie or a local diesel specialist.
Look out for any Italian car places or ask around a few taxi drivers for diesel specialists, they'll know where and who to see.

With regard to your comment about ragging the balls out of it, it's not a bad idea to give a diesel an "Italian tune up" every now and then, rev the nuts off mine at least once a week