I was reading somewhere that if you had a F.I.R.E. engine, that you would not get the damage that occurs in relation to the valves and the pistons when the timing belt snaps. I was wondering if there was any truth to that statement, and also how to find out of my engine is a F.I.R.E. engine.

1) yes 8v fire engines are all pretty much impervious to cam belt damage, as far as I know
2) most 8v fire engines look like this:-

well I can't find any good pictures of a fire engine, sorry

well heres a picture of mine;

you can see most of it as the airbox is missing

just post up your punto mk and model.
thats the easiest

What's a F.I.R.E. engine? Does my 8v 1200 Punto S 60 1998 have one? Very interested to kow as I had a cambelt go once on a Rover - ouch!

punto 60 is an 8v 1242cc FIRE.if the cambelt goes it won't damage anything.

arc

Mine's a P/97 MK1 Punto 55SX 1108cc 5DR, so I assume that it is a F.I.R.E. engine.

got-nothin-better-to-do said:

Mine's a P/97 MK1 Punto 55SX 1108cc 5DR, so I assume that it is a F.I.R.E. engine.

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yep is safe, but still bad if it goes in fast lane of motorway or in middle of no where

Cheers Dave!

Just to add. The 16v FIRE engines are NOT safe from cambelt damage. do not miss the service intervals.

16v fire engines are found in mk1 sportings (3dr) and mk1 85 16'v (5dr).
also in a number of mk2's.

they are not safe.
but you do have a safe 8v version.

cam belt would cost around £80-100 inc parts and vat to be done at a reputable garage (i.e not a fiat garage!!)

16v = super fire

MK2 ELX 2000 8v?

8v fire = safe

Mine's a 1998 R MK1 1.2 60SX is that FIRE? And what exactly does it mean why is this engine not damaged if cambelt goes? Seems odd?!

smithy87 said:

Mine's a 1998 R MK1 1.2 60SX is that FIRE? And what exactly does it mean why is this engine not damaged if cambelt goes? Seems odd?!

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Yep, it's a FIRE - it's an 8v.

It's a non interferance engine - meaning the valves won't hit the block if the belt snaps.

chaos said:

Yep, it's a FIRE - it's an 8v.

It's a non interferance engine - meaning the valves won't hit the block if the belt snaps.

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I changed mine 'just incase' a few months back. Seems there was no need? Can you just replace as and when/if it snaps? Surely you can't actually drive it anywhere if it goes?

no you can't as the top of the engien and the crank are then not connected and nothing really happens,

although you may get some back firing from both exhaust and throttle body ends and some cool flames


yes you really should replace teh cam belt anyway, since it should prevent you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

and yes, it breaks, fit a new one, breaks again, slap another one on there. they are cheap and plentiful, and you can DIY it