General advice on buying a marea
- Thread starter mtimm
- Start date
Currently reading:
General advice on buying a marea
FamilyGuy
New member
On the 2.4TD versions watch out for lack of power from the turbo.
You should be absolutely flying by the time you reach 2000 rpm but if the ecu has a fault it will chug along (like mine). You can remedy the situation but putting in the clutch, letting the revs drop, and then gently putting the clutch back and uping the gas.
If you then find that you've suddenly got loads of power, then the the ecu has a problem...
Other than that it is a fantastic car - watch out for a sticky boot handle... it sometimes stays stuck on the estates.
You should be absolutely flying by the time you reach 2000 rpm but if the ecu has a fault it will chug along (like mine). You can remedy the situation but putting in the clutch, letting the revs drop, and then gently putting the clutch back and uping the gas.
If you then find that you've suddenly got loads of power, then the the ecu has a problem...
Other than that it is a fantastic car - watch out for a sticky boot handle... it sometimes stays stuck on the estates.
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Check this site out http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk/buy-a-bravo.htm its for the Bravo/a but most of the points apply.
Check this site out http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk/buy-a-bravo.htm its for the Bravo/a but most of the points apply.
FamilyGuy
New member
Thanks for that link PoleCat... good advice for the future.
One thing I would carefully check is the electrics I've had lots of niggling problems:
I guess it's like on that site polecat mentioned: "You can get some of the electrics working some of the time but you can't get all of the electrics working all of the time..."
I guess that's true of most cars, or is that just FIAT?
One thing I would carefully check is the electrics I've had lots of niggling problems:
- Rear windscreen wiper - randomly switches itself on for 10 minutes or so,
- Speed sensor failed, new one reads 10mph too slow
- Exterior thermometer failed
- Auto Climate control failed - although I think that is related to the thermometer
- Airbag warning light - twice
- ECU/turbo fault
- rear electric window switch tempremental
- winge winge winge...
I guess it's like on that site polecat mentioned: "You can get some of the electrics working some of the time but you can't get all of the electrics working all of the time..."
I guess that's true of most cars, or is that just FIAT?
I have a 2.0 version mate and one thing i gotta say is CHECK THAT THE TIMING BELT HAS BEEN DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Its a really nice motor but the boys at FIAT did'nt put much thought into generall maintinace and such a job requires the engine to be removed.Apparantly it can be done by tilting it and shifting it but it seems a lot of hasstle and it'll cost you around £1000 a pop to do! (the clutch also needs the engine out to do as well).......still they look good 
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
- Messages
- 421
- Points
- 78
Dunno what people mean about problems with the Marea.
We've had ours since 6 months new and it's been fine. The only engine thing that failed was the transponder/immobilser (so probably electrical) and that's it.
Since then have paid for:
Cambelt
New rear wiper motor (burnt out)
New lever/flap for boot
Front wishbones/ball joints
Some garage services if not done by myself.
In a nutshell, it's been perfect, and great fun to drive (modern, yet no computer rubbish like traction control or ABS - just straight in there with a rev'y engine).
We've had ours since 6 months new and it's been fine. The only engine thing that failed was the transponder/immobilser (so probably electrical) and that's it.
Since then have paid for:
Cambelt
New rear wiper motor (burnt out)
New lever/flap for boot
Front wishbones/ball joints
Some garage services if not done by myself.
In a nutshell, it's been perfect, and great fun to drive (modern, yet no computer rubbish like traction control or ABS - just straight in there with a rev'y engine).
