I've been offered a 1996 Brava 1.4 S for £100. I've seen the car and it looks clean, but I haven't driven it yet. I'm told it has a "cam problem". It has 6 months MOT and 2 months tax left. Should I walk away? The "cam problem" has me worried.
Technical Brava Advice Required
- Thread starter Steven
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Technical Brava Advice Required
Buy it source a cheap engine flog it on job done!
for a £100 steve you cant really grumble and its worth taking the risk - if all else fails you could flog pasrts off it 
Kev says the prob with the cam could be the oil feed pipe above the cam. It could be blocked, aparently it is a common problem.
If it is blocked the damage could already have been done, through lack of oil.
He says its worth picking it up and either getting a fresh engine to drop in or for selling the bits off
Also from me BUY IT QUICK hes thinking of PM ing you if you dont buy it
If it is blocked the damage could already have been done, through lack of oil.
He says its worth picking it up and either getting a fresh engine to drop in or for selling the bits off
Also from me BUY IT QUICK hes thinking of PM ing you if you dont buy it
OP
OP
Thanks for the quick replies! Dawn, can you ask Kev if the oil feed pipe is an easy fix. The engine isn't seized, I guess that would be the worst outcome from a lack of oil. What should I look for when I see it tonight. Thanks again!
OP
OP
I've been phoning around today to try and get an idea of the cost of this job if I were to leave it into a garage.
The Fiat dealer I bought my current Brava from quoted me, get this, £1600! They went on to explain how the cylinder head would be damaged and need replaced and basically the top of the engine would be in several pieces. Are they winding me up?
I'm looking at the car tonight at 5.15 so please tell me this is rubbish. They haven't seen the car yet but they did say that they have done this job before. Also, I'm not actually going to take it to a Fiat dealer. I have more sense than that!
The Fiat dealer I bought my current Brava from quoted me, get this, £1600! They went on to explain how the cylinder head would be damaged and need replaced and basically the top of the engine would be in several pieces. Are they winding me up?
I'm looking at the car tonight at 5.15 so please tell me this is rubbish. They haven't seen the car yet but they did say that they have done this job before. Also, I'm not actually going to take it to a Fiat dealer. I have more sense than that!
have you gaot any fiat specialists near you - its best asking them for a realistic price
OP
OP
Just back from looking at it. It's very clean, the panels are 100% as is the interior, but I reckon the engine is seized.
The owner has been turning it over with no oil in it. The starter motor is spinning, but the engine won't turn over. There is no movement there at all. I left it where it was.
The owner has been turning it over with no oil in it. The starter motor is spinning, but the engine won't turn over. There is no movement there at all. I left it where it was.
