Cambelt Knightmare

[Bevan Coates]

I own a Fiat Bravo 1.4SX 12V 96 N
Recentely I was driving home on the motorway when I had to make a quick stop due to another motorist. I used my brakes aswell as gearing down quickly this caused the rev's to jump high but not to exccesive. Once I had stopped I "tried" to move into the next lane to avoid the car infront doing this I was greeted by a grumbling sound from the engine and then the engine died on me. The garage I had dropped the car off at told me that this was all due to the cambelt slipping (but not breaking) it had bent every valve in the engine, also the mechanic informed me that the cambelt tensioner was making a funny noise while he did the repairs so he replaced it (which I am pretty glad he did after reading what some people have had to say on this forum) The complete bill came to over £700 I knew that this shouldn't have happened at the time and thought that something wasn't quite right after reading this forum I am postive of it. I have kept all my reciptes, old parts etc and will writing to Fiat to make them aware of this and "try" and seek some componsation. The car since hasn't felt like it used to and the engine managment light is constantely on I have had a Fiat dealer look at this three times now but they still haven't been able to fix the problem.

 

[Pete Henry]

i don't want to dishearten you but...........

i don't want to dishearten you but my cam belt blew up 6 months ago causing no end of probs. Fiat dealer fixed cam belt and all other damage (valves etc.) and its still not right, and is currently being looked at (again) by the dealer to find out the prob. They haven't a clue! without meantioning any names of dealers (i don't know about legalities of that). Which area are you in? i'm in the west mids.
i've organised a meeting with the dealer next week which will be nearly 6 months to the day i gave it them originally.

 

[Syed]

Cambelt Fixing

You should reset the ECU. About your engine, did your mechanics use the correct tools to hold the timing.

 

[Anonymous]

I know how you feel!

Albeit I no longer own a Fiat (take a guess why), neither did I drive a Bravo but I did until 3 months ago own a Fiat Punto GT! I have to admit as this would be very hard to deny but the car was amazing fun! Although its not much fun when it spends 6 months out of the year I owned it in a Fiat Dealership! Five of those months I did not see the car at all! Other than dropping it off for them.....The problem started with a blown Piston and somehow whilst being replaced the entire electrical system blew in one full swoop! The total bill came to over £2000 and the car was never the same.......

I am currently thinking about buying a Fiat Bravo HGT but after reading some of these mails.....I DONT think i'll bother.