Technical Coil question again

[Deckchair5]

Recall? Are you sure? What's the reference number for the recall?

Why would you need to change your spark plugs as well if you change a coil?

If I have a tyre replaced then almost guaranteed I have to replace another one within 6 months but it's a tad expensive and unnecessary to change all of them at the same time. I can't change a tyre but anyone can change a coil in 10mins

Vehicle recalls can be found at http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

 

[Meady]

Have you had any other work like cambelt change or head replacement done? What happens if you drive to the same rpm in gear 4?

Hi Deckchair and everyone else

Changed all 4 coils guess what no $^%$% difference :bang:. Getting close to getting rid of this "car".

Just noticed your question, yes I had the belts including cambelt changed becasue they were screeching and this problem started happening about 3 weeks later.

I've noticed that the fault seems to occur at higher rpm, I tried it in 4th gear , same problem occurs at higher revs, similar to those in 5th at 80mph.

Please tell me that having the cambelt changed is significant and fixable

 

[Deckchair5]

Aha! Just the response we've been waiting for. Valve gear doesn't just suddenly go out of synch but it's extremely likely to be set up incorrectly after a cambelt change as you have to synch the valve gear to the crankshaft. If it's out just by just a fraction then you can get flat spots in the rev range causing misfire.

I'd take it back to whoever did your cambelt change and tell them since the change you have been getting a flat spot and misfires at a certain rpm and get them to recheck your valve timing

Bit late now but always tell us the full history of any work you had done immediately prior to the problem

Mine was the other way around, low rpm flat spot before it went for cambelt change and smooth as a baby afterwards

 

[Meady]

I did I did First thread but it was embedded in a load of other blurb

thanks for the quick reply Deckchair, is checking the valve timing a major operation??

Not sure they will do it for nowt because its been about 6 months since it was done.

 

[Argonought]

Most reputable garages that both supply & fit a cam belt will supply a 12 month warranty to cover parts and workmanship.

I'd say you're covered although a lot of work for them I'd imagine

 

[Deckchair5]

That's a completely different thread Meady, and from April Ha! you need to keep it in the same thread for the same problem. Can't expect miracles from us old guys who can't remembar what they did last week much less April

Anyway, checking the valve timing just consists of finding the piston top dead centre by dropping a depth gauge rod into the spark plug hole and then checking the camshaft positons with the cam locking tools. For that you just unbolt the cam shaft end covers and offer up the locking tools. They should of course line up and go straight on. If they don't then the job wasn't done properly first time and that would need taking off the camshaft covers, undoing the cam sprockets and lining them up properly but that should be at their expense if it wasn't done right in the first place

 

[Argonought]

...checking the valve timing just consists of finding the piston top dead centre by dropping a depth gauge rod into the spark plug hole...

Is there not a TDC marker on the flywheel & housing then Decks. (not actually looked so guessing there is one - so prove me wrong )

 

[Meady]

That's a completely different thread Meady, and from April Ha!

Deckchair, I know I know but you replied to me then True I should have kept it in the same thread. If I ever get this thing sorted I'll link the old thread to this one.

must admit it has taken 7 months for the light to drive me mad.

Blimey sounds a bit convulated to my untrained/ unmechanical mind.

Trouble is its trying to convince the garage to admit they might have got it wrong, if not I'll be upgrading there hols to business class.

I'll have a go and ring them. Trouble is every time I mention some advice from here they think I'm trying to tell them there job.

 

[Argonought]

Fascinating read that 1st thread. Seems like Rich hit it on the head in a very early post (nobody tell him )

If you don't want to check yourself then why not take the car to a local Fiat garage and ask them to check cam timing. Wouldn't like to swear by it but based on Rich's post it seems possible that just connecting to Examiner may be able to verify timing is correct :chin:

You could then take the printout back to the 1st garage and threaten

 

[Meady]

Bugger, I wish I had put up with the belts squealing.

If only Fiat didnt charge £75 a pop for each diagnostic run . I'll see if my local garage will check it out of kindness then give fiat a call as well

 

[Deckchair5]

Yes looks like Rich could have been on the ball early on there so we can only blame him if it's still a wrong diagnosis

I hope it is that as it will be a very quick fix if it is.

No flywheel or camshaft marks on the Stilo and for most of the Fiat range so it's crankshaft and camshaft locking tools all the way. More accurate that way too and it has to be accurate with a capital A. A few degrees out and it causes all these type of problems. One tooth out on the cam sprocket and that can be 10 degrees astray

 

[Meady]

Just checked with Fiat Stockport, they reckon the valve timing check has to be done manually.

Just for a laugh I asked how much. £200 to check it £200 to fix it if necessary. £400 Bargain I'll have it done twice!

and if im really lucky that wont fix it either and I'll be £700 down. Hurrah

 

[Argonought]

As long as your Stilo is over 3 years old then some Fiat main dealers will both supply & fit the cam belt set for £150 I've just had mine changed only a matter of weeks ago (they even washed the car too )

...so bit difficult to work out why it would cost £200 to just check it!

 

[Deckchair5]

Yes that's absolutely bonkers pricing. They can't want your business I would guess

Is that the garage that did it in the first place? I'd make that bump back under guarantee for faulty workmanship

It seems to be some garages are a bit like hospitals, you go in with something to be fixed and you come out with something else wrong. Mine went in for timing belts and came out with no air con and flapping timing covers in the breeze

As Argo says, I'd expect whole timing belt renew, shampoo and set for £200

If you're handy, you could even buy the tools for around £100 i believe, do your own checks and sell them on as they are in demand for anyone doing their timing belts

 

[Meady]

Thanks guys I'll have to phone around other fiat dealers and see what prices they quote.

The garage that did the original belt change are local, i'll see what they come up with today. I went to them originally coz Fiat Stockport were so expensive although that may have been a loss leader for me

Good old Evans Halshaw in Stockport seem to charge crazy prices for everything they wanted £350 + vat to do all the coils which is why I did it myself. afraid I'm not handy enough to do the belts myself and i know it would all end in if I tried.