Technical Funny noise from Cams

[Gift]

Greetings

Was parking my car at work and upon leaving when I started... There was a funny noise the cams then suddenly it died. Doesn't want to start. It cranks but no idle. So I opened up the cover and can feel the belt doesn't have tension. Can't take out the entire covers as I'm stuck on the road now.

Any takes on what might be the issue and possibly are my valves bent and how do I check for timing marks on the Stilo 1.6i 2006.

When I crank it, it still sounds normal, Just that it doesn't idle.

I'm stressed as to the costs involved as its my 1st Stilo.

 

[dtimmins1985]

Have you checked alternator belt?

I have heard that if they snap they can get into the timing belt area and all caught up... could make the timing belt jump teeth or ruin everything.

It could be other things too... like a failed tensioner or a seizing water pump... it could also be a crank sensor... does it run and idle when cold.

Last thing could be the dreaded 1.6 ecu fault... dropped pins or heat soaked... read the forum.

 

[Gift]

Alternator belt is okay, not snapped as well as the air-con belt it's fine. I got towed home and I started working on it, stripping to check if the Cam belt is okay... Must say it's a lot of work...

After removing all belts... I turned the alternator pulley and the water pump pulley to check of they aren't seized up, they run free... No noises as compared to the noise I heard before it went dead.

The tensioner is also running free not seized up... But I could tell after stripping the covers that the belt want under sufficient tension.

One other thing I picked up was the Cam covers they weren't fully tight... Upon removal, they were in pieces and the alternator belt had suffered some wear due to the cover and the cover has some damage from the belt.

So with the belt being intact... I don't know if probably my tensioner failed or what... I'll attach some pics

 

[Gift]

 

[Davren]

Alternator belt is okay, not snapped as well as the air-con belt it's fine.

So with the belt being intact... I don't know if probably my tensioner failed or what...

The belt in your pictures is not okay or fine, parts of the ribs are missing from it.

Is this the new belt and tensioner you fitted about 4 weeks ago? The tensioner doesn't look new either.
.

 

[Gift]

The alternator belt is new... Yes was fitted a few weeks ago. But the tensioner and Cam belts I never touched since the 3months of owning the car. So this tensioner is the one I just removed last night.

As you can see one of the Cam belt covers has a groove in it... It was made by the alternator belt as it was rotating so thus the alternator belt looks damaged, I'll conclude so...

So what I would like to know is what are the chances of my car having bent valves and how now to set the timing belt again??

I'm planning on going to buy a new tensioner and belt this morning and probably find someone who's good with fiat and do my timing... Might be a struggle finding someone this side for me as fiats aren't so common.

So I'm wondering what might have happened and what's the possible damage.

Thanks
Gift

 

[nickbanks]

Had the same problem on a 1.6. Mechanic did not pretension the tensioner so belt flaps at idle against cover... And sounds bad.. Make sure you pre tension to dot on tensioner.. Maybe no engine damage if timing belt not broken or did not skipped teeth...

 

[nickbanks]

I suspect resetting your timing would be complicated with out cam lock tools?

 

[Gift]

Been reading up on it and I suspect that it indeed will be a challenge. I'm on the way to my fiat dealership... Enquire about how much to fix the issue as I have no one I know that is good with fiats.

Upon proper inspection this morning as last night it was late and I was tired... I just had a look at the tensioner and seems like indeed it is broken.

I'll give feedback on what the dealership says.

Thanks a million for the help.

 

[Ralf S.]

If the tensioner packed up and allowed the cam-belt to go slack, then there is a high chance that the cam-belt slipped, causing damage to the valves.

It's promising that the engine turns over without making any clonking noises.. but even a slightly bent valve would still need to be replaced. On the other hand, the car could be not starting because the cam timing has been thrown out but otherwise everything in there is still okay.

I would remove the cams (to allow the valves to close) and then run a compression test to see what each cylinder reads. If you have a cylinder with more or less zero compression, then it's bad news.

Don't crank the engine with the cams still in there. You might damage something that is at the moment okay.

If you know a good garage then it'll probably be cheaper to use them than taking it to a Fiat dealer. All of the above doesn't need any specialist Fiat knowledge. Taking cams out and performing a compression test is fairly routine stuff.

Also: Don't mix up the cams or the camshaft bearing caps. I would paint numbers on them in position before you remove them, so you know which one goes where.. and which way round they were fitted.



Ralf S.

 

[Gift]

Just got back from the fiat dealership... They are telling me a huge amount which I honestly can't even afford. They reckon the valves are bent and the top needs to be overalled by an engineering company plus their cam kit and labour which the whole process will take close to 2weeks since its the festive season and companies are closing.

So someone referred me to a fiat Mechanic... Good fella, knows stuff, he also builds engines and has lengthy experience with fiats. He says he can do it well for me at a good price... So will tow the car to him and give him a go in the new year as he is on vacation with family now.

Will give you feedback and updates on how the fixing is going like.

Thanks a million for the help and advice. This group has helped me out big time. Appreciate it

Gift.

 

[Artermis]

In situations like this the dealer is best avoided. Dealers tend to employ technicians - trained to carry out their technical procedures, and not true mechanics.

The dealer therefore won't understand exactly what you have done as they can't relate what you have performed so far with any of their technical procedures.

Have a look, we have a copy of the dealer technical procedures on this website, visit the Stilo downloads section and get the download called eLearn.

What the dealer will therefore do is decide upon which of their technical procedures it is best fits your problem and quote accordingly. In this case that's probably for removal and replacement of the cylinder head along with replacement (as opposed to refurbish) and all new Fiat main dealer parts.

A proper mechanic on the other hand will do like Ralf has said and pressure test the head, work out what if any valves need to be replaced and fix the problem as opposed to just replacing parts.

I know you've sent to a mechanic now which is a good move, but I agree with Ralf S. compression test and see what's what.

I'd hope for your sake and wager a little that the damage will actually be fairly minimal and you should be back on the road in no time. What may help you is to get some prices for replacement cylinder heads from someone breaking a car, then you'll know at what point it's not worth repairing yours and just replacing.

Good luck.

 

[Gift]

Good Morning

Just wanted to give feedback about the repairs on the Stilo.

I took the car in by the garage to be inspected and fixed up. Since it was the festive and companies just opened now recently.

Unfortunately the damage is 8 bent valves so I need to purchase them and send the cylinder head to the engineering company.

They requested I buy the 8 new valves and 16 valves stem seals. Gasket set and timing kit.

They also asked me if the car has ever over heated because they say the oil has a burning smell which is unusual. To my knowledge, I told them the car has never over heated.

I'm awaiting a quote today for all the spare parts then I'll make a purchase and they can continue.

Thank You.
Gift.