How do you put up with it?

[Von]

Hi Guys.

Just having a moan as my HGT is driving Tim to distraction lately.

Parked at the pub at about 7.00 last night (soft drinks officer, honest), came out about 9.00 and car would not move. Like a tw** I had left the handbrake on. Did not think it would freeze in such a short period of time, so car still in pub car park (I hope). No point in trying to get it as there is still freezing fog in Brum, so will have to wait till it warms up (June maybe!!).

Also, started car in pub car park on Sunday evening, different pub, had left handbrake off so no problem there, and dash had stopped working AGAIN!!!! Have been driving to work with no dash instruments all week, no choice, only car I have.

Tim has to now spend a couple of hours sorting dash, when I get car back, had no time this week as it has been dark when we are at home. He now refers to my boo as 'a heap of Italian s***'. It just seems that as soon as you sort something out, another bites you in the bum. As long suffering Tim has to sort it out (not paying rip off garage prices) not sure how long he will put up with it before I am urged to sell Boo and get something more 'practical', probably another VW. Don't want to do this as I love my HGT.

Feel better now.

Von

 

[furry]

hi mate the same thing happens with my dash around every 6 months or so, all i do is open the bonnet take off the fuse cover (just above the battery) take off the plastic cover to reveal 4 big fuse's, now while these look ok as mine always did take each out 1 at a time so you know where to put them back give the contacts a wipe blow in the holder and stick it back in do this on all of them, then it should work as it works for me every time, as for the handbrake its just one of them things unless you buy a new one and get plenty of lube, im sure theres a guide on here to fix it somewhere might have been joske thats done it as he does a lot of them (cheers btw) they do come in handy.

 

[Von]

Thanks furry, will try this (or Tim will) before dismantling dash, as he had to last time to get it to work.

Problem is, he don't like things he can't fix and is determined to sort out the handbrake problem. I have some new cables we bought for MOT but did not use. Only thing is, no garage and car has to be repaired on the drive, so not really the weather at the moment!

You know what they say, love hurts!!!!!

 

[furry]

all too well mate.im the same with having now garage loads of stuff i want to do the hgt but the weather just says no

 

[sam]

i know how you feel, its up and down with these cars all the time isn't it

the last bravo i had, never took a spanner to it. this one sceems to break all the bloody time

i have a hole host of electrical problems, non of which are mission critical (lucky for me)

 

[Anonymous]

the electrical side of things is part of the fun of owning an italian car, as already mentioned my HGT does this a wiggle of the fuses gets it working again

Handbrake - well thats something all fiats suffer from due to water ingress, just get used to parking without the handbrake and leave in gear - no big deal!

99' Nero Black Bravo HGT 155
20v Air box wanted complete email me ([email protected])

 

[Andy]

Von, hopefully Tim wont make you seel your old Italian lady...

Here are my tips for sorting your probs

Dash; this can be a number of things, try Furry's fix as I know that does help.

My fix is slightly different however, yet Inever had to do anything again!

When the clocks have been removed from the dash, with the woreing still plugged in, get a sandwich bag tie and loop it through the connector on the wire and onto the convieninatly (sp) placed holes and loops on the back of the dials. twist it up nice and tight and fingers crossed this will give you your long term fix (lasted 3 years in my 1.2!)

Handbreak; this comes down to the rubber seals on the caliper end of the hand break perishing

2 options, the quick fix to make life easier is to spry a load of wd40 down the rubber sheath to keep things free for a bit

the second is to replace the cables, as long as you can free them from the caliper it is an easy job. unwind the slack on the adjuster on the bottom of the handbreak lever so the cable is as loose as possible under the car. get under the car and remove the cables from their holders (metal u bends that hold it in place) this gives you more slack and manouverability. then its a case of freeing the cables at the lever end (easy when you are looking at it, but a pig to explain) and then freeing from the caliper arm. refitiing is simply the reverse (in a non haynes way, it really is that simple)

if you need any more advise etc just ask, i kinda know my way around these beasts now...

Andy_sx

 

[Von]

Thanks Andy

Dash fixed by taking out and putting back fuses. Apparently I am going to be getting a switch attached that will enable me to reset the dash if and when it goes again. Don't ask me how, electronics are not my strong point.

As for the handbrake, if it even looks like the temperature is going below 1 degree I am parking with handbrake off.

Just waiting for the next little quirk to show, quite exciting really!

Thanks for all the advice.

Von