Technical I'm back (and with idle problems)

[whatoncewas]

Hi all,

It's been ages since I was on here. I've been away studying, travelling and just been really busy. I've still got my Uno and it's been running great other than its recent idle problems.

I came across this old thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/uno-technical/29820-distributor-replacement-fire-1-1ie-engine-2.html

I've done the test on the vacuum advance unit and it is gone. I can blow through the pipe completely freely.

I've got a few questions please so I can also decide what other parts to order and change.

So far, I plan on changing the "Distributor Vacuum Unit" and a new Distributor Cap.
1) How often should the HT leads be changed? They seem ok and were last changed nearly 4 years ago when I first got the car.

2) What is the "Distributor Pick-up Sensor"? Is it easy to change? Should I even bother? I see this part online at shop4parts.

3) What about the rotor arm? Shall I change that too? I can't see that online at shop4parts but I can always get that from the local dealer.

4) Should I, instead of all of the above, just get a new 50 pounds distributor unit from shop4parts?


Usually I would just change the known faulty part (in thise case, vacuum advance unit), but as the distributor has to come off anyway I'm thinking ahead a bit of changing other bits so the car continues to run smoothly for a lot longer.

Advise me guys
TIA,

 

[Louie Bee]

Hi Fella hope your well!

Blast from the past that old thread

I’m a dad now so thers no way I’d have time to make guides like that .

1) I have had my current Uno for 5 years and have yet to change the plug leads. If you get a misfire maybe change then??

2) Distributor Pick-up Sensor Think it will work till it breaks. No need to service it till it creates a problem

3) rule of thumb is to always replace the rotor arm when changing the cap. S4P do sell them think you need to ring for the part.

4) is that for the amp and everything? If it’s so that’s a really good price!!! However, I have read on Fiat Forum that distributors the 60 (1108cc) and the 45 (999cc) don’t have the same grubbins inside. Can’t remember if it’s the springs but if you get the one for the 999cc engine, it will not run right.. perhaps wrong timing advance can’t remember.

Louie.

 

[whatoncewas]

Congrats on becoming a father!

Thanks for your reply. I think I'll just do the vacuum unit, distributor cap and rotor arm then.

Will order from S4P tomorrow, hopefully I can get the car back on the road this week.

 

[alexGS]

Congrats on becoming a father!

Thanks for your reply. I think I'll just do the vacuum unit, distributor cap and rotor arm then.

Will order from S4P tomorrow, hopefully I can get the car back on the road this week.

I agree with Louie - and somehow I missed that super guide of his back in the days...!

Yes, Louie has MUCH less free time now than back then, I don't know how he gets onto the forum at all

I bought a vacuum advance unit for the 45 distributor recently - it was moderately priced.

Just check that the pickup wires inside haven't lost their insulation - if so, you might be better off with the complete distributor that you mentioned before.

Cheers,
-Alex

 

[Louie Bee]

...and somehow I missed that super guide of his back in the days...!

thanks!

I used to try and outdo yourself and Chas..

Still think I was far behind you two.. I remember a discussion on suspension https://www.fiatforum.com/uno-technical/24290-springs-dampers-why-ride-harsher-after-lowering.html

 

[alexGS]

thanks!

I used to try and outdo yourself and Chas..

Still think I was far behind you two.. I remember a discussion on suspension https://www.fiatforum.com/uno-technical/24290-springs-dampers-why-ride-harsher-after-lowering.html

LOL - that's one of my early posts. Back then I didn't even know who Chas was But what we said holds equally true today.

-Alex

 

[whatoncewas]

Just check that the pickup wires inside haven't lost their insulation - if so, you might be better off with the complete distributor that you mentioned before.

Great, thanks Alex.
I've got plenty of time and am about to take off the distributor now. Shop4Parts couldn't get all of the parts for me so I went to the dealer to order and only picked up the lot today.

If the wires inside have lost their insulation, is it a new pick up sensor that I'll need to buy and change?

I'll try and take photos of the distributor and get expert eyes on here to look at it

 

[whatoncewas]

I did something really foolish, so stupid, and you guys deserve to shoot me

The distributor is snapped, on the bottom arm bit that bolts on to the engine. Everything else went fine, I marked its point before removal, changed vacuum unit, rotor arm and cleaned it all up.

I guess I didn't match it up correctly, kept tightening the bolts, and bang it went - which is annoying as I think last time I took it off I managed it fine. :bang:

Anyway, it has happened now - what's next, new distributor then?
I'm thinking either that or just bin the car, but then also how can I manage the fitting correctly this time?

Bah, I'm slightly lost right now :bang:

 

[alexGS]

I did something really foolish, so stupid, and you guys deserve to shoot me

The distributor is snapped, on the bottom arm bit that bolts on to the engine. Everything else went fine, I marked its point before removal, changed vacuum unit, rotor arm and cleaned it all up.

Bottom arm bit?
So, you mean the fixing with the oval slot for the bottom stud/nut - under the distributor?

Relax - if the top one's still there, I don't see a problem. The top one should be sufficient to hold the distributor in place.

The worst that will happen is that you will have an oil leak - you could always try taking it off and applying some silicone sealant to the rubber O-ring before refitting.

Cheers,
-Alex

 

[Chas Uno]

TS86, this may be the answer to your dilema?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Distributor-F...882&_trkparms=39:1|65:10&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[whatoncewas]

Hey,

Apologies for the no show after my issue. I got the car fixed (with help) with a refurb distributor unit and then got rid of it. It's gone to a good home and the real good is I now drive an Alfa 145 Cloverleaf

The car was set to be moved on anyway. I had had it 4 years, so was cheap to run, and with my insurance bonus built up, I really wanted something more interesting (IOW, more powerful).
I tried doing a classic insurance thing on the Uno, but they weren't having any of it, so can't keep both.

The QV has it's own set of things doing (usual T.Spark stuff, new MAF, clean throttle body, blah blah), but that's part of the fun, right

Thank you all. Really appreciate the support.

 

[red1]

My way of checking HT leads for age/damage.
Run the engine in the dark, preferably inside a garage, very careful not to touch anything dangerous like the fan or electrics - peer in at the HT leads if their insulation is dodgy you will see sparks jumping between them or to nearby earth points close by.

 

[alexGS]

Apologies for the no show after my issue. I got the car fixed (with help) with a refurb distributor unit and then got rid of it. It's gone to a good home and the real good is I now drive an Alfa 145 Cloverleaf

Thanks for updating us

Ah, you'll come back to the Uno one day. It will be there for you in some form, like a faithful friend.

I've had a few Alfa affairs. My 166 from April is best forgotten, but I love my old 1991 164, which I've had for a year now (I had a 164 three years ago as well).

145 sounds a bit old too, is it built on a Tipo platform? (It was the 147 that I assessed before I bought my Stilo several years back, but the Stilo had an extra cylinder so I thought it was a better engine ). I imagine in England that even the 147 is rapidly hitting the baseline of their depreciation - well, the Stilo already has.

Meanwhile jjhepburn's Uno 45 - which has lived at my place for a few months now - is just about ready to hit the road. I drove it today - though it's not quite roadworthy - it needs the brakes to work on both front wheels. I haven't totalled up the cost of the project yet... but probably more than my 164

-Alex

 

[whatoncewas]

The 145 is based on the Tipo, yes. It's no way refined. Stiff suspension, dodgy driving position, etc. But it's an Alfa, and the 145, especially in Cloverleaf version, is really rare on the roads here. Mine has all the factory options as well

I am pleased with it. Current main issue with it is a intermittent stalling when coming to a stop in traffic. Has much improved with a new idle actuaator fitted last week, but does still happen now once really well warmed up.
Will be over at the Alfa specialist tomorrow to get this sorted once and for all.