Technical light metallic knock

[I.R.]

hello people!

i've been bothered lately by some unusual noise coming from my 999cc FIRE engine. as soon as the engine gets warm the constant rattle (tac-tac-tac-tac) on idle begins. any ideas where these noises coming from? the car still runs sweet its just that noise the i have to get rid off.

cheers!

 

[Luke]

I have the same noise too, not alot to worry about Its just the tappets i think. Maybe worth checking the valve clearances though

 

[alexGS]

Ah, I know what that noise is.
At least, I know what I have been told that noise is... *the* FIAT specialist around these parts told me what it was, and that was on an Uno 45 FIRE that he sold to my Mum, and he STILL told us what it was...

Good news: it isn't anything to worry about. The engine runs like this just like it did before. It's not the tappets, it's...

Bad news: it's the connecting-rod little end bearings! Not an easy 'fault' to correct, they make a loud tick-tock noise when the oil is warm (and thin). Basically, a design fault. Later FIRE engines don't seem to do it.

If anyone knows better, please contribute the 'fix' for this!

Meanwhile, a friend has three Uno FIREs (I'm driving one of them) and none of the three makes this noise... Perhaps try a thicker oil like 20W50?

-Alex

 

[bulldog5046]

my clutch makes a tick tick tick noise when ideling and not in gear..... it bugs me sometimes so i hold the clutch down

other than that i have a really really annoying squeek comming from my wheels somwhere... cant pinpoint it

 

[M@nticore]

Howzit, A tappet noise sounds more to the top of the engine and is a loud tap noise, and and small end knock sounds more to the middle of the engine and is a low pitch knock. If it's a small end, i'd rather get it fixed, you could end up like me breaking a con-rod.
ps: check if you've got the right oil in your cabby, your oil may be to thin

 

[I.R.]

thanks for all your replies!

i'll check the valve clearance this coming weekend.

M@nticore,

i really can't tell where the noise comes from. its really difficult to tell whether its coming from the top or the middle but one thing sure its more on the left side of the engine facing the car. the noise dissappears at high revs btw.

alex,

sounds scary to me! this is the only car i got right now and with the soaring fuel prices here makes my uno really worth keeping.

im using a 20W-50 oil grade just right i guess for a tropical country like the P.I.

luke,

lets keep our fingers crossed. im not in a position to entertain a major problem with my uno right now

many thanks,

ian