General Looking to buy a car finally !

[Ucof]

Im wiating for my road tax too.
It ends tomorrow, and I applied for it yesterday.

Thankfully, Im nearish to the DVLA so even 2nd class post will get to me overnight.

 

[Mr_Uno]

Got my tax yesterday, been pretty much driving non stop since then ! Noticed the tracking was WAAAAAY out. When driving straight the steering wheel was at a quarter turn !! So at the same time i took to the garage to get my two new front tyres (one had a puncture, the other was a spare) i got them to do the tracking. It literally drives like a different car now ! I can actually feel the road and corner with relative confidence haha.

...since i've been driving it i have noticed that the handbrake light likes to come on when it feels like it and that there is a slight squeaking noise coming from one of the wheels. I have a feeling it's just one of the front brake discs as like i said before it's been sitting around since last August; or i heard sometimes that new brake shoes can squeak whilst bedding in.

Other than those minor things it's great fun to drive ! I can actually feel the car rolling into the corners if i take them any faster than 'normal', quite an odd sensation for someone who is used to driving a modern car.

 

[beau]

check your brake fluid level.

 

[Mr_Uno]

The brake fluid reservoir is the one with the rubbery top with what appear to be wires on top of it ? Seems ok to me, in that i can see the fluid easily, though it isn't quite at the top.

The light is off for 95% of the time and suddenly it will just flick on for somewhere between 1 to 5 seconds then won't come on again for maybe 20 mins or so. Like i said though it is VERY intermittent.

 

[beau]

oh well, take the bulb out

 

[Ucof]

My handbrake light never comes on, even when I try driving with the handbrake on..

 

[Mr_Uno]

Hi guys, just had a poke about the engine (i have a habit of going out in the dark with a torch and randomly checking things....i dunno) and was looking at the vacuum advance, it does indeed look like it needs changing. How do i tell it needs changing other than by looking at it ? I know it effects the idling but it idles just fine. Does it do anything else ? I am about to buy a new one but i'm not going to buy one just becuase the current 'looks' old and rusty.

Everything else still looks ok after its first few days of young male style driving !

 

[Louie Bee]

see here

take pipe #7 off and see if you can blow. You should feel a big resistance, if not the diagram is shot, so replace #6. Ucof knows all about that

It alters the ignition timing and gives the engine life when accelerating hard.. well livelier than when it fails

can't remember but may be more in the guides section https://www.fiatforum.com/uno-guides/

 

[alexGS]

As for the handbrake light, the switch is mounted on a thin metal tab under the handbrake lever - probably just needs a tweak so the switch is properly 'off' with the lever down.

-Alex

 

[Ucof]

take pipe #7 off and see if you can blow. You should feel a big resistance, if not the diagram is shot, so replace #6. Ucof knows all about that

Just to add, you want to be blowing the metal tubey thing, not the rubber pipe.
DO NOT BLOW HARD.
If you do, you could turn a working diaphragm into a non-working one, and that'd leave you up crap creek with no boat or paddle.

This is my write up of changing the O-ring and the diaphragm: https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/200150-day-i-changed-my-o-ring-diaphragm.html

O-ring at top, diaphragm at the bottom.

 

[Mr_Uno]

Wow great replies !

Just checked it and there is little to no resistance, just about to order one off shop4parts. Looks dead easy to change.

Also i just had a look at the air filter and it looks dead !! This should do the job shouldn't it ? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-N-Air-Filte...s_SM?hash=item45ed273b91&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Ucof]

Yeah, the diaphragm is really, really easy. Follow the guide
Its 2 screws, a ball joint that pops off (get a small flat head screwdriving in behind it), and a tube. That is all.


That air filter should be fine indeed.

 

[Louie Bee]

you should be able to blow a little bit, then it should hold pressure.

I'd say use a standard air filter. you should get one from your local motor factors for about a fiver.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AIR-FILTER-FI...s_SM?hash=item56334c78e3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

If you get the KnN, you'll need the filter oil too and it's not really cost effective.

I have driven my Uno with no filter, then fitted a standard new one and noticed no difference, so I struggle to see how an uprated one can give power?

 

[beau]

i wouldnt spend £35 on a airfilter tbh...

unless you were aiming to keep the car for 250k miles or summit it aint worth it, it wont make it faster, its just reuseable.

you done your oil and plugs yet? cos if the filter looks nasty they are probz over due also.

 

[Mr_Uno]

Ok guys i bought that air filter and some new spark plugs (and a feeler gauge), these ones to be precise: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....737941&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3860wt_939

...so you can guess what i'm about to ask next....what is the correct spacing for the plugs ? Thanks !!

 

[beau]

Ok guys i bought that air filter and some new spark plugs (and a feeler gauge), these ones to be precise: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....737941&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3860wt_939

...so you can guess what i'm about to ask next....what is the correct spacing for the plugs ? Thanks !!

shouldnt need to check the gap on the plugs, they come pre-set.

iv never checked and i replace them every day nearly, only once cos i dropped one

 

[Louie Bee]

IIR gap should be 0.85 - 0.95mm for the 1.0ie

I found my 1.0 ie start liked 0.9mm much better than 0.95

Link don't work but Feeler gauge is always a good tool to have. Far easier to take seconds to check than replace all plugs and have a none runner.

Hmm guess you'll never find yourself setting the points gap unlike the 903cc Uno :bang:

 

[Mr_Uno]

Once again thanks for the reply !

I plan on doing an oil change, i know the basics of what to do. Undo oil sump plug let it drain out, then undo oil filter and get the oil out of there. Screw on a new oil filter, refit the sump plug. Now time for the usual barrage of questions...

What size socket do i need to undo the sump plug ?
Do i need a special tool to get the oil filter off ?
What oil do you guys use in your Unos ?

 

[EssexUno]

#1: get under your car and have a look
#2: no, the oil filter is easy to get off, located at the front left of the engine (exhaust side)
#3: 10w40 part-synthetic about 3.5 litres or there abouts iirc

Would tell you the sump plug size but i can't remember, not hard to get to, just jack the car up on it's side n try some sockets. don't drain while jacked up though as the oil will go to one side in the sump best drained on level ground.

Dan

 

[Ucof]

Also, get some axle stands.

Never go under your car when it is only jacked up.