General Need help on a few problems!

[Bushboy]

Hello

First of all, my uno is very underpowered. I dont mind but i have been told that a 999cc engine should pull alot more than mine does. The only problem i find with this is that the car finds it hard to get up even the slightest of hills in 4th and 5th. with motorway driving, crusing in 5th can be a problem when you see a hill coming up, sometimes its ok but sometiems i have to get into the left lane and hope for the best... i have to switch back to 4th sometimes to give it that extra push. Any ideas on how i can sort this in anyway[?][?][?]

Secondly if you nearly stall the car it will drop to a low rev (as it does when u nearly stall) when when you correct the stall it will still sit in a really low rev and if you apply the accelerator before the rev has risen to its normal level it will make things worse and can make the car cut out completly. If it does cut out then it refuses to start unless left for a few minutes. If the car doesnt cut out on you the car is generaly ok for the rest of your journey but sometimes when you put the clutch in the rev will drop to below where it should and nearly stall again but will then eventually rise back to where its supposed to. This problem i dont understand atall... oh and sometiems this problem stops the car from starting... the car starts on the key but if its a bad morning and its not starting how it should and you apply some gas it starts but sits at a really low rev and takes about 2 mins to rise to its proper rev unless you give it more gas... but this only helps by shortening the time to about 20 secs... i dont understand anyone any ideas[?][?][?]

My Lovely Uno

 

[HP]

If it's the injection version, sounds like you may have a problem with the idle stepper motor. Might pay to take the throttle body or carb off and give it a damn good clean too.

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
Cinqs&Seis Yahoo group
Clubcento

 

[Bushboy]

yup its the 1992 999cc IE "fire" engine

i was thinking about giving ther carb a clean but to be honest i dont know how or what to use etc... i dont know much abotu cars you see.. infact i cant even find the bloody thing... i looked up where it was in the haynes uno manual and its not where it says... heres a few photos of my engine... according to haynes the carb should be where my greens air filter is...

And heres the photo from the manual

can you see the carb?

thanks

as for the stepper motor. any idea where i can get one and the cost? can i fit it myself?

thanks again

My Lovely Uno

 

[John H]

Edited...

Pix OK now.

The Haynes pic is an early 55S - 1,116cc - not the "FIRE" like yours.

---------------

AFAIK the stepper motor will affect tick-over, but won't be the cause of lack of grunt when going.

Your UNO Does have a distributor, so there may be a split in the pipe to the vacuum advance unit - which will give a lean mixture and poor running.

The vacuum advance unit can also get punctured - air leak and no advance.

Pull the pipe off it and blow into the advance unit - if you can it's popped teens of UKP for a FIAT replacement.

Regarding stepper motor - it isn't separately available from FIAT.
But, I can tell the stepper motor works on my '93 Panda just prior to a cold start: ignition on, the stepper opens the throttle a bit ( My throttle pedal goes down a bit ! yours mightn't depending on cable tension ), with the airbox cover off you can see the butterfly valve move.



If you want to be depressed, it's possible your problem is our mortal enemy the Lambda sensor: low volts is lean, so if it's shorted out (or slow switching) the ECU doesn't know if you have a rich mixture causing slow running and may give more fuel when you least need it.
Does the exhaust stink of petrol [xx(] when you get it to pick up?


Regards

John H

 

[pothole]

I have the same underpower problem mine is the fire 998cc with electronic ignition, I went from a 1000cc Mini to the UNo you just have to learn how to drive it differently, but I have just got a Haynes Manual from Ebay, so at least I will know what I am looking at

Now have a waterleak coming from a strange place under the oil filter, cant see any pipes at all around there.

pothole

 

[MrDerv]

head gasket maybe? water leak and no pipes near = oh dear! get it checked at a garage.


Wanted: Exhaust for my Cinq Sporting! PM me!

 

[HP]

Bushboy, the throttle body is the bit underneath the big green filter. The pic in the Haynes manual is of a different engine (903?), so won't be exactly the same.
BTW, your breather filter's fallen off! The small air filter should be attached to the big pipe coming off the top of the cam cover next to the oil filler cap. It may affect the running like this.

You would also benefit from some cold air ducting from the front grille to the big air filter. FIRE engines in Cinqs respond well to cold air being stuck down their throats.

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
Cinqs&Seis Yahoo group
Clubcento

 

[Bushboy]

yup the car does stink of petrol sometimes.. usualy after ive been pushing it hard or doing over 60 etc.

My Lovely Uno

 

[John H]

<blockquote id="quote"> face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pothole


Now have a waterleak coming from a strange place under the oil filter, cant see any pipes at all around there.

pothole
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Your water leak is almost certainly the steel pipe which runs horizontally from the back of the water pump, behind the exhaust down pipe.
It joins to the bottom hose from the radiator.

Fastened by a (10mm??) bolt into the block.

Watertight at the pump end with an "O" ring.

When the coolant hasn't been changed in living memory its anti-corrosion properties fail, and this pipe rots through.

Costs about 10 UKP from FIAT.

Make sure the mounting bracket slot is the same distance from the "O" ring end by standing the two pipes back to back and compare before you try to fit the new one: mine was different, and I could'nt get the bolt to fit in the hole to fasten it until the bracket slots were the same...

 

[John H]

The dreaded pipe is just visible in this pic.

 

[Bushboy]

<blockquote id="quote"> face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Bushboy, the throttle body is the bit underneath the big green filter. The pic in the Haynes manual is of a different engine (903?), so won't be exactly the same.
BTW, your breather filter's fallen off! The small air filter should be attached to the big pipe coming off the top of the cam cover next to the oil filler cap. It may affect the running like this.

You would also benefit from some cold air ducting from the front grille to the big air filter. FIRE engines in Cinqs respond well to cold air being stuck down their throats.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I noticed the breather filter thing whilst looking at the photos... i was wondering what that big pipe going nowhere was lol so i went to investigate and noticed it had falled off... i have put it back on and the problem seems to have improved slightly but is stil there. the filter has only fallen off within the last week as i havbe a photo of the engine from 2 weeks ago and its on in that... the car had the problem then also.

as for cold air, any recomendations on how i could go about this? i do want some vents in the bonnet for styling BUT i dont really want to go cutting into the bonnet as ill probably f**k it up but i dont have the money to get a workshop to do it.

basicly... help! lol

My Lovely Uno

 

[pothole]

@John H

Thanks for the info on the waterleak, I shall sort it out tomorrow.

pothole

 

[Bushboy]

<blockquote id="quote"> face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">AFAIK the stepper motor will affect tick-over, but won't be the cause of lack of grunt when going.

Your UNO Does have a distributor, so there may be a split in the pipe to the vacuum advance unit - which will give a lean mixture and poor running.

The vacuum advance unit can also get punctured - air leak and no advance.

Pull the pipe off it and blow into the advance unit - if you can it's popped teens of UKP for a FIAT replacement.

Regarding stepper motor - it isn't separately available from FIAT.
But, I can tell the stepper motor works on my '93 Panda just prior to a cold start: ignition on, the stepper opens the throttle a bit ( My throttle pedal goes down a bit ! yours mightn't depending on cable tension ), with the airbox cover off you can see the butterfly valve move.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I'm going to check the vacume pipe and advance unit for the problems you said tomorrow. also i will look to see if i can see the stepping motor indications that you can.. i have never noticed the pedal move but then again ive never thought about it so wouldnt notice.

Thanks

My Lovely Uno

 

[HP]

Bushboy - You can use ducting from B&Q or wherever, all you need to do is attach it with ty-raps or similar in a place where cold air from the bumper will blow in as you are driving, and fix the other end close to the air filter. Made a surprising difference to mine when I fitted one.

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
Cinqs&Seis Yahoo group
Clubcento

 

[Bushboy]

hmmm.. well ill get down there maybe tomorrow after college and have a look around. ive been there atleast 5 times in the last week. been boxing out my boot and building my subs into the wall so needed a lot of mdf and everytime ive been ive ended up getting something i havent needed or forgotten something and had to go back ...

My Lovely Uno

 

[Bushboy]

right.. ive checked trhe advance pipe thing and it seems fine as far as i can see/tell.. as for the stepper motor.. the pedal does move slightly on turn on so i believe that its fine aswell. the problem seems to have improved alot recently... dont know why but when its trying to start and u give it some gas it still cuts out... luckily it starts on the key so i dont have this prob.

hmmm

My Lovely Uno

 

[John H]

Did you try to blow into the vacuum advance unit (the little lump fastened to the distributor on the end of the pipe)?
These "pop" - if you can blow through it you've got no vacuum advance.
The stepper and ECU will correct idle speed, but the response will be a bit flat.


If the cars been pottering about doing lots of short runs, getting filled with supermarket fuel once a month, and not really being exercised at all before you got it you might find it improves (slowly) just by being used..

Another option is you've disturbed one or more of the electrical connectors and things are working as intended.


Low cost things to do (in no particular order) which can help are:

clean the inside of the throttle body and butterfly valve edge with a non-fluffy cloth and some "carburettor cleaner". This seemed to help mine start without needing to press the throttle, as it was gummed up- effectively more closed than the stepper motor was allowing for on starting.
Seemed to help response on small throttle openings when driving too..

disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes (preferably when the engine is warm) then start it without pressing the throttle and just leave it (ECU) to find out the settings it needs to run properly for a few minutes.
Make sure you've got the code for your radio first though B)

Give it a good dose of injector cleaner with the next top up of fuel.


Perhaps Morten will be along in a while and add some comments too

 

[Morty Mort]

Hei.

Sorry for the delay...

I can see from your pictures, your engine layout is about the same as mine. I've got the 1108. Some parts are placed completely wrong, but that's because you're driving on the wrong side of the road. Anyway, hehe. I have no clue why it won't start after stalling.[?]

Have you tightened the throttle cable? If so, loosen it again. If not check on the throttle body where the cable is attached. Pull the cable and watch what's moving. You do not have to remove anything to do this. When the cable is released the "housing" or what I should call it - will strike an "idle button". This button / lever is not adjustable, but you'll find a screw somewhere there that will strike this button when you take your foot of the pedal. This will make your car get half amount of fuel per stroke than it does when driving. It prevents your car from stalling when applying full clutch.

Check your exhaust. The rear "pots" (difficulty choosing words no. 2) are noise killers. You might have one or two. These you don't have to worry about. But if there's a leak closer to the engine, it might make your car drag when you want it to accelerate. The engine needs some "resistance" (difficulty choosing words no. 3) to give power to your Uno (or any car).

It's worth a try.

Morten.

 

[Morty Mort]

Hei.

Another thing.

5th gear is mainly for fuel economy and lower engine noise. To get up just small hills it will propably be necessary to change gear from 5th to 4th or even 3rd. Sometimes I have to use 3rd gear to keep the 100kmph (60mph) on a very steep piece of highway where I live. These alloy top fully integrated robotized engines (FIRE) can be pushed very hard, but you will have to use low gears, because especially 5th is very high geared itself. I actually think you can reach a higher top speed in your excellent Uno 1.0 in 4th than in 5th.

So it doesn't have to be anything wrong at all. Remember your car weighs about 800 kilos, and you have an 1 litre engine. It doesn't have much torque, but it's quick and responds very well on high revs though. I haven't much knowledge about engines, but I think these are excellent. Treat it well: Clean your filter with Green filter's cleansing liquid or something and top up with engine oil. Remember it's a waste renewing oil if you don't do the filter as well. There's where the dirt goes. Also check the hose where your little filter is - the one going from the engine top. There should be a brass filter in there, to prevent eventual flames. It might be clogged with old and dirty and thick oil.

Morten.

 

[Mazz0]

Hi there,

I have a Fiat uno 1L too but its older model running on carb (non injection). I got problems like Bushboy. What I noticed is that during the whole summer it was running perfectly. I remember last year during the cold winters I had the same problems to what I'm facing now. I do like 40 miles everyday to work, I start the car and let it warm up for a few minutes with the choc on. My problems are on the motorway. After a while driving on 80mph with accelarator fully pressed, I notice that the revs go down and I end up stalling the car, which I then have to take on the side of the road and leave for a minute or two and start it again with accelarator fully pressed. It then makes some humming noise than starts fine again.

What I did yesterday is bought a new air and fuel filter along with filling my tank with the expensive quality unleaded petrol. Today when I went to work everything was fine and it was roaring nicely and had good responce and power. I even did 95mph which I can't remeber being able to do in the past. It may seem of course reasonable with the changes I made but I didn't have any problems today. Maybe because the weather was better today with sunshine and not as freezing as yesterday .. I don't know.. it will show on the forthcomming days.

Is this common with the fire engines or do I have a different problem ? What can I check, any suggetions ?

Pete