General New Marea owner needs advice!

[phels99]

Hello to all of you!

I purchased a 1999 Fiat Marea 1.6 sx with a full service history & 41k on the clock. I paid a £1000 for it. The cambelt hadn't been done so I took it into a Private Fiat specialist (Genello Bros Catford) after getting a lot of..."what the f**k is a Fiat Mario?!" From numerous garages round London. I paid £250 - is that a little steep? I only ask because I got them to investigate a knocking noise from the drivers side suspension and he said the front wishbones need replacing £278 all in!!!!!!!

I was happy to splurge on a cambelt for piece of mind - but I'm starting to get that sinking [Fiat] feeling. I love this car but its adding up!

The knocking noise is very regular at low (0-30mph) speeds and fairly loud. The car does not pull to the right or left the steering seems spot on etc. Is it normal to have to replace such a part at 41k?

The rest of the car is fresh out the box and as tight as a nut but I'm starting to wonder what will come next. I've had a money-pit Fiat in the past. The problem is I love 'em!

 

[a1ant]

Hi mate,

Original Fiat wishbones are £99.96 Inc VAT from fiat (each). 41K is perhaps a bit premature for them to go, but i guess its just one of those things.
If the knocking noise is only from the drivers side then if i were you id have a look at the other side to see if it actually needs replacing or not.

Hope that helsp,
Alan

 

[bulldog5046]

not sure about the 1.6 as i think the setup is different but on the 20v its commonly the ARB drop links or bushes that cause the knock.

if it is the wishbone bushes and your handy with a spanner should take you more than an hour and £60 to do

Ry

 

[phels99]

Thanks for that I'll get a second opinion! Now another question......my temperature gauge in traffic goes up to the point in between halfway and the red marks. The fan kick in then it goes back to half way. 10 minutes later the same will happen - this cycle only happens in very heavy traffic (all the time in central London). It is not irregular it goes up then goes down again when the fan kicks in - I've just never owned a car that goes beyond halfway! Is this normal?????? Should I stop worrying and enjoy the car?

Regards

Mr paranoid about Fiats

 

[FDF]

My Marea 20v does that in heavy traffic. Every other car I drive the needle stays bang in the middle but not my Marea.

The only time you should worry is if the fan fails to kick in and that needle hits the red. Never happened to me. *touches wood*

 

[MikeG20]

Thanks for that I'll get a second opinion! Now another question......my temperature gauge in traffic goes up to the point in between halfway and the red marks. The fan kick in then it goes back to half way. 10 minutes later the same will happen - this cycle only happens in very heavy traffic (all the time in central London). It is not irregular it goes up then goes down again when the fan kicks in - I've just never owned a car that goes beyond halfway! Is this normal?????? Should I stop worrying and enjoy the car?

Regards

Mr paranoid about Fiats

Temperature on my 1.8 Marea is always on half in heavy traffic, low speed high speed. Maybe thermostat died or thermo-switch that switches fan