Problems after cambelt change

[David T]

Just had my cambelt, tensioner and aux belt changed on my 2001 bravo 1.6 which has covered 55,000 miles. When I picked the car up I started it and straight away noticed firstly that the engine was more “tappety” (more than before the belts were changed) and also the engine management light (the orange one that looks like an engine) was flashing when the engine was running. So I went back into the garage and ask the mechanic why is this light flashing, to which he responded "that's normal mate, it will reset itself within 100 miles or so". I smelt BS, but I needed the car as they'd already had it for two days, So I just nodded like an idiot.

Needless to say I have now covered 250 miles since then and the light is still flashing at me when the engine is running. My fiat handbook says that if the light is flashing its something to do with emissions, take it to a fiat dealer blah blah blah. I will be taking back to the garage which did the cambelt but I need some reliable information (ammunition if you like) before I do.

My theory is that they have not fitted the cambelt properly and the timing is out, therefore the emissions have gone through the roof and that why the light is flashing. Also why the engine sounds so tappety.

Is my theory possible? Any knowledgeable suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sven]

You could be right, either way they have messed something up doing the cambelt.
The light on the dash will go out, after the problem is removed, to find out what exactly is wrond a diagnostic check is needed.

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[RR]

Take it back; tell them to do it again and that you will not accept their work until you are satisfied the engine is running correctly and there are no warning lights on.

The threat of the Consumer Protection usually works wonders too.

I once spent three hours "arguing" with a General Manager of Veg Rardy's over innumerable faults with an Alfa. In the finish, I told him that he had 5 working days to recify all the faults and replace defective parts otherwise he would be hearing from the aforementionedand or that I wanted my £7k back. I called them and they told me to put it all in writing and physically hand it to them, which I duly did.

Come the following week, I received a phone call to tell me that the car had 4 new Pirelli's, a new throttle body, a new heater matrix and a full 12months Alfa warranty. It also had a "full" (the roof wasn't done) respray to compensate for their shoddy touch up jobs.

It's such a shame that we have to go to such lengths. Personally, I woudl rather pull my own toenails out than buy a car off them again.