General Proud New Owner

[bredsticz]

Hi All,

It's been some years since I was last in an Uno, my mum and dad had one each when I was about 6-7 years old.
I'm now the proud owner of my own 1993 1.0 Uno.

I actually love driving it and it was a blind buy and overall very happy.
The are some issues, obviously.

Firstly, it has a huge hole in the exhaust mid section which I will replace, although, would there be an issue MOT wise if I change the whole exhaust to and earlier one without the cat?

Juno, as I've named her, also has wet footwells. I'm guessing blocked drainage wells but I'm yet to investigate properly.

Fuel tank has a weep to it, pretty far gone too so I'll see if I can repair this, if not then a new tank it is.

One thing I have found out is the front vents don't link to the heater which I find strange, but I can't get the heat to come from the demister either, no air whatsoever comes from them vents, I'll have to take the dash out and see if it's all linked up still. Sounds like it is.

Wet footwells are giving a rather nasty damp smell in the car which I'm sure will be fun trying to get rid of now.

It did fail the MOT just before I bought it but only on exhaust, emissions (hole in exhaust probably caused this) and a tyre.

I'm sure I'll have other questions and it'll be a slow progress with it, so far it's fantastic! I look forward to getting her on the road, oh and restoring the awful paint fade everywhere

 

[core]

Love Uno's

All car's in the UK manufactured from January 1st 1993 should have a cat. What about a sports cat instead? They're a bit louder but cheaper as well.

The heater only works up, down or a combo of up and down. You can't get hot air from the front vents. What I do is crank the heat up on the up/down setting then adjust the cold air coming from the front vents as necessary.

 

[bredsticz]

Love Uno's

All car's in the UK manufactured from January 1st 1993 should have a cat. What about a sports cat instead? They're a bit louder but cheaper as well.

The heater only works up, down or a combo of up and down. You can't get hot air from the front vents. What I do is crank the heat up on the up/down setting then adjust the cold air coming from the front vents as necessary.

Ahh, sports cats i thought were usually much more expensive. Its nothing to do with sound or power, i'd rather juat not have one.

As for the heaters, thats what i'd found out but i can't het anything from the top vents, hot or cold. Never really checked bottom vents tbh

 

[core]

Catalytic converters are deemed a necessary evil these days and it is frowned upon by many MOT testers should you not have one. Saying that I have heard of people with Uno's that have passed their tests without one. I'd recommend talking to your local MOT garage and ask their opinion on the matter.

As far as your heating is concerned. If you can hear the fan is spinning but you have no air anywhere, check the piping behind the console, they are either lose or damaged.

Snap a few pics of the car both inside and out while you're at it. Let us see what you're working with

 

[bredsticz]

This is her as I've bought her.
If all goes to plan she'll have a new exhaust link section tomorrow and hopefully sort the rain water leak out.

I am going to pull the dash apart n see whats come apart as yes I can hear the fan but nothing coming out.

Also, sourcing a new petrol tank

 

[core]

This car looks very familiar. Did you buy her on eBay recently?

 

[core]

If you look at TommyD97's post you will see what he did to bring back the shine to his dull paintwork. His car came out really well considering how tired the paintwork was:

https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/427494-tommyd97s-uno-60s.html

Thought of his post when I saw your car and thought it might be of interest to you.

 

[bredsticz]

It was on ebay yes made an offer before the auction ended
That paint comes up really well. I have loads of t-cut so going to try that first and see how it goes

 

[core]

If you wouldn't mind post some pics so we can see how she cleans up.

 

[bredsticz]

That i will, it'll be a slow progress though.
Think i may have bought the wrong petrol tank though :/

 

[core]

Making any progress?

 

[deltadeano]

T cut is ok for the odd blemish don't do the all car with it it will take you days. The best stuff for cutting back paint work is Farecla G3. This will save you loads of time and you can buy it from any motor factors or Halfords.

It was on ebay yes made an offer before the auction ended
That paint comes up really well. I have loads of t-cut so going to try that first and see how it goes

 

[bredsticz]

I have convinced a friend to let me g3 the car with all his stuff and give it a good polish and wax too.
As for progress not a lot.
Exhaust seems very hybrid. Back box is correct for the car, mid section is from a 1.4 and from the down pipe to the mid section has been welded in about 2 places and doesnt look like a 'buyable' part.
I've repaired ny fuel pump. I hope and am waiting on a friends dad to weld the breather hole on my new tank.
1.4 mid section exhaust arrived today.

Apologies if anything doesnt make sense as im on my phone

 

[bluejohn125]

The wet interior might be due to a failed heater matrix, shouldn't be too hard tp change on an Uno. Coolant / antifreeze usually gives a nasty "fishy" smell inside the car.

 

[bredsticz]

I am mindful it could be the matrix although it doesnt smell like it is and the rear floor seems worst effected now.
I am taking the dash apart at some point anyway so i will be checking the matrix either way.
I have taken the rear door seal off to reinforce it with some silicone sealant and refitted it as flush as i can

 

[Ralf S.]

I've repaired ny fuel pump. I hope and am waiting on a friends dad to weld the breather hole on my new tank.

You're going to get someone to WELD the petrol tank?

Better than doing it yourself... but you do know they're going to die, don't you?


Ralf S.

 

[bredsticz]

It's a brand new tank so if they do die I hope it's not down to me

 

[Louie Bee]

Water in the car could be blocked drain holes in front of the fan.

Take the grill off the scuttle pannel (Between windscreen and bonnet) and have a feel about.

I remember pulling soil and branches out of mine and being confused at how they could have made it past the grill.

 

[bredsticz]

I've already checked them and all clear. Water seems mainly rear passenger side carpet now and been filling up in the rain

 

[a73uk]

I've already checked them and all clear. Water seems mainly rear passenger side carpet now and been filling up in the rain

This can be rotten rear turrets causing that, from the wheels spinning the water up into them. if you press down on the carpet just outside of the top shock mount in the back (see picture for the area), is it crunchy?