Technical Speed bumps!!

[al_scott]

A few weeks ago I bought a Marea Weekend 2.4TD. I've noticed that it bottoms out really easy on speed bumps - the engine tray seems to hang quite low. It also bottoms out if I go too fast (although not that fast) down bumpy lanes.

Is this a common problem?

I've also noticed a knocking coming from the OS front suspension when I go over bumps unless I go really slow. Any ideas what this could be?

Last question - fuel economy. Can anyone suggest what I should be getting from this car. It doesn't seem to be as economical as I thought it should be.

Thanks

Al

*** 1998 Marea 2.4 TD Weekender HLX ***

 

[The Mighty]

I've heard about the big deisel scraping along on the floor, so it must be fairly common. I'll ask my friendly (independant) fiat mechanic when I see him.
The knocking from the front is likely to be the drop link to the front anti-rollbar which is definately a common problem. They're fairly cheap to do though.

Chris

 

[Giblet GY]

Check the engine tray has not dropped down its only held on through the plastic with self tapping screws. The front of mine looked fine but the back mountings had split causing it to hang down and scrape.Marea Weekend ELX 20v.

 

[SpeedyG]

So it's not my driving technique which is corrupt.

I was doubting my driving techniques. I live in a street with many speedbumps.
Only at walk speed is it possible to conquer them without damage.
Checked under the car and my guess is an 10 cm bottom space.

O yes I drive an 20V Marea Weekend

Runs on tequila, much cheaper than petrol.....

 

[ddave]

mine bottoms out all the time, havent looked but suspect self tappers have pulled through, TD100 1.9

dave

 

[mareadman]

Hi I haven't had my Marea 2.4 td for long , but on a tank of almost 12 gallons I averaged 28 mpg . This was stricly town driving and getting stuck in terrible traffic . I don't know what its like on a long run but we'll be going to France soon so I'll be able to check that out .

 

[Ash_Arnold]

For years Fiat denied that the Marea drank petrol like a tramp on meths! Glad to know that everyone else has this problem too. I barely get 350 - 400 miles from my car for town and long distances.

The undertray is also a pain in the neck and with the amount of speed bumps where I live it constantly gets battered.

Just glad I wasn't being paranoid about these things!

 

[DAlex]

Just got a 99 2.4 jtd weekend hlx.
Guess what! I scrape speed bumps too. I'm also pleased that the knock from the front o/s is not just me.

As for mpg on a recent run of nearly 250 miles (avg 70mph) I was supprised to get over 40 mpg.(genuine brim full to brim full)

Has anyone seen or got an auto box version of this car?

DAlex (have a great "weekend")

 

[al_scott]

My 2.4TD bottoms out all the bloody time. I travel across a few country roads on my way to work. If I drive to fast where there are a few undulations it scrapes on the under-tray.

I was considering getting a new tray made out of metal. This could be a closer fit to the bottom of the engine and would therefore improve the clearance, because there is a bit of a gap between the tray and the bottom of the engine. Don't know how much this would cost or where I could get it done though!

If anyone has any solutions, I'd be pleased to hear them. I thought about removing the tray, but I read somewhere that it does actually play an important part in...
a) waterproofing the engine
b) improving the aerodynamics

Al


*** 1998 Marea 2.4 TD Weekend HLX ***

 

[anthony27]

Mine was scraping like mad, on my 2.0 20V HLX Saloon. When it had the belt change service, they couldn't re-fit the tray, and suggested I leave it off. I decided to go for a new tray (£80), and I haven't managed to scrape it on anything yet (including some rather mean looking speed bumps) in almost a month.

Anthony

 

[ts86net]

The Alfa 156 2.4 JTD (same engine) is also known to have a low engine mount like the Marea, and the same sort of thing happens.

Be careful though. The last thing you want is a cracked sump and thus seized engine.

Also, you all go get it chipped by www.angeltuning.co.uk - You like the sound of 190bhp+ and 400Nm of torque?

<font face="Verdana">-- T.
<font color="maroon">'98 Marea Weekend ELX (1.8 16v).</font id="maroon"></font id="Verdana">

 

[futuredoblodriver]

We had a 1.8 elx saloon, it used to do it all the time.

What the hell was that! common cry of other road users as the doblo over takes up a hill fully laiden at 90

 

[ts86net]

That was probably the lower lip of the front bumper. I get that on steep driveways.

<font face="Verdana">-- T.
<font color="maroon">'98 Marea Weekend ELX (1.8 16v).</font id="maroon"></font id="Verdana">

 

[DAlex]

Just had a new front exhuast pipe fitted and took the chance to have a peep while on the hoist. the back end of my under tray was keptup by cable ties. i mentioned the scraping to the fitter and he said he would take a look on completion.
he just put heavier cable ties on and explained that the thin type get hot and stretch. Sounds daft but i no longer scrape the same speed bumps. - God bless the cable tie.
Dalex

 

[ts86net]

I don't even have a under tray I don't think [:0]

<font face="Verdana">-- T.
<font color="maroon">'98 Marea Weekend ELX (1.8 16v).</font id="maroon"></font id="Verdana">