Speedometer needle and fluctuating Idle

[MrSevy]

Is my speedometer broken? When Im stopped the needle doesnt go down to zero. It just sits at 7mph. I was looking at night so I couldnt see if theres a bump stop ther to stop it.


Also

Sometimes when the engine is idling, the engine revs keep fluctuating between 900 and 1150 rpm. It makes quite a noticeable change in noise. What do you reckon is doing this and how do I stop it?

Thanks in Advance

Stephen

 

[Tom]

1) normal, fiat wanted it to look like its moving when its standing still so the speedo stops at about 6MPH.

2) engine size, age, milage etc.. Most likely normal though.

 

[MrSevy]

Its a 1.6 47k miles done R Reg. Well serviced. Only just bought the car so cant give amazing amount of details.

My house mate said it sounded like it was running on 3 cylinders instead of 4, but wen i reeved it went away. I thought it sounded ok but i dunno.

 

[LightWarrior]

lol, ignore it. i do. it doesn't seem to affect it any other time. ie it sits there when i pull away and moves up once i get to about 10mph

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* I want to die peacefully in my sleep, just like my gran did, and not screaming like her passengers were! *
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[Tom]

Might be worth getting some new plugs and cleaning the idle valve. (assuming its a Mk1 with an alloy manifold rather than black plastic)

The 1.6 does pop and splutter a bit at idle, its not exactly smooth but then its an old design engine. Mine has 84k on the clock and idles about as well as it did when I got it with 29k on the clock. I've found new plugs every year rather than every other year as Fiat suggest helps alot.

Point of note with pre 2000 1.6s is that they have a tendancy for injectors to randomly commit suicide. If you've got a history its worth checking to see if they have been replaced. £250 a pop if Fiat fit them but you can get them for £50 each and fit them in about 3hrs.

Symptoms are shite idle (REALLLLY shite), no power and the injection light will come on when you press the throttle and then go out when you lift off.

 

[Schuey # 1]

I had eratic idling for 6 months. All it took was a good tap on the idle air valve control with a small hammer as Tom had suggested. no cleaning and no nothing....jsut a sharp tap brings the rev needle as steady as ever. It was such a simple thing which i discovered after 6 months after having changed the plugs, air filter, putting in injector cleaners...etc



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[Anonymous]

how do u clean the idle valve??

 

[APC-mannen]

Does anybode have a pic of this valve, so I know where to tap?