Technical Tipo TD Questions

[Steven]

Hello Tipo owners.

I picked up a 1993 Tipo SX 1.9 TD today. It has 138k on the clock and needs tidying up a bit. I'd forgotten how comfortable and roomy Tipos were. I drove it home, 20 or 30 miles with no problems, it pulls well especially in 3rd gear.

It needs an MOT as the old one has just expired and a few small things need looked at.

The temp gauge doesn't work, it's completely dead.
There is a knocking coming from the passengers side front suspension.
It needs a new steering wheel as the old one has split.
It rains inside when it rains outside. Every time I turned a corner I had a shower. :yuck:
The sunroof doesn't work, it just makes some noise but nothing happens.

I've never owned a diesel before and as a result I know absolutely nothing about them. What's different in terms of service items?

Is it realistic to expect to run a TD Tipo with this mileage as a reliable daily driver? Is it worth spending a few quid on?

Lots of questions there, but if anyone can help with some pointers on typical Tipo problems it would be much appreciated.

 

[sumplug]

Temp gauge is prob a loose wire, bad connection or faulty sender at the engine.
Knocking will be wishbone [common on FWD fiats especially Tipo diesel -weight ]. Rain inside is prob a blocked drain hole in the A pillar from the sunroof or a blocked drain hole at the scuttle [Scuttle on Tipos get full of leaves and alsorts] Pull the cover off to inspect and unblock. It can also come from the door area so powder around the floor and check for telltale leaks. Oh it could also be the bonded windscreen too.
Sunroof sounds like its jammed. This can be a real problem to open. Also the gearbox of the motor could of stripped, so you need to remove the panel of the motor [in roof lining] and inspect. Replace motor if needed.
Service is easy on these. Change oil and oil and air filter every 6000 miles max. I would do it a lot sooner. Change the fuel filter every other service.
these engines if looked after, will do well over 200000 miles easily. What kills a diesel is dirty oil and filters.
Check the rear arches for rust Check the engine for leaks and make sure the header tank has fresh coolant in it as diesels tend to run hot. Dont forget to check the brake system and change fluid every 2 years.
Tipos are great cars, and given regular maintenace, will serve well for many years.

Andy.

 

[Hellcat]

Out of interest is it a Mk1 or a Mk2? Think being a SX it makes it a Mk2.


Oh and what's happened to the MW?

 

[Steven]

Andy, lots of useful info there, thanks for that.

Robert, I still have the MW, my wife is driving it. I the Tipo is a Mk2, it has the later grille.

 

[Vin]

Good purchase Steve

I ran a Mk 1 SX TD for 3 years after my 1.6 DGT, and was a great car (did the 120 miles to and from work no problem, also performed well on my runs across Spain too. Replaced it with the Brava, but passed it to my sis, who since crashed it) As Sumplug says as a daily driver that mileage should be no problem with usual TLC, and agree tis probably loose wire or sender unit regards temp gauge.

As a precaution I would also check the floorpan (not galvanised) were it meets the sills, paricularly under the B post. My DGT disintegrated completely (sill as well) at that point so I scrapped it (had done 210k though so didn't owe anything), and my diesel was going there as well but I sorted it in time.

I replaced the oil pressure and speedo senders on my Sisters Tempra SW 1.9TD at Xmas, took it for a test run and had forgotten just how much fun it is. That engine has so much acceleration and pulls like a train great stuff.

Enjoy it Steve.

 

[Hellcat]

Mk2s TDs don't run hot as they have oil coolers (infront of drivers side wheel).

Clutch hydraulics might be coming around to needing repair. Easy enough job though. For the money you would spend on repairs - you would be hard pushed to buy a decent car. Good value for money Not good for young people though

 

[Steven]

It wasn't actually a purchase as such Vin, it was a freebie. It was offered on our motor club website and Stuartl took it. He has so much on his hands with other cars at the minute though that it has ended up with me. I haven't had a chance to have a good look at it yet so I don't know how it is underneath.

You're dead right about it being fun, my wife was in the 1.6 Stilo behind me coming home and I was opening the gap between us at will, she just couldn't keep up. I'll service it and try to sort out the little problems and hopefully it will MOT easily enough.

 

[Hellcat]

What is she like around the corners (The tipo, not your wife)? I found replacing the rear shocks and springs improved the drive a huge amount, much more than replacing the fronts.

 

[Steven]

What is she like around the corners (The tipo, not your wife)? I found replacing the rear shocks and springs improved the drive a huge amount, much more than replacing the fronts.

It seems ok Robert, although it's been so long since I last drove a Tipo I forget how they should feel. It feels tight though, no bouncing or wandering.

 

[sumplug]

Yep, its the rear shocks on all Tipos that go first and you feel the rear end wanting to steer as it dips into the corner first.
I had one for 3 years and 60000 miles,[bought with 35000 on it, and never missed a beat including a trip from Manchester to Italy and back]. On the way back, was averaging 110mph as was late for ferry!! Still returned great fuel consumption!!!
As Hellcat mentioned, look at the floor, and another area to look at is above the windscreen along the roof edge. They can rot here too.

Andy.

 

[Hellcat]

I didn't mention the floor That was Vin!

Rear doors, where the glazing bars join the door panels.. 5 doors always rust here! Keep those rear arches clean too.. Think the panels are a bolt-off-bolt-on replacement.

 

[Steven]

I'll have a good hunt for rust at the weekend, hopefully it won't be too bad. Above the windscreen is fine and the rear arches are fine, so only the floorpan to worry about.

I went out to it tonight and the battery is dead, so that's another thing on the list. I'm hoping it's just the battery and not the alternator.

Another question I thought up today, does the 1.9 TD engine have a timing belt?

 

[jonti]

Don't talk to me about belts. :bang: Mine had happily done alot more miles than yours before the belt broke after the lower cover was left off and the sprocket got covered in rubbish ! So open it up, check the cog teeth are clear and the belt is ok and it's totally covered.

 

[Steven]

I took a half day from work today and used the time to have a good look at the Tipo. The paint was really flat but a good T-Cut and polish has it nice and shiny. Cosmetically it's not bad, it had Rover wheel trims which have now been binned :yuck: so I need a set of Tipo wheel trims.

A good clean of the interior and it came up well too, the carpets are good and there are no rips, tears or anything like that. There is a stain on the back seat caused by paint.

I put it up on the ramps and I was pleasantly surpised. The floor is solid, the arches are solid. There is one rust patch in the spare wheel well in the boot which I wire brushed treated and painted, so the car has no rust issues.

I reckon it will MOT easily, it definitely needs an exhaust and a bulb for the spotlight, the knocking from the suspension seems to have gone and there is no play on the front wheels. Famous last words?

Here's a couple of photos.

 

[Hellcat]

needs lowered

*might* have some trims you can have, if you don't have any already.

 

[Steven]

Lowered? It's a diesel Tipo, not a Cinq!

I'll pm you about those trims.

 

[lanciak69]

Temp gauge is prob a loose wire, bad connection or faulty sender at the engine.
Knocking will be wishbone [common on FWD fiats especially Tipo diesel -weight ]. Rain inside is prob a blocked drain hole in the A pillar from the sunroof or a blocked drain hole at the scuttle [Scuttle on Tipos get full of leaves and alsorts] Pull the cover off to inspect and unblock. It can also come from the door area so powder around the floor and check for telltale leaks. Oh it could also be the bonded windscreen too.
Sunroof sounds like its jammed. This can be a real problem to open. Also the gearbox of the motor could of stripped, so you need to remove the panel of the motor [in roof lining] and inspect. Replace motor if needed.
Service is easy on these. Change oil and oil and air filter every 6000 miles max. I would do it a lot sooner. Change the fuel filter every other service.
these engines if looked after, will do well over 200000 miles easily. What kills a diesel is dirty oil and filters.
Check the rear arches for rust Check the engine for leaks and make sure the header tank has fresh coolant in it as diesels tend to run hot. Dont forget to check the brake system and change fluid every 2 years.
Tipos are great cars, and given regular maintenace, will serve well for many years.

Andy.

we had a tempra deisel [same engine] it had about 250000 when i sold it to my boss he had it for 6 months and put about another 50000 on it it was used as the company anybody can drive it anywhere 24/7 car i serviced it every 5000 miles ,all he did for the 6 months he had it was was fill it with deisel and fit a set of pads and a bulb best work horse he ever had

 

[sumplug]

we had a tempra deisel [same engine] it had about 250000 when i sold it to my boss he had it for 6 months and put about another 50000 on it it was used as the company anybody can drive it anywhere 24/7 car i serviced it every 5000 miles ,all he did for the 6 months he had it was was fill it with deisel and fit a set of pads and a bulb best work horse he ever had

A couple of things people might not realise, but Fiat are the biggest Diesel engine makers in the world, and they invented the Direct Injected Diesel that is now common place. All manufacturers have to pay Fiat a licence to use the technology.
Another bit a trivia, the robots used to make all cars is again a Fiat invention and again used by others under licence.

Andy.

 

[Hellcat]

Lowered? It's a diesel Tipo, not a Cinq!

I'll pm you about those trims.

Trust me.. TD SX become turbo gokarts once they're lowered!

As for the trims - I've only got 2 They're the 5 slash type.

 

[Steven]

No worries about the trims, I'll have a look on eBay.