Technical Why, oh, why?

[Stevo Gee]

Just had the car in for an oil service and then a week or so later it went in for new variator and belts (5yrs old on 14k miles). 'Her in doors' has been driving it of late but we have noticed two new things since this recent work. Firstly the car doesn't always start first time now. On some occasions it does and on some it will turn over and not catch...for several attempts! The second problem is a rise in fuel consumption.....less than 100 miles on half a tank....and no, I'm not killing it, just driving it in my usual fashion! So does anyone have any thoughts on these problems or should I just take it back to the two different garages and let them fight over who's to blame. I reckon they'll both be eager to fix it for nothing Or am I missing something else unrelated to the recent and expensive work?

 

[barchingmad]

Hi Steve,

The variator can hugely affect mpg. Sounds like the variator garage may need talking to...

Remember though I know nothing about this kind of thing!

Was hoping to have arranged an 'event' in the north west but have been mentally busy at work. Will try to get it sorted soon - though it wont now feature the 'illuminations'.

Colin

 

[Nino_1975]

Apart from your repairs is the car standard?

Air box, exhaust...

How often do you drive it and for how long each time on average?

 

[Funkstar De Luxe]

What year / how many miles has the car done? Sounds a little like a belt problem. Take it back, quickly!

However, if it's old or very high mileage, changing the belts may just have aggravated an already present problem.

Lastly, is your Barchetta red? If so, I think a friend of mine saw you on the road recently...

 

[HP]

As above, I'd suggest the timing might be off, best get it back in sharpish.

 

[ricky952]

If your car was running ok before the work was carried Steve, Ask the garage who changed the belt to collect the car to save any risk of damage to your engine, hope you get this resolved quickly ,

the only time i had a similar problem was with a previous car when the lambda sensor failed causing the car to run rich,but i dont think it is related.

 

[Stevo Gee]

Thanks folks, the car is only 5 years old as I said and standard...and it's silver. Sounds like I had better take it back to Fiat pronto as it has only got 14k on the clock. Thanks. PS Colin get mentally busy and get a meeting organised!!

 

[Stevo Gee]

Well that's a strange one! The Fiat garage who did the belts looked over the car and all they could see was that I didn't have 'Fiat' spark plugs fitted, that they were sooty and that a new set would be £53 but they didn't have them in stock. They denied that any other problem was found and now I'm stumped. The plugs were put in 1 year ago, that's less than 6,000 miles. I guess they could cause some starting problems if they are sooty but that problem has sorted itself out anyway. I challenged them and asked whether the car running 'rich' might cause sooty plugs but this question was quickly dodged by suggesting a car like mine should always have good quality Fiat plugs as other makes were not as good. When I asked who makes the plugs for Fiat I was given a shrug of the shoulders. I also noticed that the idle revs have dropped to a little under a 1K since it has been in tha garage again. Does my car have gremlins (it is a Fiat) or am I being stitched up for £53. Must have a look at those plugs myself

 

[Nino_1975]

£53!!!!!!!!!! wow. That;s massive. I guess you paid for the labour.

£12 is about right for the standard Fiat parts.

Take it somewhere else for advice. Good luck.

 

[Twilight Johnny Atom]

My guess is that they found out they hadn't tightened something in the air intake path (intake piping, afm, filter), causing an air leak (of incoming air). The extra air to the sensor would make it seem like the car was running lean, and the ECU would compensate accordingly, richening up the mixture and making the plugs sooty.

 

[Stevo Gee]

£53!!!!!!!!!! wow. That;s massive. I guess you paid for the labour.

£12 is about right for the standard Fiat parts.

Take it somewhere else for advice. Good luck.

Yeah, I saw that one coming and suggested I would replace them for less/myself!

I shall now check out the fuel consumption to see if Johnny Twilight is correct........sounds likely Sorry! Twilight Johnny!!

 

[Stevo Gee]

Thanks, Twilight Johnny etc as I think you have got it right. Despite their comments on my spark plugs the old car is now getting a much more respectible mpg. I assume they couldn't bear to admit a mistake. The car is now ace!!

 

[barchingmad]

Great news!

 

[ricky952]

Good news you are all sorted now Steve, I take it your original plugs are in the car and the problem was something else as Twighlight suggested .

 

[Stevo Gee]

Thanks Ricky & Colin, Yup it seems to have been some other problem but Fiat didn't seem able to admit to that. MPG back to normal One other thing I noticed is that the engine is quieter. It only had 14k miles on the clock but still had the old 'taxi' sound to it but not now. My wife's cousin is now looking for a good model 'b' to buy and join the 'club'. Sad?

 

[barchingmad]

Sad... Not at all!

I think you are preaching to the converted on these hallowed pages.

I was just looking at mine out the window during a big thunder storm. Lightning. Driving rain. The works!!

But, even though I know the b will have leaked and I will have to mop up before heading off I still smile remembering the good days of summer.

We have to remind ourselves sometimes that we have a great car that turns many heads.

Look forward to welcoming Dorothys cousin in the near future!

Colin



saying all that I might pick up a cheap 'winter' car over the next couple of weeks!!

 

[ricky952]

Thanks Ricky & Colin, Yup it seems to have been some other problem but Fiat didn't seem able to admit to that. MPG back to normal One other thing I noticed is that the engine is quieter. It only had 14k miles on the clock but still had the old 'taxi' sound to it but not now. My wife's cousin is now looking for a good model 'b' to buy and join the 'club'. Sad?

Is Dorothy`s cousin after an Early or Late `B Steve i am still 50/50 about keeping mine.

 

[Stevo Gee]

You keep a hold of that car or else! I'm not sure exactly but will find out in the next couple of weeks. Off to Germany next week to meet the German cousins for another party! Need to put my liver in to detox on return! If you are interested I've had a few e-mails from European clubs looking to reform the International Club for 'b' owners. I've not replied as I'm not really a club and after the 'overwhelming' response to my German trip last year I didn't know if I should bother. I appreciate it is a lot of dosh but many 'b' owners live within breathing distance of Europe. May finally let things slide into oblivion next year when the site fees are due. Will still keep in touch with certain parties. There is a small meeting in Anstruther this weekend. Originally planned for Ducati Up North but now the Alfa Owners Club is hitching on the back of it and I will be there on my....DUCATI Hoping to keep contact with everyone for next years Italian Car and Bike meeting! Also hoping for a Christmas meeting before then.

 

[doolahrock]

Good to hear that the B is back to, and better than, normal.. Keep me in mind for any meets and hopefully I'll have a free weekend.

Really oddly, after you mailed me about the Abarthisti meet I was resigned to not making it as I was filming a wedding outside Oban. After popping out to the car to grab a drink during the reception, imagine my surprise as a bunch of Abarths turned up in the carpark. Co-incidence or what....

Cheers

Jon