I'm nice user of Fiat Uno Selecta. This is the first car which don't gave me a lot of trouble. I covered more than 60,000 km without problems, the counter showed 100,000 km at purchase. I appreciate the automatic transmission in town traffic and for its fuel saving, but it is quite difficult to overtake other cars or trucks on motorway. No battery charging trouble above 4,000 rpm, at this engine speed I have great chances to loose my driving licence! (speed would exceed 160 kph)
I replaced the exhaust mufflers (rusted), the front shock absorbers, replaced by Koni make (a great improvement relatively to genuine ones), the water pump (noisy but not leaking) and the timing belt, because I had no information about its precedent renewal. However the brake pads are less than as half worn, although the car has been driven on mountain roads.

[8D]

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Dear Cooper,

Nice to hear you talk about Selecta. I'm planning to buy one. But I still doubt with It's transmission, here I heard many problem with it. Do you have repair book for Selecta transmission ? Any information I could get about It's transmission ?

many thank's

Hendro. N

Thanks for your interest about Selecta.
As French user, I'm sorry, I have very few informations concerning the automatic transmission. This is manufactured by Van Doorne (Holland). The automatic transmission is a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) using a single metallic belt working in a partially oil filled casing, instead the twin belt system used on DAF ans some Volvo's. The principle of functionning is around a belt running on two variable diameter pulleys. This is done by centrifugal and oil pressure control, depending of car speed, throttle position and range selected (D or L).
The few informations I have, are from the French "Revue Technique Automobile", where the operation principle is briefly described, adding the governor cable adjustment and its replacement, calling for the lower casing removal. A filter needs to be renewed every 40,000kms, as in the same time, the oil.
This 'Van Doorne' box has been fitted to some NISSAN Micra, so You might obtain some more information from your nearest NISSAN dealer.
Finally, the Selecta offers a great driving comfort, without any clonk nor rattle, but no dragster accelerations are to be expected. I drive my car at low throttle, in order to avoid belt slipping and damage it, using the kickdown in emergency cases. Remember, a Selecta is NOT a sports car, but you may obtain very surprisingly low fuel consumption figures, as you are driving at 120 kph, the engine revs remains under 3,000 rpm. Once a day, 20 litres of fuel allowed the car to cover 670 km!!! the cruise included mountain roads.
Best regards

Originally posted by ndroz2003
Dear Cooper,

Nice to hear you talk about Selecta. I'm planning to buy one. But I still doubt with It's transmission, here I heard many problem with it. Do you have repair book for Selecta transmission ? Any information I could get about It's transmission ?

many thank's

Hendro. N

Click to expand...

Dear Cooper,

Thank's a lot for everything you explain to me. I really appreciate this. I also searching many informatioan about CVT.

Lately, I have been offered by one of my friend to buy his Uno Selecta. I am a kind of surprised having your information about enjoying driving this car.

Now I'm living in a city near Jakarta, and my hometown is 180 km far. The way between them is not a typical Highway, but winding and climbing, will this be a problem wih Uno Selecta ? or we could enjoy it with this CVT ?

So, do you hardly recommend to buy ?

many thank's

Hendro. N

Dear Mr Hendro

Happy to help you for your choice.
The Selecta does not like the very steep hills, but I drive on mountain roads without problems.
This model has been declined in three versions 1100, 1300 and 1400 cc.I have the 1100 engine I don't heard nothing about Diesel versions. If the car your friend proposes to sell to you has a more powerful engine, you will have a better handling.
The automatic transmission saves greatly the engine, avoiding overrevving and some driving mistakes.
Best before buying is to try the car. The CVT should emit only a light characteristic whine, whithout rattling noise. If this was the case, this means that the special belt needs for replacement, a very expensive repair.
My engine, even after more than 100,000 miles is in excellent condition, very low oil consumption and the pollution rate well within the specifications, and runs surprisingly smoothly.
Other points are to be checked, as front suspension and steering (balljoints), rubber transmission boots. I greatly improved the roadholding by replacing front absorbers by adjustable Koni's. The electrical equipent is quite reliable at all.
A particularity of the Selecta is its special fast idle depression control, using many thin rubber hoses which may need for replacement. As you are under tropical climate, particular attention to cooling system is to be given. The engine having a cast iron and a light alloy head, only appropriate coolant should be used.
Another attention to the bodywork, that suffers frequently from corrosion on Italian cars.
If you don't want raging accelerations, the Selecta will offer you very good use.
The headlamps (European) were somewhat weak, I improved this by fitting 100 watt halogen bulbs.
Have nice drive.
Best regards.

Originally posted by ndroz2003
Dear Cooper,

Thank's a lot for everything you explain to me. I really appreciate this. I also searching many informatioan about CVT.

Lately, I have been offered by one of my friend to buy his Uno Selecta. I am a kind of surprised having your information about enjoying driving this car.

Now I'm living in a city near Jakarta, and my hometown is 180 km far. The way between them is not a typical Highway, but winding and climbing, will this be a problem wih Uno Selecta ? or we could enjoy it with this CVT ?

So, do you hardly recommend to buy ?

many thank's

Hendro. N

Click to expand...

I wouldn't recommend the selecta models of any Fiat's - they can be pretty effective but they are a real bitch when they go wrong - and cost buckets to fix by Fiat standards too.

K-reg 5dr Fire IE 45, unmodded and ugly as hell.

Visit www.dotspf.com to listen to my music!

Originally posted by DotSPF
I wouldn't recommend the selecta models of any Fiat's - they can be pretty effective but they are a real bitch when they go wrong - and cost buckets to fix by Fiat standards too.

K-reg 5dr Fire IE 45, unmodded and ugly as hell.

Visit www.dotspf.com to listen to my music!

Click to expand...

The same can be said of all makes of automatic gearboxes and a lot of manual ones aswell, If its looked after no reason that a fiat ecvt box should give any trouble to worry about.

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how polite you 2 are!

Dear Cooper,

I'm very grateful having many information about Uno Selecta from you. This give me many courage to contact my friend who sell his Uno Selecta. Maybe within this week I will meet him to try the car. For your information here Uno Selecta has 1372 CC Engine.

Once again, thank you very much and please inform me if you have any book or something that might help me to understand and repair the Selecta transmission.

very best regards,

Hendro. N

Dear Mr Hendro.
Do you tried the car of your friend? The 1372 cc engine should ensure better performance than the 1100 cc I own. Unfortunately, I don't found any information about CVT. <Bushboy> on this forum offers a link to download the Haynes Autobook in .pdf file format. I downloaded, but nothing about clutch, gearbox nor CVT,too bad. But there are many informations about different engine versions, electrical and bodywork. The download represents 303 pages.
Hoping news from you.
Best regards

Originally posted by ndroz2003
Dear Cooper,

I'm very grateful having many information about Uno Selecta from you. This give me many courage to contact my friend who sell his Uno Selecta. Maybe within this week I will meet him to try the car. For your information here Uno Selecta has 1372 CC Engine.

Once again, thank you very much and please inform me if you have any book or something that might help me to understand and repair the Selecta transmission.

very best regards,

Hendro. N

Click to expand...

Dear Cooper,

I met my friend who sell his Uno Selecta last Saturday. Actually I used to drive M/T car instead of A/T car. So he told me how to handle A/T car before gave me chance to drive.

Here some point I'd like to inform you after cheking and driving The Selecta :

1. When Engine idling, suddenly the engine rotation up and down several times. It was a kind of somebody kick up and down the Accelerator Pedal. Was it caused by bad ECU ? I mean ECU gave wrong information to the Engine. For your information The Car using Monojetronic System. How to solve this problem ?

2. On "D" position. The Car would move forward if I released the Brake Pedal, I didn't have to kick the Accelerator Pedal. Was this normal condition ?

3. After that, I tried to kick the accelerator pedal step by step. The car moved with a little shaking, then moved smoothly afterwards. I mean the Car moving unsmoothly on starting. Could you tell me why such problem happen ?

4. I was a kind of wonder, having the Car not moved smoothly on 2000 rpm. It was always like when we suddenly change 3rd gear to 2nd gear on M/T car. Was it caused by the trasmission problem ? or ECU problem ?

I'm looking forward to hearing your advice and suggestion. I would like to say many thank's for your help.

best regards,

Hendro. N

Dear Cooper,

I met my friend who sell his Uno Selecta last Saturday. Actually I used to drive M/T car instead of A/T car. So he told me how to handle A/T car before gave me chance to drive.

Here some point I'd like to inform you after cheking and driving The Selecta :

1. When Engine idling, suddenly the engine rotation up and down several times. It was a kind of somebody kick up and down the Accelerator Pedal. Was it caused by bad ECU ? I mean ECU gave wrong information to the Engine. For your information The Car using Monojetronic System. How to solve this problem ?

Click to expand...

Sorry, I cant answer this. it may be becuase I do not fully understand what you are saying but from what I can gather, it sounds more like a problem than something normal.

2. On "D" position. The Car would move forward if I released the Brake Pedal, I didn't have to kick the Accelerator Pedal. Was this normal condition ?

Click to expand...

This is perfectly normal in an automatic car. Think of it as a manual car always being at the biting point on the clutch. Autos always move by themselves.

3. After that, I tried to kick the accelerator pedal step by step. The car moved with a little shaking, then moved smoothly afterwards. I mean the Car moving unsmoothly on starting. Could you tell me why such problem happen ?

Click to expand...

In my experience, automatic cars always try to be in the lowest gear possible. if you suddenly kick the accelerator pedal it wont respond imediatly because it has to quickly switch into gear to give it the performance you want and so once it has changed gear (after around half a second) then it will jerk forward and speed off.

4. I was a kind of wonder, having the Car not moved smoothly on 2000 rpm. It was always like when we suddenly change 3rd gear to 2nd gear on M/T car. Was it caused by the trasmission problem ? or ECU problem ?

Click to expand...

Im not 100% sure what your trying to day here but if it is about smooth gear changes then (in my experience) its normal for automatic gear changes to be a little jerky. only a slight bump though as the engine engages the wheels again.

Hope this helps



I Have A Cinq Sporting...

...Click Here To Look At It

[quote
Im not 100% sure what your trying to day here but if it is about smooth gear changes then (in my experience) its normal for automatic gear changes to be a little jerky. only a slight bump though as the engine engages the wheels again.

Hope this helps
[/quote]

Don't get confused between normal auto transmishion, and a CVT, CVT Doesn't change gear like a normal auto, they are usaly much smoother.

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Is a CVT a variable pulley design?

My first signiture (a lot of thought put into it): If you can't find the switch to switch your fogs off I am sure I can help you! Damn fogs.

CVT constanly varabile transmission. modern vershions have an electric clutch and metal belts on pulleys inside the gearbox,(ecvt)
the old volvo340 and daff's had rubber belts that always snapped and a normal clutch witch would burnout,

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I will have to look into it for my own interests.

Thanks Dave

My first signiture (a lot of thought put into it): If you can't find the switch to switch your fogs off I am sure I can help you! Damn fogs.

Hi!!!
You remember some (very bad) of youth!
My mother owned a Volvo 343, 1.4 Renault engine, 1977 version. This car was comfortable at all, very pleasant drive, but it was the car which gave the biggest lot of trouble I knew. The rubber automatic transmission rubber belts showed very unreliable, lasting not more than 40,000 km. Moreover, the fuel consumption was terrific, when I drove her car, I was frequently looking under petrol tank to check that it was not punctured, the consumtion being in the worst cases more than 15 litre/100km. Horrific too! At this time, I owned a SIMCA 1501, useful to tow the Volvo!
I owned some English cars, a love thought for a BL Princess 2200 HLS, She exploded engine while towing a car recovery trailer, when I kept a garage, I was specialized in Triumph MG's and other old English sports cars.
And finally, I discovered the FIAT Uno Selecta. No lot of troubles. I replaced exhaust (may be considerred as routine maintenance), the front shock absorbers, advantageously replaced by Koni's (French manufacturer who furnishes a wide range of devices for HST (TGV) or earthquake safe buildings. The water pump needed replacement, and a lower suspension arm. Lastly, I need to replace a corroded wheel rim, causing a slow tyre deflation. Otherwise, no more problems.
I add at each oil drain a really "magic potion" called Mecacyl. This is under a form of a 100 cc bottle containing a blue coloured fluid, to be added to oil, but the oil drain needs only to be done every 10,000 km. Naturally, the oil filter is replaced. The first time I poured the "magic potion", the car emitted a very impressive cloud of smoke from exhaust, as like when the Bismarck attempted to escape from RAF attacks!. A biker who followed my car said me "Stop, you have blown your head gasket" I answered "Don't worry, the engine is cleaning". And now, the engine runs surprisingly smooth, even at 165,000 km.
Finally I really appreciate the handling of the automatic transmission, not being jerky unless in case of wrong idle adjustment
Unfortunately, it's very difficult to obtain technical information upon repair and adjustment about the CVT automatic transmission fitted to Uno and Punto Selecta.
Best regards

Originally posted by dave
CVT constanly varabile transmission. modern vershions have an electric clutch and metal belts on pulleys inside the gearbox,(ecvt)
the old volvo340 and daff's had rubber belts that always snapped and a normal clutch witch would burnout,

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Click to expand...

Dear Cooper,

As Uno Selecta user, could you give me comment for mail I posted on March 15th ? I have already tried the car, and need some suggestion.

Many thank's in advance

Hendro. N

Originally posted by ndroz2003
Dear Cooper,

As Uno Selecta user, could you give me comment for mail I posted on March 15th ? I have already tried the car, and need some suggestion.

Many thank's in advance

Hendro. N

Click to expand...

Dear Mr Hendro
It seems that the unstable idling speed does not due to a faulty ECU, but around the engine are many small 4 mm diameter hoses that may be leaking causing air intake and wrong ECU operation. My own car is a carb version, I had a problem like this; inexpensive to put right. A faulty ECU provokes more likely a complete failure.
It's normal that the car moves slowly when "D" or "R" is engaged. It would be worse as it seemed a family of rattlesnakes nested under hood! This would mean that the whole transmission were worn, a very difficult and expensive repair.
A somewhat jerky operation may be due to a low transmission oil level. This should be checked with engine idling, the dipstick has marks for hot and cold condition.
Generally, the state of ignition, air filter and basic settings are to be checked.
The engine of the Selecta is less subject to wear, the CVT offers a protection against the driver's mistakes, running at more favourable revving.
A good test consists to drive the car on a straight and plane road whithout keeping the steering wheel. It should continue straightforward without pulling sideways, meaning for upset front wheels alignment.
Hope news later.
Best regards