Penguin2007

Needs doing along with belt tensioners and water pump

A bit cheaper than. new engine

Penguin

Bravo springs are equivalents

Penguin 2007

Hi Nello

Had a two week drive of the new 1.6 Fiat Tipo in Portugal at the start of February.

Apart from the strange driving position - ie left hand seat, the car was very much fashioned on the Delta.

Cruise control on steering wheel, automatic lights, no CD player and only a five speed gear box.

Main pain in the a@@e was the Fiat Tom-Tom that was the standard instal version, which had a very much out of date software edition (could not see how to update it) which allowed us to fly over valleys on five year old motorways, drive through the Douro river (similar) and act as a tractor on some hillsides where vines had been planted.

Managed to average 56mpg, over about 2000 miles, motorway, urban and town etc etc.

Thoroughly enjoyed the car - especially the mpg running on 'basic' not super diesel.

After two weeks it was strange getting into the 'identical' car, making the left arm ache with the gear changing! Then driving on the wrong side of the road in post rush hour - everyone escaping from London ....

Penguin

You could use Fiat Bravo coils - someone will no doubt (Nello?) put up the EPR code.

​alternatively - read the 'news member of the pothole ....' and there is a link to get them made by spring coil.

It would be wise to replace both at the same go.

Penguin

hi bairn7

Yes in the end I did use diesel Bravo springs - they order via an engine number?. They had same number of turns, colour of paint spots should be identical  (err they apparently are important), diameter of metal etc etc.

I had even looked at getting the coils made - at a place in Sheffield, called Springcoil.  www.springcoil.co.uk

I spoke to Ryan and Karl on their Penguin toll free number! 0800-112-3188 (Freephone)

My Man in the Garage charged me IIRC £150 + I hour to fit + the obligatory gin & tonic.

See my thread header: 'Pot Hole Society - Newest Member'

Did it as part of the service, so the hour of labour could have been used / not fully used but then tipped into the cam belt / water pump and associated bits & bobs of 36k service etc etc. 

It was interesting to know that the 'big parent company' also wanted astronomical prices for the Delta springs, with no known availability date in UK or similarly in France / Belgium.  I was going to Belgium for a few days and would have visited a targeted garage who had ordered them in [even they had a 12 month delay.

My rear springs apparently visually looked OK.

As per performance - I did not notice any difference between old springs and new (the end of the spring had not jumped out of the cup and was still metallic and not rusty).

*Apparently the major cause of these springs to go, is bridging the b****y street road humps. The best way to avoid is to fully tap the hump offside and then near side etc down the road. Not to go 'inside tyre:inside tyre ' as you drive across the ever increasing road hump number. 

Happy New Year to all

Penguin

Penguin Scripts:

Check inside of tyre walls, as sometimes the springs may score / rub the tyre and cause imperfections that will result in tyre failure.

Also had a wheel realignment completed - but no adjustment required.

Well at an off shoot to the topic....

My Mum live in South Wales and the have an individual / group that are touring the lanes and have acquired many of the more remote red cast iron / steel Post Office collection boxes.

Nothing is sacred these days - as the Verger of the local church, who discovered hat some scripts had acquired most of the lead off the nave of his church. They are replacing it with a laminate roofing skin, that looks the part but is not lead.

If you fancy a bit of gardening ....

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/bizarre-item-thieves-been-stealing-836729

Don't know how the insurers would go, if the locking wheel nuts had been supplied as standard - but, at £18 its a little bit cheaper than a set of alloys and also a full set of tyres.

I am shooting in the dark here. but on past history ....

ISTR that on the Brava / Bravo, there were two pumps located on the water fill bottle buried in the res of the engine compartment (looking into car.

My Bravo, ended up with sludge in the front wash pipes, as a result of allowing the tank to drain fully, along with the accumulated crus from wash bottle additives.

Suggestion:

is the pump running to front windscreen?

does the pump run when targeted at rear screen?

if 2) - detach the water pipe and try again - runs - pipe blocked - more than probable

- could switch pipes over, would switch front to rear - and try again.... 

You can then extract wash pipe from rear windscreen of car .... and blow out the crud - taking off the jet?

If you take motor out of wash bottle - beware of the tidal wave of water - that will emirate from the bottle, and soak your feet!

ISTR that the motors were a standard fit on tip / brava, could probably be the same, round about 20squid (years ago!)

I doubt if there is is front back sender valve - but is too cold to go ferreting down at the moment , and its pouring with rain.

A lot here on 'hope' and 'help' but I'm sure that it will possibly / more than likely be furring up of the pipes etc

Hope this helps

Penguin

First thumbnail is the microphone for your bluetooth compatible device / phone.

Second is the central locking sensor. - same as on Bravo / a / ....

Further to this, does anyone know what the fine wires are under the sound insulation in the bonnet? They have 'dropped out' when I have refilled the screen wash earlier in the month. They seem too fine for heating of either nozzles or wash pipes.

TIA

Penguin

They will come to you!

You just need to find them via SeaFoodDirect or your favourite search engine.....

Penguin

If its a hydraulic hose - pirtek may be able to supply, they do hydraulic hoses on site to order. I have not used them personally, but a parent used to have a franchise. pirtek.co.uk

Penguin

Hi Dustydean

I discovered that if you remote key lock = alarm set on my Delta

If you key lock your car - it does not alarm the car. (Thanks to Mr DFDS shipping man on a ferry crossing!) It was to be a rough crossing from Dunkirk to Blighty.

Perhaps the same rules may will apply?

Penguin

see thread: 

Penguin

PM message me if you are really stuck.

My 'man in a garage' would probably do this for you - but don't want to give his number out in the ether.

He is based in NN9 area - about 25 minutes from MK on a good day.

Penguin

Not neccesarily

A good local garage should be able to find the part and fit.

Penguin

My 1.6 Diesel variant had her timing hair changed after 6 years and 38k miles.

The cost of the change is, compared to the price of a new engine a lot less!

I change fuel filter, oil and oil filter at same yearly service. Pollen changed this service as well - every 2 years for that one.

My tyres swopped front to back, have completed 20k miles in 4 years and hopefully will last another year or two - there was loads of tread left on old fronts.

Only worried by air-con commitment to excessive heat before going away, but she coped very well with high French temperatures 111oF plus and will get this checked next service - May 2018, cor thats a long way away!!!

Penguin

one of the few!

Penguin

Hi Nello / Andrew

It was a matter of having to get it done as it was not an MOT pass and was effectively in viewable area.

The repair was completed by another company not mentioned above, lots of bond went down and the car was not moved for 24 hours.

As it was an insurance replacement, at least I have a bit of backing if it is not perfect.

Penguin

This is a nightmare component.

You can buy them direct from FIAT in bags of 500!

Alternatively, my dealer managed to get a couple by ringing around.

Suggest that you try FIAT Chysler help line....

If you find a dealer (via the www.google) in Belgium / Italy, a couple of phone calls may resolve your problem.

Remember that its a Lancia Delta when you talk abroad!

They are not used on the Bravo / Brava.

Sorry I don't have the part number - or a spare!

If you find a supplier - please post them on here.

Penguin

Just back from seeing some Snails and eating garlic.

c/o a wonderful French motorway, my windscreen was hot by a sizeable chunk of debris. In fact after closer examination she took, bless her four separate hits within a folded in two, five euro note in the lower viewable part of drivers side.

Now the fun starts......

Windscreen covered by glass cover in UK - yes covered abroad, but .....

We had booked into three separate hotels: Lille (for the Pashendaele 100 event), Mareuil-sur-Ay, Champagne region (email me privately for an excellent B&B at a Champagne house) and Maubeuge (note all restaurants close on Mondays!). Therefore we were already on the back foot to getting a new windscreen in prior to 'moving on'.

There were no windscreens to be had. None in France. Nor in Belgium...... All completed in my very useful Penguin French - to a call handler via Leicester in France. Confused I was.

OK book it in for fitting when I get back to UK.

Driveable condition - the rocks had only damaged the outside glass, the plastic membrane held the inner layer together.

When the glass eventually had been ordered and booked in two weeks down the line (we were still in France / Belgium), it transpires that my request had stretched the glass supply chain in. the UK and my replacement was the only one in the UK at the time.

Glazer arrives at the crack of dawn, to fit the glass, when he states that there had also been water ingress along all four sides of the screen. IF you look carefully, the black edge of the lamination should all be black. Mine had a wonderful lacy effect which apparently shows that the glass had started to delaminate around the edges.

​So, three weeks after having my scare at 80 mph on the French motorway, I have a lovely pristine windscreen. Have to put in a new wiper blade as the sharp shattered edges have trashed the original rubber of the blade but with Penguin French, three international telephone calls and a Brise agent that spoke no English .....

An interesting holiday!

Oh and as a last though .... 1500 miles at just over 50 mpg of biodiesel. Cruised on the motorway at 80mph and doodled around the Champagne areas at a sedate pace. Add to that the air was not too good for the engine. It ranged in temperature from 20 to above 45oC. HOT!!!

Penguin

Apologises if you need a new windscreen in the near future - next has to come from Italy

Options on the screen include IIRC: tint, rain sensor, heated screen, LHD / RHD, etc etc etc.......

I have not yet had to do this repair, but on my Tipo, LEDs constantly flipped, as well as the odometer mileage LED strips failing.....

When you get to the 'I have got you nearly out of the pub stage', there may be identifying marks on the LED.

Sometimes it is on the LED plastic itself (rare - but on older types), else it is on the stem of the LED metal shaft.

You may find further information on the wiring schematic in the handbook.

When / if you remove - note / check the polarity of the LED, bimp, bump, cutaway on LED plastic etc.

Penguin

Please see my comments in:

They can manufacture a spring for you.

I had bravo springs fitted and they appear to be ok

Have been told to hit speed humos with one side full on, and then alternative side next time. Not to straddle as this causes the springs to break and also the inside shoulder of the tyre to wear disproportionately.

Penguin

Using the remote key fob, (and pressing open car and lock car???) at the same time, opens windows for you to cool the car down prior to entry.

Thats if I remember it correctly..... Check the manual.

Penguin

I find this a real p@@@ in the a@@@ now.

I have also been told by the big Policeman, that if you do roll back using this technique, you are liable. Some 'due care and attention'.

I find it far easier to use my feet and handbrake. Indeed when you jump  into other cars without the function - you actually have to de-learn the procedure. 

Happy handbrakes and clutch control.

Penguin

Reverse car into a wall / garage door situation Please <<please not literally,>>  leave about a five - six foot gap.

Press on brake - light, will show up for you.

Also a good way to check side and indicator lights - just park car at an angle - if checking the side side lights.

Only thing it won't pick up on, is a failed LED in a light bar arrangement.

Easy peasy ....

Taught this by my IAM driving instructor!

Penguin

Most wiring looms are not made 'left hand or right hand'. The car only becomes RHD when effectively the pedals / steering box and dash are installed. (Look at a LHD car dash instrument panel, and its NOT a mirror image - speedo on left, rev on right, all heater controls are same).

Another example being - heated front seats - the wiring loam probably includes the cables that are right unto your front seats. If you are lucky, you may even get the heated seats. You don't however have the push buttons to switch them on or the connections from wiring loam cables to seats. 

I seem to recall that the only difference in fitting, when my Bravo had its rear bumper changed, was there was a coil of cable for both single red fog (off side) and single white ( nearside) reverser.

The wizards in FIAT constructor land merely coiled up the excess if they were lazy, or cut and recrimped the cables if it was not Friday afternoon.

However that was a long time ago!

Penguin