Technical Changing the air flow meter and thermostat

[jiggy]

Hi all,

I've still got my fuel consumption problem. Last month I got the temperature sender unit on the thermostat changed and this seemed to fix it - for a day I got 33mpg instead of 20mpg, but I spoke (and posted) too soon. The next day the car had reverted to being sluggish and guzzling the petrol like mad

So anyway, the blokes at DTR reckon the only thing left to try is changing the airflow meter and the thermostat. I've managed to get hold of a couple of used replacements but when I just went to my local garage to see if they could change them for me they wanted a good couple of hours' labour. Plus another £45 to do an emissions test to check if the fuel is running rich Isn't that just a case of hooking it up to machine, letting it run for a few minutes, and printing out some data? Anyway this B has taken up too much £££ for me to be shelling out too much more for the time being so I'm looking at changing the parts myself.

How easy it is for me to change the airflow meter and the thermostat? Has anyone done this themselves and has any tips?

What about the thermostat - will I need to block the flow of coolant at some point in the system? I can't really check the manual because, unbelievably, the page I need in the manual is Dutch! The one page I need in the middle of a 30 or 40 page PDF file of the English manual is in another language

The airflow meter in particular looks like a pain to get to, and a lot of the hose clips are all rusted so they'll somehow need to come off and be replaced with decent ones. Any idea how to go about getting these off?? The location of them doesn't make them the easiest to get to and on top of that they're too rusted to turn and loosen!!

Any advice very welcome

 

[LittleRedB]

OK, neither job's should be particually difficult but could be compicated by rusty/corroded nuts!

AFM is easy to change but you will need to remove some of the intake ducting and the clips FIAT use are a pain in the ass to re-use, I went to a Builder Centre and purchased a few large jubilee clips to replace the FIAT ones with (and they work much better)......

The thermostat should not be a difficult task either but you will need to drain the anti-freeze and re-fill...............also make sure you have a replacement thermostat gasket and a tube of instant gasket before you start though!!

 

[LittleRedB]

Drop me a PM or give me a call if you get stuck...

 

[jiggy]

Will do mate thanks

I might have to put it off for a few days while I track down one of these thermostat gaskets first, but will hopefully get round to it soon.

 

[LittleRedB]

Will do mate thanks

I might have to put it off for a few days while I track down one of these thermostat gaskets first, but will hopefully get round to it soon.

If you are putting it off for a few days then make sure you give all of the nuts a good soaking in WD40 in the meantime............. :idea:

 

[Alan.D]

If you are putting it off for a few days then make sure you give all of the nuts a good soaking in WD40 in the meantime............. :idea:

So tempted with the edit button

 

[LittleRedB]

So tempted with the edit button

Behave!!!

 

[jug]

Will do mate thanks

I might have to put it off for a few days while I track down one of these thermostat gaskets first, but will hopefully get round to it soon.

the gasket on your thermostat is a rubber ring, so it is reusable.
its a very easy job, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

the MAf is literaly a 10 minute job, but you will need security torx head bits to get the 2 screws off, either that or get creative with some pliers.

 

[LittleRedB]

My MAF had 13mm bolts......... I guess it depended what FIAT had in the nut and bolt box on the day your car was built!!

 

[Mad Matt]

Yeah mine was off and back on again in two minutes. I think it depends on whether it was a Friday afternoon or not. Also, on whether you've got the old style system where the AFM is in it's own mettle section of pipe or part of the throttle body. Mine's the former.