General FIAT Bravo Performance Increase

[BigJim]

Hey guys, completely new to this site. I have a 2000 Fiat Bravo 1.8 16v HLX, completely standard. I wanted to know if there are any tips that anyone has found to increase performance a bit on the standard parts... Its quick as it is, but you can never have too much power, can you?

Also tick over at the moment is about 1,500rpm, crazy high i know. Do you think this could be due to a new lambda sensor? Old one got blown out of the down pipe and since then tick over has been ridiculous. A friend suggested re-booting ECU, will this help the matter?

Any advise appreciated

Big J

 

[jug]

i never felt the need to alter the performance of my 1.8 bravo, but i did find an induction kit made it pull noticably better above 3500rpm.

check the exhaust for leaks, especially around the manifold, downpipe and cat.

 

[BigJim]

Brilliant, thanks for that bit of help. Want to recommend any brand of air filter in particular? and does it need to be a cone filter or panel filter?

I've been told that resetting the ECU will bring the revs back down to normal, is that a load of rubbish? there would be no harm in trying it, but how do i do it?? lol i'm not the mechanical type...

 

[jug]

Brilliant, thanks for that bit of help. Want to recommend any brand of air filter in particular? and does it need to be a cone filter or panel filter?

you can use a cone or panel. personally i removed the airbox and fitted a cone filter there instead. i used a £10 cone filter from ebay made by racex, its surprisingly good quality, just as good as a k&n. here's a pic of how it was installed:

I've been told that resetting the ECU will bring the revs back down to normal, is that a load of rubbish?

yes. the ecu is constantly learning, if it has been run for several journeys with the high idle and it hasnt fixed it by itself then a reset shouldnt be able to help either.

there would be no harm in trying it, but how do i do it?? lol i'm not the mechanical type...

disconnect battery, wait an hour, reconnect battery.

 

[BigJim]

Did you have to buy any extra hosing with that cone?? i don't remember seeing that much in my engine bay haha. does a panel filter do the same as a cone or should my preference be the same as yours? i dont like doing something if its not done properly

So a reset would be a waste of time then? i guess i'll have to try and find a leak in my exhaust but the last thing i want to do is send it to a garage to be resolved, they will charge me a shed load and the answer to my problem is hopefully a simple one...

... Would this air filter be suitable for the bravo? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RACEX-UNIVERSAL-INDUCTION-KIT-AIR-FILTER_W0QQitemZ310064825133QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310064825133&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 it doesnt look much like the one you had in yours... and it looks more like a mushroom haha...

Your a great help mate!

 

[jug]

Did you have to buy any extra hosing with that cone?? i don't remember seeing that much in my engine bay haha.

yes, i forgot about that. i used the hose that goes from the plastic intake at the front down to the bottom of the airbox. you may notice in my pic i still have that hose fitted in place, that is because i got a second hose from a scrapyard. using an original fiat hose that matches the others gives it a more professional and tidy look.

does a panel filter do the same as a cone or should my preference be the same as yours? i dont like doing something if its not done properly

panel does make as much noise.

So a reset would be a waste of time then? i guess i'll have to try and find a leak in my exhaust but the last thing i want to do is send it to a garage to be resolved, they will charge me a shed load and the answer to my problem is hopefully a simple one...

its free to try a reset so give it a go.

... Would this air filter be suitable for the bravo?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RACEX-UNIVERSAL-INDUCTION-KIT-AIR-FILTER_W0QQitemZ310064825133QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310064825133&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 it doesnt look much like the one you had in yours... and it looks more like a mushroom haha...

dont buy that filter, it has a foam element.
filters with a cotton gauze element (like K&N) are better in terms of filtration and airflow and ease of cleaning.
plus a mushroom shape wont be easy to fit in the tight space.

 

[BigJim]

yes, i forgot about that. i used the hose that goes from the plastic intake at the front down to the bottom of the airbox.

Don't suppose you have any bits from your bravo left do you? haha..

panel does make as much noise.

So will it do exactly the same thing? i like the feeling of the sudden surge of power above 3000rpm, so anythin to improve it is fine by me haha.

dont buy that filter, it has a foam element.
filters with a cotton gauze element (like K&N) are better in terms of filtration and airflow and ease of cleaning.
plus a mushroom shape wont be easy to fit in the tight space.

Again... don't suppose you have your old filter do you? i can't find a cone filter on ebay by racex lol..

How do you know so much about cars? are you a mechanic by trade? your knowledge is incredible...:worship:

 

[BigJim]

I've been looking through your photos... do marea headlights fit straight on??? they look AWESOME! and also did the exhaust cost you much to get done?

 

[jug]

Don't suppose you have any bits from your bravo left do you? haha..

yes i do, a breand new timing belt, aux belt and fuel filter, one of the original headlights, the HLX steering wheel and airbag in mint condition, and a few other bits. i should really bin them all because i've advertised them all several times and never had anyone interested.

So will it do exactly the same thing? i like the feeling of the sudden surge of power above 3000rpm, so anythin to improve it is fine by me haha.

yeah the gains from a panel filter are pretty much the same. you dont get the nice noise but other than that its the same.

Again... don't suppose you have your old filter do you? i can't find a cone filter on ebay by racex lol..

i dont, but here are a few twin-cone style filters that will do the job nicely.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-K-N...hash=item310038741281&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-Fit...234966806QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190234966806

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-K-N...060953147QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310060953147

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-K-N...hash=item310064398873&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

How do you know so much about cars? are you a mechanic by trade? your knowledge is incredible...:worship:

i was a self employed mechanic for more than 4 years, but i'm only self taught. well i say self taught, what i really mean is my dad force fed me an electrical and mechanical engineering apprenticeship throughout my childhood lol. i was replacing pistons and clutches on motoX bikes before i had pubes.

I've been looking through your photos... do marea headlights fit straight on??? they look AWESOME! and also did the exhaust cost you much to get done?

marea headlights are a direct fit, only difference is the sidelight wiring, but its very easy to change the wiring. the exhaust cost me a tenner

 

[BigJim]

yes i do, a breand new timing belt, aux belt and fuel filter, one of the original headlights, the HLX steering wheel and airbag in mint condition, and a few other bits. i should really bin them all because i've advertised them all several times and never had anyone interested.

If they are proving hard to get rid of and you are just going to throw them away, i would be more than happy to take them off your hands...

yeah the gains from a panel filter are pretty much the same. you dont get the nice noise but other than that its the same.

Well there would be no point in investing into an induction kit without that roar from the bonnet would there haha the one for £3.99 looks like a winner!

i was replacing pistons and clutches on motoX bikes before i had pubes.

LOL!!! but i bet it has done you well to be force fed the gumf in the long run??

marea headlights are a direct fit, only difference is the sidelight wiring, but its very easy to change the wiring. the exhaust cost me a tenner

Do you know roughly how much i can pick them up for? i'd love a set of them on the bravo, they look incredible! WHERE DID YOU GET A BACK BOX FOR A TENNER?! haha and how did you fit it? / how much did it cost? my dad has one of them alfa's btw, they are so nice...

 

[jug]

Do you know roughly how much i can pick them up for? i'd love a set of them on the bravo, they look incredible!

from a scrapyard they are usually £15-25 each, on ebay a pair can often go for £50-100.

not all mareas have them, only HLX models.

WHERE DID YOU GET A BACK BOX FOR A TENNER?! haha and how did you fit it? / how much did it cost?

i cheated and left the original backbox on, and then i fitted a stainless steel tailpipe to it. i chopped the original pipe off with a grinder and adjusted the hanger position so i could fit the new one perfectly in line with the bumper. i slightly chopped and shaped the bumper to make it fit nicely.

my dad has one of them alfa's btw, they are so nice...

yes they are. he must be a wise man

 

[BigJim]

Argh i am not going to even attempt any of that haha. and a new back box would cost at least £60...

Haha my dad has an S plate one, its in the metallic green... not the greatest colour in the world, but they are nice cars to drive! dont tell him tho!

Are you up for throwing them bravo bits down my way? Waste not want not

So the best thing to do is ring around the scrapyards, like a teddy bear... haha do you ever go out on car cruises like Southend, Basildon etc ?

 

[jug]

Are you up for throwing them bravo bits down my way? Waste not want not

i'll have a look in the garage on sunday and see what i can find.

do you ever go out on car cruises like Southend, Basildon etc ?

not any more. when i was younger i did the cruise scene but only in the north east unless it was for a big event like maxpower @ NEC.

 

[BigJim]

i'll have a look in the garage on sunday and see what i can find.

Wicked, thanks mate, you are a legend!

How comes you don't go to them anymore?? some of them are really good! did you ever go to santa pod or anythin like that?

Are you one of the founders of this forum?

 

[jug]

How comes you don't go to them anymore?? some of them are really good! did you ever go to santa pod or anythin like that?

i'm old and boring now, all i do is work, eat, sleep and pay bills.

never made it to the pod, its too far.

Are you one of the founders of this forum?

nope i'm just a noob really, plenty were here many years before me.

 

[BigJim]

lol thats fair enough i guess...

Do you have any tips to give about bravo's? what to get, what not to get etc? im gonna start up a thread to see if anyone has any marea HLX headlights for me to buy, but apart from that i dont really know what would be good for the bravo. maybe an HGT engine haha

 

[jug]

a marea centre console with arm rest is a good upgrade for the interior, and very easy to do.
you can just see it in this pic

if you dont have the front and rear mudflaps i'd get them, i had them on my bravo and imo they made a huge difference.

the bigger abarth spoiler is a good upgrade too.

i also fitted one rear light from a LHD model, that meant both sides were the same instead of having a reverse light on one side and a fog light on the other. you dont need a reverse light for MOT.

 

[BigJim]

haha that is well good!! again did you get the marea centre console from a scrapyard?

i think the only way one of those spoilers looks good is with the custom tailpipe, i have seen one of those on a 1.4 around here and i just thought it looked ridiculous.

is that gear knob on the interior shot from a marea too or is it a custom one?

just a quick question, again demonstrating my lack of intelligence for cars... what is the small LED light on the side of the front seats in a bravo? mine is always on on the drivers side and i have no idea what it means, it really bugs me! haha

 

[jug]

did you get the marea centre console from a scrapyard?

yeah, cost £10

is that gear knob on the interior shot from a marea too or is it a custom one?

its from a new toyota corolla.

what is the small LED light on the side of the front seats in a bravo?

the front seats are heated. the push button is on the front of each seat. turn it off and only use it when you need it.

 

[BigJim]

Is the marea HLX the only model with the decent centre console or can i just stick any one in there??

Does the corolla gear knob fit straight on or did you bodge it on some how? lol

REALLY!! haha i wondered why the driver side light is always on but the passenger side isnt :S haha is the button on the plastic or actually inside the seat itself? i don't know if mine works or not to be honest.. lol