Technical Marea 1.6 cam belt failure

[Joris]

Bugger! Yesterday the cam belt in my Marea 1.6 16V failed. The belt's not broken, as it's well before its time (44,000 miles). It doesn't even show wear, but that says little to nothing, I know. I haven't taken it fully apart yet, but it seems the tensioner is broken. I'm contemplating DIY.

So I have some questions about this:

- Is the Marea 1.6 16V a non-interference engine?
- I read a lot about changing the cambelt on a 20V being close to a nightmare. Is the 16V easier to do?
- I have a workshop manual comparable to Haynes', would this be all I need for description?
- Now this manual says there are NO marks on the crankshaft. Would a cam belt kit include the proper aids to set the timing correctly?
- How much would a (generic) garage job be? I've read GBP 150 somewhere, but that can't be right.

That's all for now. I'm going to sit in the corner now and cry.......

 

[dave]

- Is the Marea 1.6 16V a non-interference engine? No
- I read a lot about changing the cambelt on a 20V being close to a nightmare. Is the 16V easier to do? YES EASIER
- I have a workshop manual comparable to Haynes', would this be all I need for description? Is it a porter?
- Now this manual says there are NO marks on the crankshaft. Would a cam belt kit include the proper aids to set the timing correctly? NO YOU WILL NEED SETTING TOOLS www.shop4parts.co.uk
- How much would a (generic) garage job be? I've read GBP 150 somewhere, but that can't be right. A garage would want to take head off and check for valve damage, if you diy and dont do that then its down to you.

in future forget what the book says 16V cam belt change is 40k mikes, or 5 years

 

[Joris]

Thanks for the quick answers, I really appreciate it. About the workshop manual, it's not a Porter. It's a Dutch one, written by P. H. Olving. It says to use a dial with an angular scale and a micrometer to find the exact lowest point in the 1st cylinder. I really wonder why there are no marks....

Gee, this was a lot easier on my 8V 1.5 litre Uno. No manual needed, just set the markings right, put on the belt, fastened the tensioner and it ran.

BTW, the 1.6 belt is specified for 50,000 mi or 4 years, and it was due May 2007. So it's not the idiotic 72,000 mi for some lighter Fiat engines. Anyway it wasn't the belt that failed, it was the tensioner. The last belt change (at 105,000 mi 3.5 years ago) was done by an official dealer, so it's safe to assume the tensioner was replaced as well.

 

[sumplug]

Here is a good guide to belt changes.
16 valve - 36k
8 valve - 40k
turbo - 28k
turbo 16v - 24k

This is based on average running. If you tend to run the engine harder, change sooner.
Water pump should be changed every other belt change and all tensioners and idler wheels changed at every belt change. Do not use cheap pattern belts or pulleys. Only Fiat or Gates for example. QH belts i tend to avoid as ive seen these let go prematurely.

Andy.

 

[Joris]

I'm really not sure the 1.6 16V is an interference engine. Take a look at the link, don't pay attention to the damage and the Dutch gibberish -- just look at the indentations:

http://www.fiatbravoclub.nl/forum/index.php?showtopic=8599&st=20#

(scroll half way down)

Engine is from a '96 1.6 16V Brava (182A4), exact same one as mine.

Also given the fact that there were no ticks or clunks when the engine shut down, I believe I got very very lucky!!!

 

[sumplug]

No. Your engine is an interference engine in that the valves will hit the pistons if the belt snaps. When they hit, usually the valves bend in a second and noise cannot be heard. You MUST take the head off for inspection.

Andy.

 

[Joris]

So even with room for the valves in the piston surfaces it's an interference engine?

 

[sumplug]

So even with room for the valves in the piston surfaces it's an interference engine?

If the belt snaps, the timing goes heywire and pistons meet valves as they are no longer timed to open and close is series. Iam afraid as many on here will tell you that you need to take the head off for inspection. It is definately an interference engine.
Fiats service schedule is wrong to change the cam belt, and you should not leave it more then 36k or 5 years. With all Fiats schedules, half them, so the oil should not go beyond 6k before changing for example. This way, it will keep your engine/car healthy.

Andy.

 

[Joris]

Yeah, the guys at the Dutch forum already filled me in on the same. The indents are there for normal operation of the valves. Once the timing fails, the pistons hit the valves. Period. No-one gets lucky.

Now I have to decide whether it's worth the fix. If I fix it, I'm still driving the same old can that has 2 years left at most. It's currently at 150k mi.