Twin air actuator

[Bobwilson76]

Good morning, just wondering if there's anywhere repairing the twin air actuators? They don't look an over complex part but I suspect getting the parts is the issue? Does anyone know what fails on them to make them not open valves correctly and such, surely someone somewhere knows how they work or don't work? Cheers.

 

[Twotone2]

Twin Air UniAir

replacing a UniAir

www.fiatforum.com

 

[Bobwilson76]

Twin Air UniAir

replacing a UniAir

www.fiatforum.com

Thanks for this but I was looking at places that might repair it? Surely they're not just a throw away part at the £800 or so they cost?

 

[Twotone2]

Thanks for this but I was looking at places that might repair it? Surely they're not just a throw away part at the £800 or so they cost?

There is a guy who repairs them, you'll have to do a search on here , think there's two different garages actually, but I think I read it was about £650 for a repair.

There's also an Italian YouTube video of a guy repairing one.

 

[Bobwilson76]

There is a guy who repairs them, you'll have to do a search on here , think there's two different garages actually, but I think I read it was about £650 for a repair.

There's also an Italian YouTube video of a guy repairing one.

Great stuff, I'll have a look and see if I can find those videos, thank you.

 

[s130]

I seem to recall being told that early twin/multiair units failed due to lack of oil pressure due to gasket / seal failure between the head and the uniair module. Thes would certainly account for multiple actuators not working correctly.

 

[Bobwilson76]

I seem to recall being told that early twin/multiair units failed due to lack of oil pressure due to gasket / seal failure between the head and the uniair module. Thes would certainly account for multiple actuators not working correctly.

Presumably that would be a relatively easy repair though, I would have expected someone to be selling reconditioned units where you part ex your old unit for the reconditioned one? There's a potential for someone to be making a small fortune out of reconditioning them, presumably most old units just go in the scrap bin, it's such a waste.

 

[Twotone2]

Problem solved: Fiat 500 engine misfire when cold

In this case study, Pico Technnology's Steve Smith outlines the diagnostic techniques involved when faced with a misfire symptom during cold starts in engines that utilise TwinAir technology. Customer’s description The customer reported a severe vibration from

garagewire.co.uk

 

[Tropicalmike]

Presumably that would be a relatively easy repair though, I would have expected someone to be selling reconditioned units where you part ex your old unit for the reconditioned one? There's a potential for someone to be making a small fortune out of reconditioning them, presumably most old units just go in the scrap bin, it's such a waste.

I had a look for reconditioned UniAir units. But didnt find anything. I tried to dismantle my defective one but could even butcher it to get the actuator coils out. A real shame and such a waste as you say. The engine isnt that common and I think it is now 5 years since Fiat stopped installing twin airs . Maybe not enough of them out there to make it worthwhile for aftermarket parts people. It must be very fine tolerances in the solenoids that has to operate at least once and sometimes twice every other revolution .

 

[Bobwilson76]

I had a look for reconditioned UniAir units. But didnt find anything. I tried to dismantle my defective one but could even butcher it to get the actuator coils out. A real shame and such a waste as you say. The engine isnt that common and I think it is now 5 years since Fiat stopped installing twin airs . Maybe not enough of them out there to make it worthwhile for aftermarket parts people. It must be very fine tolerances in the solenoids that has to operate at least once and sometimes twice every other revolution .

Absolutely it's a waste, I expected a cylinder head refurb company might be refurbing the actuators alongside their other work but didn't really find any info. I bet a fair few have gone in the scrap for very small faults that could have easily been repaired.

 

[chris3234]

Absolutely it's a waste, I expected a cylinder head refurb company might be refurbing the actuators alongside their other work but didn't really find any info. I bet a fair few have gone in the scrap for very small faults that could have easily been repaired.

Probably just not worth the amount of work for the small profit they could make especially given it's hardly a massive market engine

 

[varesecrazy]

I've not seen this thread until today.

I was doing this research in 2012, preparing to buy my 1st TA

The specialist in Hants was finding the 4 cyl Multiair were losing oil pressure through gasket leaks, had a batch of multilayer gaskets built, and was happily just doing that for years

I have Never read of unit refurbs,
as I posted a couple of years ago..
"That Ship has Sailed"

Most 500's are now uneconomic to have a £1600 garage fix

 

[Twotone2]

I had a look for reconditioned UniAir units. But didnt find anything. I tried to dismantle my defective one but could even butcher it to get the actuator coils out. A real shame and such a waste as you say. The engine isnt that common and I think it is now 5 years since Fiat stopped installing twin airs . Maybe not enough of them out there to make it worthwhile for aftermarket parts people. It must be very fine tolerances in the solenoids that has to operate at least once and sometimes twice every other revolution .

Our TA 4x4 panda was manufactured back in December 2022, no idea when the engine was made though I suppose it could have been made
A few years before then.

Presumably Fiat bought or buy the engines from elsewhere?

 

[varesecrazy]

Our TA 4x4 panda was manufactured back in December 2022, no idea when the engine was made though

Presumably Fiat bought or buy the engines from elsewhere?

The "Multiair".
Was a product of FIAT POWER TRAIN

licenced by FIAT /FCA - Jaguar were going to use it in their big petrols..
As it is an effective emissions control device

(The replacement Firefly concept has been coming for over a decade..
Covid.. Dieselgate, etc have all added to delays)

My Twinairs are euro 5 and 6,
but 2012/13/14 models

The 2012 is on 75k trouble free miles, attempting to keep that good for another decade

 

[Tropicalmike]

Our TA 4x4 panda was manufactured back in December 2022, no idea when the engine was made though I suppose it could have been made
A few years before then.

Presumably Fiat bought or buy the engines from elsewhere?

Of course , they still fitted them in the Pandas a bit longer after they stopped in 500s. But maybe just using up the engine stock. Presume no longer available in Pandas now.

 

[Twotone2]

Of course , they still fitted them in the Pandas a bit longer after they stopped in 500s. But maybe just using up the engine stock. Presume no longer available in Pandas now.

Aye I was offered the last manufactured TA 4X4 last year from Arnold Clark (so they said) after I bought I Panda Hybrid and cancelled the car and enquired about a TA 4x4 they had but had sold days before.

From memory they said it was a failed order from late 2022, apparently some woman had paid a deposit but then failed a credit check when the car was ready, think it was in their Leeds branch if I recall correctly, the RT put me off plus the price for the car obviously but the RT was about £600 because the car wasn't registered.

 

[The Panda Nut]

There is a guy who repairs them, you'll have to do a search on here , think there's two different garages actually, but I think I read it was about £650 for a repair.

There's also an Italian YouTube video of a guy repairing one.

Before setting off on a repair look in the resources on here and do your homework on the unit and how they work. I suspect if it is to be repaired you would need a clean lab not a home workshop due to the microscopic size of some of the components and the absolute need for cleanliness. FOr the extra money I would replace. However irritaing and bad for the environment that may be. If you spent a pile of money on parts and failed to clear out a blocked oilway it would be wasted.