Although I have a liking for the unconventional, the underdog, for those who have to battle a bit to achieve – this does not mean that I will support something when it lets you down big time. Such is my relationship with Fiats and Alfas.
My second car (I’ll talk about the first some other time) was a Fiat 1500 (or millecinquecento) which I enjoyed even though I bought it as a non-runner and spent some time getting it going to the detriment of my studies. The third was an Alfa Giulia Super. That was in the 70’s, of course. The Alfa remains my favourite of all the cars have owned and part of the reason was for its reliability. Part of this reliabilitywas due to use of a double chain to drive its valves, not a rubber cambelt. Fast forward to the present where I have the task of looking after the transport of a Safe Home looking after abused children and mothers. Some years ago I sourced a near perfect Ford Laser (from an elderly couple) with an unburstable Mazda engine. It had only 90 000 km on the clock, so should have kept going till all those children were grown up, out of the house and hopefully working. But it was not to be.
An accident wrote the car off. Fortunately no injuries but one more Mazda pushing up the daisies hopefully after donating some of its organs to other Maxdas in need? Then two sponsors came up with R70 000 and the search began for a station wagon that would have more space for more kids and luggage. I didn’t want to buy an older Kombi since these cars have their own problems (know because I own one) and figured the fuel and maintenance costs would be pretty high. After avoiding wagons in absolutely disgusting condition, I eventually found a Fiat Palio Weekend 1,6 twincam in excellent condition with only 68 000 km on the clock. The cambelt change had been done at 60 000 km so hopefully no worries for some years. The only problem experienced till now was an alternator bearing which seemed pretty fair going.
Then, after 93 000 km and three years of ownership – the dreaded cambelt snapped. With only half of its minimum life gone, this should not have happened. The dealer was, of course, questioned, but their work is only guaranteed for one year. So off I went to an Italian specialist, Auto Azzurri in Panorama to do the work. The bill came to R8 400 and seven of the 16 valves had to be replaced since this is an interference engine whose valves get bent by the pistons when the former stops moving and the latter doesn’t. Everything is a mission to get to as is sadly normal for tightly packed transverse engines so it is best left to the professionals, in this case George, who promised that after he had sorted the mess out, it wouldn’t happen again and I will try to believe him.
Still, if anyone offers to sponsor this worthy cause with a bigger people mover, I’ll do my best to stay away from anything that uses a re-inforced rubber belt to drive the camshafts. Come to think of it – my other car is a Fiat 128 with a cambelt that’s at least ten years old. I suppose I should think about replacing it sometime?
