hi man, i had the same noise on my yellow barchetta. around 100'000 Km i changed the belt and with it the water-pump and the "Variatore di Fase" ( i am italian, sorry). since that moment no noise and it was not sooooo expensive!! don't be afraid, let change that variator and your supercar will be OK!!!!
I changed the belt & the water pump along with the tensioners & bearings... & disassembled the engine cleansed it piece by piece with diesel & put it back together.. Still the noise is coming...
I love Italian cars but to be honest this is my 1st & probably the last one... (Unless they got back 2 RWD :P)
My Punto HGT also have this problem with the variator.
I've heard contrasting opinions on that problem. There's who tells you lose hp, but it isn't dangerous for the engine. There's who tells it's only noisy, but still functioning and so no hp loss and no problems for the engine. And there's also who tells that the variator's hub will break and it'll likely damage other parts in the motor head!
I don't know who's right, but my Punto is now at 196.000Km with original variator, and still alive ;)
Now it sounds like a diesel noise cuz the sufficent oil amount is not reaching the engine's head cuz of the almost clogged variator. Hence i think its bad on the long term since that the parts arent getting enough lubrication..
Some people managed to fix it without any replacement but thats a risky job, you need to be a mechanic... FIAT engineering OMG!!! even though the barchetta was a great car..
This is not valve noise. It's a part called "timing variator".A spring is mounted in the variator and causes this "diesel" noise. A common problem,sounds and looks very expensive,but it isn't. I bought many of them with this noise,and always very very cheap,the sellers thought the engine had a bearing failure..LOL! This variator failure causes a very very light hp lost but is not dangerous for the engine. I bought a orange one with black leather airco lowered suspension for my wife.
The camshaftswitcher is dead, it's a known problem after +/- 100000km. Part costs about 200 euro, you should replace it everythime you change the belt.
Variator, variable valve timing device needs replacing every 36,000 or 3 years.
Variator sounds like a diesel engine when shot.. £100 part +fitting.
alfistii1 1 year ago
hi man, i had the same noise on my yellow barchetta. around 100'000 Km i changed the belt and with it the water-pump and the "Variatore di Fase" ( i am italian, sorry). since that moment no noise and it was not sooooo expensive!! don't be afraid, let change that variator and your supercar will be OK!!!!
battagliero79 2 years ago
I changed the belt & the water pump along with the tensioners & bearings... & disassembled the engine cleansed it piece by piece with diesel & put it back together.. Still the noise is coming...
I love Italian cars but to be honest this is my 1st & probably the last one... (Unless they got back 2 RWD :P)
bd1087 2 years ago
My Punto HGT also have this problem with the variator.
I've heard contrasting opinions on that problem. There's who tells you lose hp, but it isn't dangerous for the engine. There's who tells it's only noisy, but still functioning and so no hp loss and no problems for the engine. And there's also who tells that the variator's hub will break and it'll likely damage other parts in the motor head!
I don't know who's right, but my Punto is now at 196.000Km with original variator, and still alive ;)
gatalpa 2 years ago
Now it sounds like a diesel noise cuz the sufficent oil amount is not reaching the engine's head cuz of the almost clogged variator. Hence i think its bad on the long term since that the parts arent getting enough lubrication..
Some people managed to fix it without any replacement but thats a risky job, you need to be a mechanic... FIAT engineering OMG!!! even though the barchetta was a great car..
bd1087 2 years ago
Yes!, It's the sound of the variator problems,,, sound a bit diesel,,, I had changed my own at last week,,!! :D
detobias 3 years ago
This is not valve noise. It's a part called "timing variator".A spring is mounted in the variator and causes this "diesel" noise. A common problem,sounds and looks very expensive,but it isn't. I bought many of them with this noise,and always very very cheap,the sellers thought the engine had a bearing failure..LOL! This variator failure causes a very very light hp lost but is not dangerous for the engine. I bought a orange one with black leather airco lowered suspension for my wife.
TESTASPEEDER 3 years ago
variator problem
augustojmartins 3 years ago
The camshaftswitcher is dead, it's a known problem after +/- 100000km. Part costs about 200 euro, you should replace it everythime you change the belt.
metalman616 3 years ago
Yeah thats true.. lets hope it wont have any effect on the camshaft..
bd1087 3 years ago