Personal impressions, recommendations, tuning and maintenance of a Fiat Barchetta roadster over the time. Which can help you or bring some inspiration or just fresh ideas.
Some Basics about the model:
Year: 1999
Engine: petrol 1.8l with 131 PS
Weight: 1056kg/2328lb
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Color: Rosso Speed, 168F
Tires: tubeless all-season / M+S
What was done in 2018
- new wind deflector [DIY]
- new oil filter
- new air filter
- new spark plugs
- new timing belt
- new serpentine belt
- new timing belt tensioner
- new idler pulley
- new water pump
- new coolant mixture (50/50)
- new door protectors
- removed rust from battery holder try and lacquered [DIY]
- cigarette lighter socket was replaced by a USB one with a built-in ammeter [DIY]
- new leather shift knob
- new leather shift knob cover
Barchetta has a season number plate, that mean it’s may be moved in my case from April until the end of October.
The rest of the time car is parked in a garage. The german law says, that cars with a season number, are not allowed to be moved outside the season. But if you have a garage of private parking locations you can start the engine and move the car a bit as explained by Chicago Garage Door.
Over the winter season, Barchetta get started a couple times within the six months to get a bit warm, circulate the oil, what is necessary to get the engine in flow.
Planing to do in 2019
- check the flashing airbag control light
- checking the brake pads
- throttle body cleaning
- check out the pollen filter
- replace exhaust mount bracket
- make a DIY anti thief system
- make a LED trunk light
- restyling the side mirrors
- additional turn signal for the side mirrors
- new lack
Rusty places
Battery holder gets some rusty spaces after 20 years, this is a typical Barchetta issue and is not tragic at all.
Cosmetically unpleasantness, which can be fixed within a day.
Sand paper, Dremel with some grinding bits to remove the rusty spots.
500ml rosso speed color lack spray
And the final result is shining like a new part:
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