1.4 16v MPI engine reliability

[mtartist]

Hi all. I'm thinking of buying a used 2013 Seat Ibiza with the 1.4 16v MPI engine. Although I've seen reports that the 1.4 84hp engine doesn't provide much fun, my main consideration is engine reliability and repair costs.

I'm noticing that Ibizas with this engine are the cheapest, so I'm worried this might be due to engine reliability. Do you have any knowledge in this regards?

Thank you.

 

[dm222]

the 1.4 16V 85HP is the most reliable gasoline engine equiping this cars.

the con is the mpg is worse than the others and needs cambelt change every 90k kms, you need to decide where you want to spend.

forget about the 1.4TSI 1XXHP, and the 1.2TSI has some problems, don't really know how big they are.

Edit: corrected to 90k kms

 

[mtartist]

the 1.4 16V 85HP is the most reliable gasoline engine equiping this cars.

the con is the mpg is worse than the others and needs cambelt change every 60k kms, you need to decide where you want to spend.

forget about the 1.4TSI 1XXHP, and the 1.2TSI has some problems, don't really know how big they are.

That's good to hear. Not too worried about the MPG since I don't drive long distances.

The turbo problems scared me off, so I made it a point to avoid turbo engines.

Thank you.

 

[dm222]

That's good to hear. Not too worried about the MPG since I don't drive long distances.

The turbo problems scared me off, so I made it a point to avoid turbo engines.

Thank you.

90k kms correction
Miles i dont know

 

[mtartist]

90k kms correction
Miles i dont know

Even better. I don't even do 10k kms in a year.

 

[RUM4MO]

Even better. I don't even do 10k kms in a year.

Remember that while the cambelt change should be before or at 90Kms, it is also before or at 5 years, so don't risk damaging the engine by forgetting that. Anyway, even the latest and quite reliable versions of the 1.2TSI engines, late 2014 onwards are back to using cambelts with the same replacement periods/distance run.

I'd think that the main reason that the cars with the 1.4 16V 86PS are the cheaper ones is that they tend to have the lower trim levels.

I don't think that you will be able to escape owning a turbo engined car for too long, that is the way things are going to reduce emissions, I bought my wife a new VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS back in August 2015 - and like you I'd rather have bought one without a turbo but with the same power - not possible, so far so good!

 

[dm222]

Mine doesnt mention anything about 5 years in the manual.

I saw someone comenting in s forum that he went to SEAT change a cambelt because it had 5 years and they said to him "why are you changing, the cambelt only needs changing after X kms" (220k kms if I remember, 1.6 TDI)

Mine makes 5 years in january, it has 50k kms and looks like new

 

[RUM4MO]

Oh, I have never ever left a cam belt on one of these engines for longer than 5 years, nothing much has changed on these engines over the past 15+ years, okay maybe one idler less to save money, but still the same belt, so if you plan on not spending money on repairing an engine, replacing the cam belt every 5 years or 60Kms is a very good plan. Unless of course you feel extremely lucky?

 

[dm222]

Im considering delaying at least one year but I don't know yet. I have to inform myself more before making a decision.

 

[jamesyboyjim]

I see people mentioning mpg with the 1.4 16v engine, but I have one and average around 42mpg with it and on a good clearish run to work in the morning, can get as much as 51mpg out of it.

The car moves reasonably enough in 2nd and third. enough to keep those pesky boy racers in their old Corsa's at bay

cam belt interval I believe is 4 years / 60,000 miles. Very low when compared to some other manufacturers

I've only ever heard how reliable the engine is but mine is currently in a garage with a buggered head gasket at 49,500 miles although if you see my thread you'll see that the water pump failed which i believe led to the engine to cook itself so you cant really blame the engine for that. I personally blame SEAT for not including a temp gauge in the car!

 

[dm222]

Where did you found the information about 4 years?

 

[jamesyboyjim]

Where did you found the information about 4 years?

Apologies, its 5 years. As per Seat's servicing website

 

[dm222]

Ok but they didnt put that in the manual, do you have a link for that information?

 

[RUM4MO]

Very little has changed in these engines over the past 15+ years, and the VAG independent workshop that I get to replace these cam belts said that he has not seen any belts actually failing, it is the associated idlers/pulleys/water pump that usually causes problems and can wreck the belt and so the engine. For what it is worth, the first set of parts that were removed form my wife's Octonber 2002 Polo in April 2007 were all "as good as new" - but that did not stop me getting them replaced again in April 2012. Nor did it stop me getting the late 2009 Ibiza's cam belt replaced in April 2014.

Also, I am certain that I will need to get the cam belt replaced on her August 2015 Polo 1.2TSI 110PS round about April 2020.

Doing things that way avoids or minimises the risk of having to spend a lot more money repairing a damaged engine.

 

[jamesyboyjim]

Ok but they didnt put that in the manual, do you have a link for that information?

The maximum recommended interval for a cambelt change varies depending on model, year and engine type. It is important that the cambelt change interval does not exceed the maximum period. Therefore, SEAT recommends a cambelt kit change, where fitted, every 5 years or recommended mileage, whichever comes sooner. We also recommend that the water pump be replaced with a cambelt change at the same time.

http://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/booking.html

Very little has changed in these engines over the past 15+ years, and the VAG independent workshop that I get to replace these cam belts said that he has not seen any belts actually failing, it is the associated idlers/pulleys/water pump that usually causes problems and can wreck the belt and so the engine. For what it is worth, the first set of parts that were removed form my wife's Octonber 2002 Polo in April 2007 were all "as good as new" - but that did not stop me getting them replaced again in April 2012. Nor did it stop me getting the late 2009 Ibiza's cam belt replaced in April 2014.

As someone who recently had a year old waterpump fail and almost wreck the head gasket of my 1.4 Ibiza, I can only vouch for what RUM4MO is saying!

 

[dm222]

http://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/booking.html



As someone who recently had a year old waterpump fail and almost wreck the head gasket of my 1.4 Ibiza, I can only vouch for what RUM4MO is saying!

Looks like SEAT services are a lot cheaper in the UK.