Timing belt cover

[bradartigue]

Not to be nitpicky, but this does NOT reference the timing cover, this references those sheet metal pieces, indicating that the timing cover doesn't work. My question is: Why does the cover have to be freaking yellow? What is the point of that?

It doesn't reference the cover? The word additional is in there. In the diagrams - which I realize you can't see - attached to the letter they show the plastic and metal covers.

Yellow because they ran out of silver? They made silver ones, too, all the way through production. They seem to have become increasingly rare in the later years and I've never seen one on a pininfarina Spider. IIRC the show cars they were always silver.

As far as the rims comment in the other thread, guys who have them always have to defend them. Like wearing a gold chain or having a tattoo. Or owning a Miata.

[Danno]

I guess I didn't phrase it right. My point is that the reason for the plastic cover is in question. The quote you posted does not reference the original intention of that cover, but says that they added some crap for protection. So, the original intention of the cover is still unknown.

[bradartigue]

I guess I didn't phrase it right. My point is that the reason for the plastic cover is in question. The quote you posted does not reference the original intention of that cover, but says that they added some crap for protection. So, the original intention of the cover is still unknown.

I don't see how the original intention is unknown. It is a protective cover. It protects the belt and drive mechanisms from debris and it protects the mechanic from interfering with the belt.

[Danno]

I guess I didn't phrase it right. My point is that the reason for the plastic cover is in question. The quote you posted does not reference the original intention of that cover, but says that they added some crap for protection. So, the original intention of the cover is still unknown.

I don't see how the original intention is unknown. It is a protective cover. It protects the belt and drive mechanisms from debris and it protects the mechanic from interfering with the belt.

Well, I wasn't the one questioning it. I thought someone else questioned the purpose of it and that was your response.

[fiat218]

c'mom; nobody liked my ham story? I made it up, just for the occasion.

Yup silly. Why would Fiat, or any manufacturer, go to the bother of designing, creating and installing a part that wasn't neccessary??

I think one reason the timing belt covers are there is because society has these people called "lawyers".

Heck, most of go a lifetime and never need our seatbelts, let's just get rid of em!

actually, I use my seatbelts every day. And they have a very clearly-designed purpose which has been proven, time and time again. Not like the timing-belt cover.

I fix cars for a living.

I used to fix cars for a living too. But that doesn't make me an authority beyond what I've seen myself.

I see no timing belts with and rock/debris damage,

I thought it was being answered. For safety and engine cooling efficiency. This reminds me years ago when people would knock off the front air dam off their GM car and didn't spend the money to replace it, then wonder why the car ran hotter than it used to.

I think you may have missed something in previous posts: the timing belt cover has ZERO impact on cooling. And nobody has suggested it has, until your post. Unless you are referring to two separate items; in which case, I'm a very BIG believer in the lower engine-bay cover. I'd love to find an intact one for my car. But we are WAAAY off point here.

Quoting Service Letter 100-13, dated 6-28-79, title is "NEW ADDITIONAL TIMING BELT COVERS"

Brad, I appreciate you chiming-in here, but your stance on big-tube bumpers denies you any credibility in these arguments.

Since it came out in 79...does this mean we can stop thinking that everything Fiat did was "god like". I mean if it took them 12 years to figure this out, just imagine how many more "fixes" we would have seen if they (Fiat) had not pulled out of the US.

Everyone has an opinion, but everytime some issue of enhancement or change comes up....its the same song and dance. Well...if the Fiat engineers did it, they must have had a reason.

I guess brakes on these were perfect "cause that's what the engineers did"
I guess the exhaust system is perfect "cause that's what the engineers did"
I guess 13" tires are perfect "cause that's what the engineers did"
I guess grounds all over the car (and with push on terminals) are perfect "cause that's what the engineers did"
I guess the routing of the emergency brake cable near the hot muffler is perfect...

where have you been all my life?

ok...
so, more seriously. Brad has posted something that answers the question. sort of. "for protection of the timing belt" is a little ambiguous, isn't it? I know, everyone on THAT side of the fence is rolling your eyes at me, and wondering what the definition of "alone" is. But really, I'd like to know what was on FIAT's mind? What did they think they were protecting the belt from?

On my Benz, I had to pull the engine cover the other day. It's a silly plastic guard that snaps to the top of the motor, and allows places to hide ugly components. Now, mind you, you could EAT off the motor. I'm fairly meticulous in the appearance of my vehicles. But when I removed that cover, the accumulated grime and crud was just NASTY. And as a matter of fact, it had accumulated into the fins of the power-steering-cooler, rendering it rather useless. And I wondered to myself what sort of life a timing belt would have in that environment; covered, where it can't be seen / inspected, and can't be cleaned.
How is it better to have it covered? What is it that we are protecting the belt from? (well... I'm NOT protecting mine from whatever it is.... )

U sound like a know it all and every one is wrong

[fiat218]

Nice, Brad.
that there's funny.... I don't care WHO y'are!

yes, i replaced the cover on the benz. As i mentioned above, it was only there to hide ugly parts, like me wearing a shirt at the pool. I will add to my cleaning regimen the removal of the cover and cleaning underneath. But if it were as difficult to remove as the timing belt cover on the TC, I wouldn't, and so I would've left it off.

Why do you think I'd ever take my spider back to stock? I mean, if I had wanted a cute but under-powered, under-braked, under-sprung, under-valued little sports car, I could've had a Miata!

I don't believe in unmodified cars. At least for me.
How many GREAT CARS and even car companies have been born from "hot-rodding"? or that quest for better, faster, lighter, stronger?

My own Spider is devoid of EVERYTHING that doesn't serve a real purpose. (in some cases, that "real purpose" is to appease the annual safety-inspectors, like windshield sprayers/wipers)

No cigar-lighter: I don't smoke.
No radio: I'd rather hear the motor.
No interior lights: who needs 'em?
No back seat: don't need it.
you get the picture.

I did not see a picture on here lol

[RRoller123]

I am old enough to remember back when people actually wore ties regularly, and these covers kept a lot of us from "kissing the radiator".

[dantye]

I am old enough to remember back when people actually wore ties regularly, and these covers kept a lot of us from "kissing the radiator".

... or "cutting your face in half!" (There was even a time when some fans had no shroud!)

[Fi8spider]

Just wondered how many people run there spider without the timing belt cover and the related risks to doing so?

To date we have about 10 people that run with covers, 2 or so that don’t and a couple swingers.

My road cars all run covers simply because I like the clean original look of them and I appreciate their function.

Whereas on my track car (131) I really couldn’t be bothered taking the cover on and off all the time so it stays off. I must admit that I have had track debris flick up and take a chunk out of my front grille only to damage the radiator, so anything is possible.

I have also had my, “working in the engine bay of a motor with no cover when a washer or something small goes bounce –bounce –bounce –where did that go?", moment.

But I’ve gotta admit they sure are a pretty hot looking set of cam wheels and I can understand why owners flaunt them.