16V trouble?

[andre]

I am looking too buy a thema.
When asking about more information,
someone told me that the themas with 16 valve engines are not that good (series 3?)
Is this true? What is generaly considered as the best thema engine?

[David Hanson]

the 16v is a great engine as long as it has been properly serviced. If the cam or balance shaft belts break then it can get expensive. There was a problem with the early 16v engines which caused premature belt failure but all cars should have been fitted with the modifications by now. 16v turbos are very fast cars and in my mind are the best Themas (with the possible exception of the 8.32)

[neo]

I have a '93 16V VIS for the last 2 years. Great engine, very smooth and powerful enough. Never given any major trouble except for a failed fuel pump. Of course I have it serviced very regularly, including replacing the belts.

[andre]

wat is a V.I.S?
sometimes i also see a U9. What is that for a type?

[neo]

VIS means Variable Intake System (or maybe Variable Induction System) - the air entering each cylinder is channelled either thru a short duct (high rev) or longer duct (low rev), probably by a butterfly valve. Purpose is to spread the torque over a wider rev range.

I think it is available only for Series 3 Thema 16V non-turbo (which I think looks better than the older series).

[kassus]

Hi,

i just bought a precious green ie 16v, serie II,
im very impresive for its power, performance and dynamic posibilities,
very fast (220) and more economic thant i thought (about 11 l/media).
there are alcantrara, sunroof, african wood, climatic air condition,
some parts from 8.32, only 120.000 km

there are no trouble but power !

pd: the turbo must be impresibe (serie III runs with 205 horsepower, it replaced the thema 8.32 by ferrari)

[Brian Hilton]

Hi Fellas,
don't get complacent about reliability on 16v, I had a 1994 ser 3 16v VIS LS Auto that had all the latest modifications fitted from new, when I bought the Thema at 50,000 miles I had all the belts changed by an ex Lancia service manager (as in UK Fiat dealers were a waste of time once Lancia pulled out of RHD market) 18,000 miles later the new, genuine lancia cambelt broke radially while I was doing about 50mph resulting in 4 inlet and 4 exhaust valves bent.
Fiat/ Lancia UK eventually paid £800 of the £1000 bill which I believe is a pretty rare event.

Don't know if we are just unlucky in the UK but this seems to be a fairly common problem here.