Sick of Fiat 500 cutting out

MarkAnthony

Short Version:

After going to several mechanics, the engine light coming on and going off and not recording the fault I'm at my wits end. The throttle body and pedal position sensor have been replaced and it still has an issue at idle. It's especially a problem when the engine is cold or on a hill.

Long Version:

Had issues with the car 2 years or so ago, seemed to start after it was out of warranty so we took it to an independant for it's yearly service rather than the main dealer. They said there were issues with the throttle body so cleaned it, got worse, so fixed the seal in it, still didn't work properly - engine not idling properly. Feck it - going back to main dealer to get it replaced.

Ordered throttle body - ended up in an accident so got the TB from the main dealer and gave it to the body shop to replace, they did - assured me they had all the kit to work on what is essentially a laptop on wheels. Replaced TB still had issues, told me it was pedal sensor, got that replaced too, that didn't fix it so got the bullcrap line of it's something that Fiat need to fix with magic (in other words the ECU needed resetting and they couldn't do it) Fiat dealer did it for me FOC so I said I stick with them.

Happy days - or so I thought. Issue returned, took it back to dealer, they said couldn't find fault - kept it for a week, engine light wouldn't come on for them picked it up, drove it yesterday and today still not idling right! At wits end. The only lead I have is that when it was in for the ECU reset the mechanic mentioned he was also getting a fuel manifold pressure error. Unable to repeat fault so they say not to replace it.

Apart from the obvious suggestion of don't by Fiats, does anyone have any suggestions on what to do, the care is a PITA to drive as it's a city car so I spend alot of time at idle!

Thanks in advance.

Mad4simmental

Buy a Toyota,

Ahh no but did they check the inlet manifold gasket? Sumtimes it's the simple things. But that's sumtimes. It's also possible the new tb is faulty it wouldn't be the first time it happened.

MarkAnthony

Mad4simmental wrote: »

Buy a Toyota,

Ahh no but did they check the inlet manifold gasket? Sumtimes it's the simple things. But that's sumtimes. It's also possible the new tb is faulty it wouldn't be the first time it happened.

I'm thinking to chucking it in for a Kia - 7 year warranty and all that good stuff. Buying a house at the mo so every penny counts.

If it was the TB again would it not force the engine light on and record the fault?

PS any suggestions for a good Fiat dealer not based in Swords as I think Michael Barrable think I'm making this stuff up!

Tazio

problem with idle.. OK some questions for you...

do the revs climb and fall when you hit the brakes coming to a compete stop? Also how do the brakes feel in general.. ever feel there was an issue with them? ie not enough braking power??

how many miles on car? when were spark plugs changed last?? and by who??

is she a 1.4 multiair??

MarkAnthony

Tazio wrote: »

problem with idle.. OK some questions for you...

do the revs climb and fall when you hit the brakes coming to a compete stop? Also how do the brakes feel in general.. ever feel there was an issue with them? ie not enough braking power??

how many miles on car? when were spark plugs changed last?? and by who??

is she a 1.4 multiair??

Very odd you should mention the brakes! Yes they've had some issues; right as this all began but the garage put it down to a hose not being connected properly. After the accident something had become disconnected on one side and it took a while to spot. When it went for NCT there was a significant imbalance and wear on one side. Imbalance was corrected by reconnecting the (not shocks but something like that one one side) but I don't think that caused there wear as it was only like it for a few days.

Not sure on the rise and fall, it did cut out as I went on to a mini-roundabout today, also cut out on the hill on Bridgefoot street but that was right after starting off.

I think it's a 1.2 - it's an 09 - I'll just go check.

Thanks for reading all that and coming back to me folks!

Oh sparks done a few months ago by the Body shop - will name names if needs be as the rest of the service was faultless other than this TB issue. Miles - 50-60K Km approx.

MarkAnthony

FIAT 500 1.2 (69Hp) Petrol.

ba_barabus

No actual experience of the garages other than viewing some cars but both are in DunLaoighre. One is now a Fiat specialist the other is a main dealer. Found both knowledgeable. Might be worth a call tbh.

Grace and Harvey is the main dealers

dgt

There is a known issue with non ESC cars. It affects throttle response. I'm going to take a wild stab and say this could be your problem if you don't have ESC

MarkAnthony

dgt wrote: »

There is a known issue with non ESC cars. It affects throttle response. I'm going to take a wild stab and say this could be your problem if you don't have ESC

Any fix you're aware of?

MarkAnthony

ba_barabus wrote: »

No actual experience of the garages other than viewing some cars but both are in DunLaoighre. One is now a Fiat specialist the other is a main dealer. Found both knowledgeable. Might be worth a call tbh.

Grace and Harvey is the main dealers

Brill, out by the DART. Thanks! Been a nightmare getting back from Swords.

Hachiko

there was an article on watchdog about these, struggling to get up a hill.

I drove a Fiat 500 as a hire car in the last few years, was the worst thing ever, I was crapping myself at every set of lights and every time I came to a roundabout, absolutely no go at all in it.

MarkAnthony

Hachiko wrote: »

there was an article on watchdog about these, struggling to get up a hill.

I drove a Fiat 500 as a hire car in the last few years, was the worst thing ever, I was crapping myself at every set of lights and every time I came to a roundabout, absolutely no go at all in it.

I've no issue with it, I'm pretty heavy, load the thing up with crap and have no issues with it at all, it's a city car and drives well in the city. No issue with in on the motorway either although it's not the most comfortable at over 120Kph but it's not the worst thing I've ever driven either.

Been a great little car until this all started. Bear in mind the range goes from a little two cylinder thing to a 1.4 (IIRC). In a car this size a 1.2L petrol engine is plenty if not particularly exciting.

MarkAnthony

Just to be clear mines not one of the new types which had this problem from April 2014 on it's an 09 model. I do wonder though if something they've done in the software to fix the new ones has caused an issue with mine.

sky18

I had a fiat bravo in 99 from new it was 1.2 petrol around 40k it started cutting out for no reason it would struggle to stay at idle revs would drop down and nearly cut out then would go up to 1000 rpm and then cut out no faults found but was eventually sorted the valves in the engine were sticking i think they put a better grade of oil in it.maybe something you could try

MarkAnthony

sky18 wrote: »

I had a fiat bravo in 99 from new it was 1.2 petrol around 40k it started cutting out for no reason it would struggle to stay at idle revs would drop down and nearly cut out then would go up to 1000 rpm and then cut out no faults found but was eventually sorted the valves in the engine were sticking i think they put a better grade of oil in it.maybe something you could try

Nice catch and great first post! Might explain why it's worse when the engine is cold. Thanks!

sky18

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Nice catch and great first post! Might explain why it's worse when the engine is cold. Thanks!

I'm trying to remember but i think it took the engine a while to sort itself after the oil change it was still happening for about a week.I hope it sorts it for you.let us know anyway

Tea 1000

If you're changing the oil, would be no harm to take out the spark plugs and check those too. If the tips are all black, it won't be helping. Chocolate brown is the phrase often used to describe the condition they should be in!

MarkAnthony

So the engine light came on, went out to the mechanic, like a d!ck left the thing in gear and stalled it in the car park when I went to get out with the engine running; hopping mad.

Went in and they said once the light goes out the fault clears (bloody stupid design). Eventually went back out and car was still acting up so I finally convinced them to take a look at it despite the engine light not being on.

They replaced the spark plugs for me as they said that Fiats are very sensitive to off brand plugs etc. When they had it in doing that one of the lads said it was having a split second where it seemed to be starved of air.

They recalibrated the throttle body again and touch wood, with new plugs and the recalibration it seems to be behaving again - here's hoping!

sadie1502

Wouldn't touch a fiat. Flog it and get a reliable car.

mullingar

sadie1502 wrote: »

Wouldn't touch a fiat. Flog it and get a reliable car.

I nominate this to be the most constructive post of the year

MarkAnthony

Meh, 6 years old, had one issue with it precipitated by getting it a cheap service.

goz83

Cute car. Not my style...but whatever you drive, always have top quality:

Oil
Spark Plugs
Tyres

IMO these are the things not to cheap out on.

Crap oil can leave your engine open to damage and decreases efficiency.
Crap Plugs, much the same.
Crap tyres can kill.

Foxhole Norman

MarkAnthony wrote: »

So the engine light came on, went out to the mechanic, like a d!ck left the thing in gear and stalled it in the car park when I went to get out with the engine running; hopping mad.

Went in and they said once the light goes out the fault clears (bloody stupid design). Eventually went back out and car was still acting up so I finally convinced them to take a look at it despite the engine light not being on.

They replaced the spark plugs for me as they said that Fiats are very sensitive to off brand plugs etc. When they had it in doing that one of the lads said it was having a split second where it seemed to be starved of air.

They recalibrated the throttle body again and touch wood, with new plugs and the recalibration it seems to be behaving again - here's hoping!

The light going on and off will still store a code, get them to read it!

MarkAnthony

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

The light going on and off will still store a code, get them to read it!

That's what I thought but they were insisting it wouldn't.

Foxhole Norman

MarkAnthony wrote: »

That's what I thought but they were insisting it wouldn't.

It definitely does, I'd try elsewhere for diagnostics if they're saying that.

Hachiko

sell it and get a different car tbh, its not like you are forced to drive that thing.

Driving a car should not be made into a nightmare of owning a shoddy car and wondering will it take me where i want to go when you sit into it.

Celly Smunt

This might seem like a strange one, but any fiats ive had that kept stopping at idle came to a Problem with The fuel line safety switch. Basically this is a switch that turns the fuel lines off if you have a crash etc. Find the switch on your car and press it and it might stop the issue entirely, if it happens again it can always be replaced or bypassed.

MarkAnthony

FECKING THING, has started doing it again.

Lost the plot with it an redlined it in traffic trying to stop it from cutting out (it's a problem at idle) low and behold cleared the fault.

I genuinely love the car, it's been great apart from this one issue and I'm not a great driver so it takes a bit of punishment. I have to say though, definitely steering clear of Fiats going forward.

I just can't believe the fault aren't stored somewhere - I'm really beginning to think it's a faulty replacement throttle body but please keep the suggestions coming.

Foxhole Norman

The light going out doesn't mean it's not stored anymore, get it to a proper diagnostic specialist and get the code read!

MarkAnthony

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

The light going out doesn't mean it's not stored anymore, get it to a proper diagnostic specialist and get the code read!

It's been out with a certain North Co. Dublin dealer telling me this - I have to say I think it's rubbish also. Who designs something that stupid. Might spin it out to Dun Laoghaire.

galwaytt

Hachiko wrote: »

sell it and get a different car tbh, its not like you are forced to drive that thing.

Driving a car should not be made into a nightmare of owning a shoddy car and wondering will it take me where i want to go when you sit into it.

... sounds like a description of a VW Passat tbh. ...

changing the car is no guarantee of anything..

Hachiko

Many more cars to get besides a useless fiat 500, A hyundai i20, kia ceed etc would be much better for starters.

MarkAnthony

Hachiko wrote: »

Many more cars to get besides a useless fiat 500, A hyundai i20, kia ceed etc would be much better for starters.

I disagree, at the time we bought it, it was well reviewed and very popular in the UK. It also came with a bit more kit, such as the bluetooth setup, than other cars in our price range.

I've also never had an issue with the performance of the car for what we use it for - the occasional trip away but normally sitting in Dublin traffic. It'll quite happily sit at 120/130KPH for the little bit of motorway driving we do.

Now I'd go with a Fiesta all the way but at the time it was good value for what we wanted. It wasn't as if we went into it without doing any research, I do value your input but but I'm not in a position to get shot of it, unfortunately.

18MonthsaSlave

The problems you have sound like the ones experienced on the Panda when they put in the 69bhp engine. Take a look around fiatforum.com to see what the outcome was there. Loads of ECU upgrades were attempted.

Tea 1000

MarkAnthony wrote: »

I have to say though, definitely steering clear of Fiats going forward.

this sort of thing isn't specific to Fiat. Everything these days is too complicated for our own good. You could have this issue with most things.

MarkAnthony

So the saga with my 500 continues. They had it back for a month, located the symptom but could not track down the fault. Mentioned trading it in they said they'd take it even with the phantom issue (I actually think they think I'm mental and there is nothing wrong with the car). I don't want to sell it privately and sadel some poor sod with the issue.

The problem is we've not kept it the best especially inside - does that drastically affect trade in?

If I was to get about 7K for it and put another 5K to it what would you folks suggest? Needs to be cheap to run and insure, would really like built in sat nav and phone (blue tooth) ideally.

goochy

Maybe the fact you havent cherished the car is the problem ! They are a lovely car and need to be love maybe its karma !

MarkAnthony

Thanks for that :pac:

mickdw

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Thanks for that :pac:

There is a certain truth in it though. If your car is in bits inside, there is a strong possibility that it's in bits all over.

MarkAnthony

mickdw wrote: »

There is a certain truth in it though. If your car is in bits inside, there is a strong possibility that it's in bits all over.

It's been regularly serviced and kept in a garage, the tank never been let get under 1/4 full. The fact is it's used quite a bit to go up the plot and transport the pets the odd time.

Any more helpful suggestions?

Stheno

MarkAnthony wrote: »

It's been regularly serviced and kept in a garage, the tank never been let get under 1/4 full. The fact is it's used quite a bit to go up the plot and transport the petrs the odd time.

Any more helpful suggestions?

Your second last sentence there reads funny

Anyway what about a Honda civic?

mfceiling

MarkAnthony wrote: »

So the saga with my 500 continues. They had it back for a month, located the symptom but could not track down the fault. Mentioned trading it in they said they'd take it even with the phantom issue (I actually think they think I'm mental and there is nothing wrong with the car). I don't want to sell it privately and sadel some poor sod with the issue.

The problem is we've not kept it the best especially inside - does that drastically affect trade in?

If I was to get about 7K for it and put another 5K to it what would you folks suggest? Needs to be cheap to run and insure, would really like built in sat nav and phone (blue tooth) ideally.

I got a valet deal on living social...worth 110, paid 50. Inside of the car was manky. Got it back like brand new. Best money I ever spent. Could be worth doing yourself...At least look like you looked after it!!

mickdw

MarkAnthony wrote: »

It's been regularly serviced and kept in a garage, the tank never been let get under 1/4 full. The fact is it's used quite a bit to go up the plot and transport the pets the odd time.

Any more helpful suggestions?

Possibly but not too pushed really.

MarkAnthony

mickdw wrote: »

Possibly but not too pushed really.

It wasn't directed at you mick, think we all have your number, thanks.

Quite a few posters had been very helpful before and the final line was directed at them and others that might want to be helpful, as I've found most are here. Always an exception that proves the rule I guess.

Stheno

MarkAnthony wrote: »

It wasn't directed at you mick, think we all have your number, thanks.

Quite a few posters had been very helpful before and the final line was directed at them and others that might want to be helpful, as I've found most are here. Always an exception that proves the rule I guess.

Well after years of alfas I'm after a Honda accord or merc e class probably bigger than what you'd be into? Which is why I suggested the civic

With your budget would you consider a bmw one series?

MarkAnthony

Stheno wrote: »

Well after years of alfas I'm after a Honda accord or merc e class probably bigger than what you'd be into? Which is why I suggested the civic

With your budget would you consider a bmw one series?

I was looking at the Civic and stumbled across a one series. I think both are out of my budget really, I was hoping for something a bit newer.

I was thinking more Fiesta, I know the new ones are good but not so sure about the older ones. There's a tiny bit of me considering an MX-5. (I don't work in the hairdressing industry believe it or not!)

Would the BMW be expensive to fix?

What did you think of Alfa's reliability wise, always wanted an Alfa!

Just saw a 2009 advertised in Tipp, lovely motor! Bit out of the budget sadly.

ourheritage

Interesting. In 2008 a friend of mine got a brand new Fiat 500, and not long after she brought it, she had to spend 8000 Euros on it as things started to go wrong.

18MonthsaSlave

That doesn't seem right as they would have had a 3 or 5 year warranty.

MarkAnthony

ourheritage wrote: »

Interesting. In 2008 a friend of mine got a brand new Fiat 500, and not long after she brought it, she had to spend 8000 Euros on it as things started to go wrong.

Why wouldn't she have claimed under warranty? 8K - you'd get another one for that money.

MarkAnthony

18MonthsaSlave wrote: »

That doesn't seem right as they would have had a 3 or 5 year warranty.

4 Years, now 5.

To be fair to Fiat they've been great (after some insistence) I've had a loaner for 2 months in the last 14. Got a nice 500L (well nice on the motorway not in town) for a month. The dealer I've been using though (to be fair not where the car was purchased that went under) hasn't been great.

Stheno

MarkAnthony wrote: »

I was looking at the Civic and stumbled across a one series. I think both are out of my budget really, I was hoping for something a bit newer.

I was thinking more Fiesta, I know the new ones are good but not so sure about the older ones. There's a tiny bit of me considering an MX-5. (I don't work in the hairdressing industry believe it or not!)

Would the BMW be expensive to fix?

What did you think of Alfa's reliability wise, always wanted an Alfa!

Just saw a 2009 advertised in Tipp, lovely motor! Bit out of the budget sadly.

What year and budget have you in mind?

I always drove ten year plus old alfas so they needed minding, but even with minding they could be iffy. Pred racer on here has an 08 159 iirc and he's whacked up serious mileage on it

Parts and Labour on more expensive marques doesn't necessarily mean they will be expensive there was discussion on here recently on how expensive Hyundai parts are it was shocking, and having a good Indy makes a difference