My first post in this section, recognising the similarities I hope someone can suggest my best course of action.

I bought the black one knowing that there was an "issue" with the choke cable, but because it started and ran I never really though much of it. However, I would like to fix it sooner rather than later.

I don't know much about this kind of thing - having grown up in the electronic ignition generation and have only seen one other car with a choke - but I took these pics of where I think the problem lies. One of the previous owners looks to have bodged a cable with connecting blocks. I assume this is the choke cable?

Are replacements easy to find/fit?

Also, the 3rd pic is of a little puddle of oil I've just noticed. I ran the engine for a bit and the puddle didn't seem to get larger and I couldn't see any obvious leaks. Should I be worried?

Hi Eklipze and welcome!

The cable in the photo is in fact the throttle cable.

Bit of a pig to replace but use the correct swear words and double jointed fingers and you'll be fine!

Readily available on Ebay (do a search for chetseven500) or because I'm a kind person and to save you hunting there's one here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-500-126-ACCELERATOR-CABLE-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ380076278867QQihZ025QQcategoryZ31352QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

at a tad under ten and a half quids including postage!

The choke cable is the other one which attaches to a quadrant arm on the side of the carburettor.

Oil puddle - fairly certain it's coming from the rocker cover gasket.

One of those jobs to put on the 'to-do' list but not crucial.

A new gasket might sort it (back to Ebay ) or at worst the
cover may be warped in which case.....:yeahthat:

There are some nice looking alloy Abarth types available but there may be isseues with making them fit, and a good angle grinder may be needed.

Good luck!

The accelerator cable that seems a bit dangerous! And as you say, at just over £10 surely they'd have been better replacing it completely.

It's not a daily driver anyway so things like the rocker cover gasket etc can wait, and as I said - it starts and drives so I can imagine leaving the choke as-is for now won't be any harm.

On another note, I do love how simple it is in comparison to the Sei ... no fancy electronic gizmo's to go wrong

Be nice to see a pic of your 126, what year is it? Mine leaked oil where yours does for years, a new rocker cover will almost certainly be it. Re the throttle cable, it does help if you disconnect the old one and then tie the new one to it securely, that way you can pull the new one through using the old. They can snag a bit in places but you need to do it.

Cheers for the tip. I have a thread in Members Motors about the 126

Eklipze3k said:

On another note, I do love how simple it is in comparison to the Sei ... no fancy electronic gizmo's to go wrong

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until you fit your electronic ignition unit............. :devil:

oopsadaisy said:

until you fit your electronic ignition unit............. :devil:

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Well yeah, there is that lol

Annoyingly I just went out to try and start it and it was having none of it Was running fine this morning tho

Just hope it starts tomorrow for it's mot

Eklipze3k said:

Annoyingly I just went out to try and start it and it was having none of it Was running fine this morning tho

Just hope it starts tomorrow for it's mot

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Looking at the forecast I guess it's raining in your neck of the woods....

Time to get the WD40 out........ it will be better with the electronic unit.....honest.....

No rain here, dry as a bone. Just been out to try it again. Starter turned quite quickly and I thought it was going but nay. Starter turned over much slower after that and sounded like the battery is dead so I've connected the charger and will try again later.

Check points gap and condition, all 3 of my 126s needed their points setting up exactly right or they wouldnt ever start. Does sound like the battery could be an issue.
Dampness should never be an excuse for a non starting classic car, properly maintained and looked after they will start and run in any weathers.
I take it as your 126 is an 83 model it has the usual distributor cap, and not the later type with wasted spark dissy?

I think it the regular distributor cap, as far as setting the points all I can say is "huh?" lol I'm new to the classic motoring scene - and only been driving a year - so there is still alot for me to learn.

Battery is now fully charged, did the same again starter turned normally as if it was going to go so gave it a little gas and slowly dropped the starter lever and then nothing. Got new plugs before I even got the car as the previous owner had been having issues and put it down to the the plugs but never changed them (as the car was SORN anyway) so I'll change them in the morning if he's still not starting. A bit annoying, with the MoT booked for 10am tomorrow

Latest development - looks like the battery is knackered
My bro turned up and just happened to have his multimeter with him - the voltage dropped to below 5v when trying to crank the starter. Lucky I have a spare battery in the shed. It's a 40aH, that should do the trick aye?

On these old Fiats, sometimes the alternator can drain the battery when idle... if you leave the 126 parked for a few days its worthwhile taking one of the battery leads off to prevent this.

Excellent, I'll remember that for the future. I was planning to do that once I had it MoT'd/Taxed as it will be getting covered up until the weather improves.

Actually, on that subject, the terminal clamps don't seem to stay on very well. Is this a common issue? I assume I could just replace them with newer (read: modern) ones to prevent any mishaps?

Changing the battery did the trick - despite being baltic this morning ... still took a few attempts, but at least the starter was turning properly. Fingers crossed for the MoT @ 10am

Good luck... if you can grease the kinpins on the front axles, these wear and some grease before the MOT can make all the difference between a pass and fail. You need a grease gun, bet you havent got one?

Nope, lol

Nuova500 said:

Good luck... if you can grease the kinpins on the front axles, these wear and some grease before the MOT can make all the difference between a pass and fail. You need a grease gun, bet you havent got one?

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One of the first things I invested in..........

Got mine from the classic car show at the NEC for the princely sum of £5.00 !

Cheaper than Ebay!

Any news on the MOT?

Failed on front brakes (which I half expected tbh), needs new cylinders (which I already have) and new shoes (which are on order £21.75 from Ricambio). Also nearside "parking" lamp is out, but that's pennies. A couple of advisories - nearside wheel bearing has slight play, offside front kingpin has slight play and pretty much all the brake pipes slightly corroded (again, I knew about this). So will get the majors fixed, does mean I can't tax it until next month but no big issue.