Be patient mate, I have found that Fiat CS are pretty good at replying to people, it may be that they have a lot on their plate at the moment ..... trying to find an answer to my problem might be taking up a lot of their time
Technical Knocking noise, clicking noise!
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Technical Knocking noise, clicking noise!
Be patient mate, I have found that Fiat CS are pretty good at replying to people, it may be that they have a lot on their plate at the moment ..... trying to find an answer to my problem might be taking up a lot of their time
It was the strut top bearing they replaced last week and it has had absolutely no effect whatsoever.
If i say it's like something is being moved out of place with a loud bang when I go over a bump, then when i turn the steering it knocks for a few turns until it moves whatever it was out of place back to where it should be, then the knocking stops until I go over another bump that moves everything out of place, then the whole thing starts again.
Does that make sense?
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500Matt
New member
Hi Chrome
Been watching and listening to your videos. They noise is quite strange and very 'heavy' in its origin. Although I can't tell exactly, it does make me think that the fault lies within the car rather than outside.
I also noticed that the noise appeared to happen from the steering wheel in the same position each time. This could possibly suggest that the noise could be coming from the steering column itself perhaps the column is loose or out of alignment or, more likely, the power steering motor?
I'm only suggesting this as Punto's suffered from electric PAS motor issues and you never know.......
First, try rocking the steering wheel top to bottom to see if there is any ecessive movement? Secondly, make a note of the steering wheel angle when it makes the noise.
It is a longshot but it is possible for this to be your suspension noise as well. As the steering system has to be bidirectional, any bumps or knocks in the road would also be transmitted back through the steering. This could then be aggrevating the column as well.
I hope this helps. Just a few more ideas to throw at it I know, but I hope you find a solution soon.
Cheers
500Matt
Hi Matt,
Just washed the salt factory off the car and had a look at the steering. The column doesnt seem to move at all when I rock it as you describe.
When I stand outside the car with the door open and move the steering wheel, the noise sounds like it is coming from under the bonnet. What did you mean by "within the car"?
I'm wondering if its worth paying an independant technician to diagnose the fault then getting the dealer to fix it? Would Fiat pay me the money back for the diagnosis bearing in mind their dealer was incapable of finding out what's wrong?
SO.... an update for you.
On Thursday of last week I called Fiat UK having waited several days for them to get back to me. The guy I spoke to apologised and said he had called my dealer twice and they hadn't returned his call. He talked about arranging an appointment for a technician from head office to examine my car and said he would call me back "shortly". That was the last I heard from him.
Today (5 days later), I again called Fiat UK and, by an AMAZING coincidence whilst I was on hold waiting to be put through to him for 10 minutes, he had literally "just spoken to the dealer" and was "just about to call" me. The dealer said basically that they couldn't find a fault with the car as it didn't knock when I took it in and the roadtest showed nothing unusual.
So, i'm basically back where I started. I have a car with a fault that nobody seems interested in fixing.
I've already asked this but if any of you Fiat guys with a bit more passion for sorting problems out fancy having a go at this i'd be happy to bring it in to your dealership. I'm located in SE England but I don't mind travelling within reason.
I feel at the moment as if I could just hand the car back and walk away. I have totally fallen out of love with it now.
I JUST WANT IT FIXED!!!
On Thursday of last week I called Fiat UK having waited several days for them to get back to me. The guy I spoke to apologised and said he had called my dealer twice and they hadn't returned his call. He talked about arranging an appointment for a technician from head office to examine my car and said he would call me back "shortly". That was the last I heard from him.
Today (5 days later), I again called Fiat UK and, by an AMAZING coincidence whilst I was on hold waiting to be put through to him for 10 minutes, he had literally "just spoken to the dealer" and was "just about to call" me. The dealer said basically that they couldn't find a fault with the car as it didn't knock when I took it in and the roadtest showed nothing unusual.
So, i'm basically back where I started. I have a car with a fault that nobody seems interested in fixing.
I've already asked this but if any of you Fiat guys with a bit more passion for sorting problems out fancy having a go at this i'd be happy to bring it in to your dealership. I'm located in SE England but I don't mind travelling within reason.
I feel at the moment as if I could just hand the car back and walk away. I have totally fallen out of love with it now.
I JUST WANT IT FIXED!!!
Hi Chrome
Try Northgate Garage, Canterbury. The Workshop Manager is Barry. I've only had one problem with my 500 but the service was outstanding. (Hope this isn't your dealer already lol)
Try Northgate Garage, Canterbury. The Workshop Manager is Barry. I've only had one problem with my 500 but the service was outstanding. (Hope this isn't your dealer already lol)
Well....
today, at long last, I FINALLY managed to get the engineer to hear the noise. It was much worse today so I pulled into the delaer, drove straight to the maintenance area (bypassing the service desk), left the car running and hauled the engineeer away from his job to hear it. Wiggled the steering wheel from left to right and he had a grope around underneath while it was knocking and he said the steering rack is buggered and needs replacing. There isn't one in the UK so we have to wait 3 days to get one sent from Italy.
Now, bearing in mind I have treated teh car well, how on earth can the steering rack be buggered? Might it be to do with the fact that anytime I go anywhere near a car park (ie at home, work, shops, gym- basically everywhere) I have to use full lock because of the pathetic turning circle on the 1.4?
today, at long last, I FINALLY managed to get the engineer to hear the noise. It was much worse today so I pulled into the delaer, drove straight to the maintenance area (bypassing the service desk), left the car running and hauled the engineeer away from his job to hear it. Wiggled the steering wheel from left to right and he had a grope around underneath while it was knocking and he said the steering rack is buggered and needs replacing. There isn't one in the UK so we have to wait 3 days to get one sent from Italy.
Now, bearing in mind I have treated teh car well, how on earth can the steering rack be buggered? Might it be to do with the fact that anytime I go anywhere near a car park (ie at home, work, shops, gym- basically everywhere) I have to use full lock because of the pathetic turning circle on the 1.4?
It's more likely to be a manufacturing fault which is exactly why the manufacturers warranty is needed.
Glad you finally managed to get someone from the deelership to hear it !! Hopefully the diagnosis of "buggered" steering rack is correct !
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trissybabes
New member
Yes, it's an acronym for "Buckled Under Grossly Gratuitous Energetic Rotational Excessive Duress.
i.e. turning the steering wheel.
i.e. turning the steering wheel.
jakedeano
New member
Hi there, I have this problem with my 500 1.2 sport and its driving me mad, in fact i really sympothise with you, and it may seen to others that your obsescing to find the cause, but you know when you get to the dealer that it never happens and they wont do anything if they cannot find the fault. i find myself driving trying to replicate the fault/noises.
Can i ask do you find it worse when you have just started the car from cold, when its been sat for 8 ours overnight or 8 hours when in work. It defo happens then on mine and for about the first 10 mins of driving it is worse. To be honest i coming to the end of my patience with this car, dont get me wrong i love it but seems to be too many faults.
The fault your on about sounds like it sounds like mine and it sounds to me as though its underneath the car sometimes, and other times near the passenger side front wheel, and its happens if i go over a speed pump with both wheels hitting the bump at the same time, and a slight pot hole cuases it. i have also noticed it as low speeds, turning the wheel, dont worry your not going mad it is there, but i just not got the patience yet to book it in and have another round of bad service from fiat. Also i have noticed this noise from starting my car cold, it doesnt start very well mine and thats another problem but when it does start rough it hear this same banging, knocking or cluncking whatever anyone wants to call it, but either way i am not impressed with it being brand new and only having done 2000 miles. i was told just in passing it could be the anti roll bar.
Can i ask do you find it worse when you have just started the car from cold, when its been sat for 8 ours overnight or 8 hours when in work. It defo happens then on mine and for about the first 10 mins of driving it is worse. To be honest i coming to the end of my patience with this car, dont get me wrong i love it but seems to be too many faults.
The fault your on about sounds like it sounds like mine and it sounds to me as though its underneath the car sometimes, and other times near the passenger side front wheel, and its happens if i go over a speed pump with both wheels hitting the bump at the same time, and a slight pot hole cuases it. i have also noticed it as low speeds, turning the wheel, dont worry your not going mad it is there, but i just not got the patience yet to book it in and have another round of bad service from fiat. Also i have noticed this noise from starting my car cold, it doesnt start very well mine and thats another problem but when it does start rough it hear this same banging, knocking or cluncking whatever anyone wants to call it, but either way i am not impressed with it being brand new and only having done 2000 miles. i was told just in passing it could be the anti roll bar.
Hi jake, did you look at my youtube videos?
Yes it most definitely was worse when the car was cold. In fact, looking back on it now, it only started when we got to the really cold weather so maybe it was there all along but the fault only showed up when metal started contracting in the wintry weather? Going over potholes would produce a loud "thuddunk" noise mainly from the passenger side like you say (in fact it sounded like teh exhaust knocking against the underside of the car), but then the steering was clunking at low speeds and you could feel it through the steering wheel.
The problem I had was that it would knock terribly on the way to the dealer, yet by the time I had turned the car off, gone to the service desk, and waited for an engineer, it would have totally disappeared! Try showing it to the engineer without turning the car off- thats how I finally got them to hear it.
I have had the steering rack replaced now and, while it is a lot better, i'm still not convinced it has totally rectified the problem. It is definitely noisier over bumps than when I first bought it.
Yes it most definitely was worse when the car was cold. In fact, looking back on it now, it only started when we got to the really cold weather so maybe it was there all along but the fault only showed up when metal started contracting in the wintry weather? Going over potholes would produce a loud "thuddunk" noise mainly from the passenger side like you say (in fact it sounded like teh exhaust knocking against the underside of the car), but then the steering was clunking at low speeds and you could feel it through the steering wheel.
The problem I had was that it would knock terribly on the way to the dealer, yet by the time I had turned the car off, gone to the service desk, and waited for an engineer, it would have totally disappeared! Try showing it to the engineer without turning the car off- thats how I finally got them to hear it.
I have had the steering rack replaced now and, while it is a lot better, i'm still not convinced it has totally rectified the problem. It is definitely noisier over bumps than when I first bought it.
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I have punto 1999 60 sx selecta automatic, bought it last year, i have the same problem knocking noise and its come from driver seat, it sound when you drive slow on traffic or on humps road even on turns sometime:bang:, took it 2 times to mechanic and had drive test so he could hear it, first nothing came but i was really insists on him to stay so he could hear it which is finally he did, i left the car for next day, he put on ramps but nothing ..he ends up changing shock absorber no need.....last week it was realy bad i feel so on the road special people look at you when the sound coomes out oooooh , took to another mechanic he drive it still nothing, because it was raining he said bring it back tomorrow because the road was wet so its drive smoothly, next day got to drive with boss and i try my best to make noise appear which i did, he advise me to sell the car because he think its gearbox problem and repair will cost me more that buying price. Couldnt sleep well thinking of my baby, on saturday morning i had an idea.... i went 2 round behind my str and back home, than i kept my engine running for 10-15 minutes without driving just stay in the car with heater on, after complete mnts the car was warm enough and drive like new.....no noise no nothing.. I just realise the noise always start when the engine is cold the begining of the journey, when the engine run for long enough the noise disappear even on humps, traffic and turns....That is what i am doing from now to avoid and ITS NOT ON SALE.....May be you should try too.
Erm why have you posted this in the 500 forum?
Just read the latest saga here, I had a Cinq Sporting, Siecento Sporting, Panda 1.2 and a 500 1.4 from new and ALL of them started knocking over bumps after a few thousand miles... having switched from Fiat to other brands I can see the problem lies with the Fiats
However, it was only the 500 that I could actually feel as well as hear the bumps.
However, it was only the 500 that I could actually feel as well as hear the bumps.
Hi there, I have only had my Fiat 500 since Jan 5th and cos of the snow hasn't been used. But since using it the past week it has a stupid annoying Knocking noise at the front on the passenger side when going over speed bumps like yourself. Took it to the dealer the other day with concerns that it could be stuctural problems. they took car out and heard it and said the then problem was over inflated tyres and wheel nuts needed tightening! The sound has stopped a bit but can still be heard sometimes. Bit annoying so my answer is to turn up my stereo louder! haha! I will be going to the dealer to mention to them that it maybe steering Rack.
The Fiat 500 definately has a character similar to my old classic Mini, that Mini always had a different knocking noise everyday which couldn't be found?! I just put up with it as it was a cool car and just put stereo up louder! So annoying that the Fiat 500 is having the same annoying characteristics, would have thought the build quality would have been better than an old Mini, my car most definately be getting fixed on Warranty until the problem is fixed.
And another problem that has come to light is the Blue and Me handsfree system Microphone aint working properly cos no one can hear me properly! Its a brand new car with all these problems, my last 2 grande Punto sportings never had any problems. think the build quality of the 500 is pretty rubbish and FIAT is definately living up to it's name of "Fix It Again Tomorrow."
The Fiat 500 definately has a character similar to my old classic Mini, that Mini always had a different knocking noise everyday which couldn't be found?! I just put up with it as it was a cool car and just put stereo up louder!
So annoying that the Fiat 500 is having the same annoying characteristics, would have thought the build quality would have been better than an old Mini, my car most definately be getting fixed on Warranty until the problem is fixed.And another problem that has come to light is the Blue and Me handsfree system Microphone aint working properly cos no one can hear me properly! Its a brand new car with all these problems, my last 2 grande Punto sportings never had any problems. think the build quality of the 500 is pretty rubbish and FIAT is definately living up to it's name of "Fix It Again Tomorrow."
