The problem is troublesome for those who have cracked the boil for the little Fiat 500 and who wish to resell it in hand: the cute Italian fails to turn over control technique. More precisely when testing Eusama which monitors the effectiveness of shock and therefore adherence to the road.
"It can be dangerous"
Last week, the technical services of Goca, the inspection body, still carrying out tests on a score of cars and, once both the Fiat 500 has failed, with some 0.00% of contact rig 'test. What owners worry about the safety of this car? "In certain circumstances the most Defares, this can actually be dangerous," we said a technician control.
On the side of the importer, it is argued that this is not the security model that is in question, but it is a "problem of data interpretation. This test is mandatory since the 90s in Belgium and is not practiced in the European homologation of the car, "no longer reflects the reality of automotive technologies that have evolved," says Dominique Fontignies spokesman trademark.
In no country other than Belgium, the problem exists, note the importer. To prove their point, leaders from Fiat even invited in February, representatives of the department, and IBSR Goca the test center mark at Balocco. Following this visit, they got a waiver so that the car can pass the technical inspection, time to settle the case. But that exemption expired on 1 July 2009.
Déglonfler tires
In fact, it's not just for the Fiat 500 that the test Eusama problem arises. Other small cars small, European and Asian, fails, does confirm there at Goca. Especially because the manufacturers on issues of standards of consumption, place on the car market with highly inflated tires (over 2 bars). And even bigger cars, fitted with sports tires size or low tire "RUNFLAT (rolling after a puncture) may for similar reasons do not reach 20% of tire grip required when testing Eusama.
One of the tips allowed control technique is to facilitate the test, reduce the pressure until the minimum allowed by the manufacturer (1.6 bar). For cars with a minimum load on the rear axle is less than 300kg (which is not the case with the Fiat 500), it is also allowed to seat a passenger in the back seat. Even put a sandbag in the trunk.
We thus arrive at the paradoxical situation where cars pass technical inspection in conditions that are not those of their daily use, when you drive alone frequently, preferably with tires properly inflated. Would it be better to simply adapt the test Eusama? A meeting between officials of Fiat and the FPS Mobility is scheduled on Wednesday but it is likely that the test itself will not be questioned.
