Hello people.
My mum has just made a beautiful purchase of a 2010 Fiat 500.
After close inspection I found this strange metal piece sticking out from the front to the bumper.

http://imgur.com/wrFhY9d

Could someone here help my out by identifying exactly what it is?

I can push it in but it has some resistance and jumps straight back out of the hole again.

Would be happy for the communities input.

The correct God said:

Hello people.
My mum has just made a beautiful purchase of a 2010 Fiat 500.
After close inspection I found this strange metal piece sticking out from the front to the bumper.

http://imgur.com/wrFhY9d

Could someone here help my out by identifying exactly what it is?

I can push it in but it has some resistance and jumps straight back out of the hole again.

Would be happy for the communities input.

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towing eye presumably?

That's not where the towing eye is meant to go. Slightly worried..... I'd have a look at what's behind.

Defiantly not the towing eye.

306maxi said:

That's not where the towing eye is meant to go. Slightly worried..... I'd have a look at what's behind.

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Cant really get to this area behind the bumper.
Having a closer look, the eye of the metal piece sticking out seems to be connected to a wire of some sort.

Only thing I can think is some kind of primitive parking sensor ...

Couple of other pictures here.

http://imgur.com/a/wRYjp

I'm just worried because the hole looks to some kind of Heath Robinson job.

Eklipze3k said:

Only thing I can think is some kind of primitive parking sensor ...

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Maybe, i can't see how it would work as one though.

Eklipze3k said:

Only thing I can think is some kind of primitive parking sensor ...

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I think so too. It's on a spring, it's connected to a wire.. what else would it be? Start the engine and press the bit of metal in, see what happens.

Wheeless said:

I think so too. It's on a spring, it's connected to a wire.. what else would it be? Start the engine and press the bit of metal in, see what happens.

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Just tried this but nothing happened??

The correct God said:

Just tried this but nothing happened??

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That's odd. I don't suppose you can trace the wire at all?

Wheeless said:

That's odd. I don't suppose you can trace the wire at all?

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I'll have to do a little further digging. I'll get back to you all with what i can find out.

Perhaps it was a tow car behind a motor home?

306maxi said:

Perhaps it was a tow car behind a motor home?

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It looks way too small and flimsy to be a towing point though, unless you're thinking for some kind of electrical connector?

That's what I mean yup. Could have been a framed

306maxi said:

Could have been a framed

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Have you looked under the bonnet? Is there an engine or a big spring?

306maxi said:

Perhaps it was a tow car behind a motor home?

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With that in mind it's going to be for braking. The A-frame will have a cable that attaches to the eye and gives it a tug on overrun. There would be some connection from the eye to the brake pedal. Have a look in the footwell where something may have been mounted.

Is there no moderation against offensive user names?????

BJM

bjm38 said:

Is there no moderation against offensive user names?????

BJM

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There should be I find bjm38 VERY offensive. please change it.