varesecrazy said:

Video evidence..YES

CLUTCHLESS GEARCHANGE... CERTAINLY NOT.

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I agree but given the description of the fault it would be a definitive example of what is happening IE in gear and no movement though a crude way of showing it it would be black and white if you could try selecting a gear without it(clutch) ? Perhaps try other methods first???

With a new . Inexperienced. Driver....
I wouldnt suggest that.

The clutch pedal is the obvious mechanical starting point.

A different workshop too...

varesecrazy said:

With a new . Inexperienced. Driver....
I wouldnt suggest that.

The clutch pedal is the obvious mechanical starting point.

A different workshop too...

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From the original post it seems to have happened to other (older) drivers of the car too, I just can't understand why it wont move or rev? its quite some force to keep the clutch pedal stuck say and even if it was why won't it rev, unless you're pushing the brake pedal?

varesecrazy said:

With a new . Inexperienced. Driver....
I wouldnt suggest that.

The clutch pedal is the obvious mechanical starting point.

A different workshop too...

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Agreed, if there's another Fiat dealership within reasonable travelling distance, take it to them for a second opinion, but don't tell them you've already been somewhere else. I've done this on a couple of occasions with completely different results. From experience, some dealerships can be arsed, some can't. I show absolutely zero loyalty to one particular dealership if they have a poor attitude to customer service!

Villab0y said:

Hi all, new here and this is on behalf of my sister who is having a real issue with her car. The car itself is Fiat 500 2016 1.2. (Not sure if there's any other info to give on that?)

For a few weeks now she's been having an intermittent problem that when she stops the car, leaves engine running, gets out to open the gates.. when she gets back in the car won't drive. Gear engaged, foot off clutch, handbrake off. Nothing happens. Car doesn't rev. Just idles like nothing is happening. Engine off and on is the only way to fix.

Then, this week it's decided to cut out as she gets out. It beeps loudly twice then dies. Ignition off/on fixes it.

There's no unusual lights. The stop/start option is turned off and always has been.

Fiat (Arbury) have been ZERO help. Had the car 3 weeks and said found no faults. They say they checked all the braking system. Diagnostics. And found no errors. Although, they gave her no evidence of diagnostics, I'd have expected some kind of report? Then they fob her off and say there's nothing wrong and it must be her at fault. Well myself, mother and father have all experienced it now so we know it's not that!

Does anyone have ANY idea what it could be? Any way to help diagnose the problem?

Cheers for any help, much appreciated!

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Hi Villab0y,

Sounds like a very odd problem, not something I've ever heard of before.

I can't advise on the technical side, but I would get your sister to call Fiat Customer Services and get a case number. Ger her to explain how poorly she has been treated by her dealer and that her car basically isn't safe to drive (what if it happened on a busy junction, for example?).

You are quite right in saying there should be some diagnostics/printout of work done. It would be just like a service, if the documentation isn't there then how would you know what has been done? They could just make it up otherwise.

Now there is no guarantee that Fiat CS will be much help either - they are a very mixed bag at the best of times. But you may have some luck getting your dealer to be a bit more pro-active!

Thanks everyone for the advice! I will suggest she videos it next time for evidence. Annoyed at myself for not thinking of that!!

With regards a different dealership.. can she literally take it to any Fiat main dealer? Or just another Arbury dealership? There's a Peugeot one fairly close by..

I'll check the clutch movement myself and let you know if I find anything unusual!

Again. Thanks for all the help, you guys are awesome!

What did the garage do with the car for 3 weeks?

Villab0y said:

With regards a different dealership.. can she literally take it to any Fiat main dealer? Or just another Arbury dealership? There's a Peugeot one fairly close by..

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If the car was bought by her from a Fiat main dealership, she can take that car to ANY main dealership that has a Fiat franchise, it does not have to be the place she bought the car from.

I bought our last Fiat 500 TA, from a Fiat dealership 150 miles away from where I live. I sure as nuts wasn't going to take it back there for any warranty work/repairs when I have 5 other Fiat dealerships within a 30 mile radius of where I live.

Just in case you're wondering, I bough the TA from a garage 150 miles away, because I bought it pre-reg at a fairly hefty discount, something no other dealership anywhere near me could offer at the time.

John202020 said:

What did the garage do with the car for 3 weeks?

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Drove it around. Erratically by the recordings of her black box. She had to get them to write a letter or her insurance were going to charge her extra!

They send her a video of them examining the brakes/pads/tyres. Saying they're all fine. But that's the only evidence she's had of them doing anything. They say they did a diagnostic report but we haven't seen one. They say they've checked all the can check. But who knows? Something isn't right and with it being intermittent it's difficult to prove.

Ahh useful to know that.. I'll search up local Fiat dealers ����

The warranty is with FIAT..

not the dealership.

Villab0y said:

Thanks everyone for the advice! I will suggest she videos it next time for evidence. Annoyed at myself for not thinking of that!!

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If the ignition key is in the lock, she MUST NOT use her phone to video the problem. From today that could cost her £200 and six points on her licence. Producing such a video as evidence of the fault leaves her open to prosecution for the phone offence. She needs a passenger to do the video for her.

When you described the problem and what the dealer had done, explains exactly why they are called technicians, not mechanics now. They hoped Diagnostics would bring up something obvious (to them) like clutch switch, brake switch, throttle sensor etc. Now they haven't a clue. Raising a case number with Fiat probably wise, as I could guess what will happen long-term (replacement of major parts or possibly replacement with similar car as goodwill). There are plenty of Midlands dealers. Sutton Park group have 2 or 3, maybe ask them to have a look.

Will definitely be getting it in elsewhere. All the mechanical checks seem ok so far.

MN500 said:

Although the 500 has known faults they are generally inexpensive/easy to fix.

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Some are, some aren't.

I doubt anyone who's suffered the broken heater box flap actuator fault would agree with that statement. A seemingly innocuous fault that can cost anything up to £2000 to fix.

All marques and models have their faults; some common, some not-so-common. Some can be fixed cheaply; others can't. At the end of the day, it's down to knowing your car, and the level of risk you're prepared to take if an older one fails out of warranty.

Little update..

Tonight she returned to her car from the supermarket, started the car, attempted to reverse out of her space, the car wouldn't move. Handbrake off. Foot pretty much off the clutch. No reverse movement at all. Then the car started to roll forward as it was a slight slope. She put foot on the brake and they were solid again. Stopped with handbrake. Engine off and on, all was fine. This time she did record her pedal being solid though so we have evidence for the garage!

I'm still thinking this is related to the pedal pivot, or the linkage across the car inside.

Is the passenger footwell empty? Is there a handbag or something up under the dash jamming the linkage? Is it just seizing up?

When she takes her foot off the clutch, does it actually come up, or stay down?

portland_bill said:

I'm still thinking this is related to the pedal pivot, or the linkage across the car inside.

Is the passenger footwell empty? Is there a handbag or something up under the dash jamming the linkage? Is it just seizing up?

When she takes her foot off the clutch, does it actually come up, or stay down?

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But why would a engine off/on cure it?

There was a passenger in the car this time. I'll ask but as far as I'm aware nothing that could be causing any obstruction. Re the clutch she said it comes up cause she took her foot right off it.

Villab0y said:

There was a passenger in the car this time. I'll ask but as far as I'm aware nothing that could be causing any obstruction. Re the clutch she said it comes up cause she took her foot right off it.

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That does not necessarily follow. You can take your foot off it, and it may stay fully depressed, or come half-way up, or anything other than fully released. You need to properly determine what is happening.

If the pedal does not release fully, it will not operate the pedal switch, so the engine computer knows it is down, so may prevent excess throttle.

Proper diagnosis is key.
Does the pedal return fully?
Does the release arm on the gearbox release fully? It is possible that the problem is at that end. The pivot bushes on the release arm have been known to wear causing the shaft to stick, or not operate properly.
The clutch cover inside the bell-housing may also have a fault. They can stick partially engaged if any foreign object gets stuck inside.

You need the car. Not a report.
Press the clutch fully down, with someone watching the release arm at the gearbox. Feel how it moves. See how far it moves.
Now release gently.
See and feel how it moves. Are there any sticky bits. Does the pedal move easily. Does it get almost to the top and not any further. When the fault occurs, is the pedal hard up against the stop, or can it be lifted by a foot underneath?

Under the dash.
Operate the brake pedal.
Does it feel easy, or stiff.
Check the pedal pivot.
Check the linkage across the car.
Remove the cover at the passenger side and check the moving parts for anything in there that may jam it, or any stiffness in movement.

The fault is in there somewhere, not on here!
An electrical problem may prevent the engine from revving, but cannot affect clutch engagement.
A mechanical problem with brake pivot, or clutch mechanism can prevent clutch engagement, and if the switches do not operate as a result, will affect the engine operation.