Technical Wifes new 500X - couple of issues

Currently reading:
Technical Wifes new 500X - couple of issues

Nello

Established member
Joined
Jan 17, 2006
Messages
854
Points
224
Location
Warwickshire
So after years of promising her a satisfactory replacement for the old Sedici (that she loved!) we finally have a 1.6 Multijet Cross Plus on our drive. :slayer:
Seems a nice little SUV but I've a couple of issues. The car has been sat in a dealer since February - has only done 200 miles since then and now in our hands the AC does not seem to blow cold. I expect to have to re-gas the system every now and then but after only 2 years old? Normal?
Also does anyone else get a slightly wobbly centre console (the bit with the arm rest on.) Grab ours from behind - where it faces the rear seats and ours seems to move around quite a bit as it theres something loose?
Any help appreciated - pics to follow! :)
 
Ive got an ever so slight misalignment where the side panel in the drivers footwell doesnt sit 100% with the plastic in the centre console. It's not an issue but i can notice it, will mention it to them in 12 months when it's serviced.

I got mine a few weeks back, like yours was sat at a Fiat dealer for a while. I used it a fair amount and not much last 2 weeks. Noticed on Sunday in town driving that a slight burning smell was coming from the front, I think it's a bit of rust/ debris on the front discs and hoping should wear off after time. It can't be the clutch as I have the 9sp auto..... and i know clutch smell.
 
Wobbly armrest section is normal. Or at least mine can be rocked too. I've found the air conditioning to be very effective in the 500x although can't comment on the longevity of the gas. That said, it's generally recommended that you get a regas every 2 years. As you've just bought it, ask the dealer to sort it out.
 
OK cheers - yes I'd expect to re-gas a used cars once a few years old but my car is not quite 24 months old yet? Booked in next week anyway so we'll see. As mentioned its been sat around not doing much for 6-7 months so I know AC likes to be used frequently and can decompress when not. Will report back!
 
Wobbly armrest section is normal. Or at least mine can be rocked too. I've found the air conditioning to be very effective in the 500x although can't comment on the longevity of the gas. That said, it's generally recommended that you get a regas every 2 years. As you've just bought it, ask the dealer to sort it out.



I had to have my AC removed to get at the thermostat housing. Long story short, I was informed by the dealer that it was a brand new type of gas and the 500X was 'gassed for life'. I cannot guarantee that, but that is certainly what the dealer told me. They even had to get an independent AC specialist in to regas after removal as they couldn't do it as they didn't have the right gas.

Worth a question at the dealers I suspect.
 
I had to have my AC removed to get at the thermostat housing. Long story short, I was informed by the dealer that it was a brand new type of gas and the 500X was 'gassed for life'. I cannot guarantee that, but that is certainly what the dealer told me. They even had to get an independent AC specialist in to regas after removal as they couldn't do it as they didn't have the right gas.

Worth a question at the dealers I suspect.

That's interesting. And worrying, as I'm not sure I'm comfortable trusting FIAT with something new!
 
Never heard of an AC setup that was 'gassed for life' ..........By the nature of the refrigerant it decompresses/evaporates over time in any system. I'll see what they say.
 
That's interesting. And worrying, as I'm not sure I'm comfortable trusting FIAT with something new!



All I can say is they had no reason to lie to me as it was work under warranty. They didn't even have the right tools for the new AC unit.
 
Actually a quick google and I'm seeing there was a change in refrigerant in January 2017 to a gas known as hfo-1234yf. The 500X was one of the cars to get the stuff although my car was a 2015/16 vehicle? Apparently the new stuff is about triple the price to re-gas! Most manufacturers say 3 years from registration or 30,000 miles, and then every two years after that for a regas so I'll be pretty miffed if its just that - especially if its the expensive stuff!
 
Last edited:
Actually a quick google and I'm seeing there was a change in refrigerant in January 2017 to a gas known as hfo-1234yf. The 500X was one of the cars to get the stuff although my car was a 2015/16 vehicle? Apparently the new stuff is about triple the price to re-gas! Most manufacturers say 3 years from registration or 30,000 miles, and then every two years after that for a regas so I'll be pretty miffed if its just that - especially if its the expensive stuff!



Mine was regassed in February 2016, so who knows what gas that was
 
Both our 65 reg 500X and 14 reg Suzuki S-Cross have 1234yf refrigerant. They have labels under the bonnet to indicate this. It's the result of an EU directive for some sort of environmental reasons, despite the new gas being flammable (also on the label) and costing much more. Mercedes refused to use it for a while, I don't know if they have now been forced to toe the line.
All a/c systems have lubricant in the refrigerant, which amongst other things keeps the seals from drying out and leaking. This is why all car handbooks state the a/c must be switched on for at least a few minutes every week, even in the winter. Personally, I follow the advice I've had from several a/c specialists, and leave it on all the time. Some people argue this wastes fuel, but I've never been able to detect a difference when I've carried out consumption tests, although of course it takes some energy.
Best course is to take it back to the dealer - whether it's a re-gas or something else they should fix it as the fault was there when you bought it.
 
Cheers Trev - anyone know the cost of a regas with the new stuff? I'm just surprised if it is just a re-gas that's needed after only 2 years old? Obviously a re-gas would not be covered under a warranty.
 
Last edited:
Just checked an online UK Manual and indeed on page 34 it states that R1234YF is indeed the new environmentally friendly type stuff that is used in the 500X so be warned a regas might not be as cheap as you think! However we bought our car used from a Car Supermarket and they've offered to cover the cost from a main dealer re-gas if that's whats needed. FYI Kwik-Fit cannot do AC filled with that stuff currently (though not sure I'd want to use them anyway!)
 
Last edited:
Nello, as a regas with the older refrigerant was typically £50, I'm guessing yours would be well north of £100. But if the fault was there when you bought the car, it isn't a warranty issue, you were sold a car with a pre-existing fault and the dealer is legally obliged to fix it. Sorry to refer to Honest John again, but there is lots of good information on consumer rights there. Here's a link to the car rejection bit - I'm not suggesting you reject your car but it does explain quite a bit about dealer obligations.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/l...eed-to-know-about-your-right-to-reject-a-car/
 
Thanks Trev but as mentioned they've already said they'll cover the cost from the main dealer if its just a re-gas. And if its something more than that the warranty should cover anyway.
 
Back
Top