I recently passed my driving test and now my husband's multipla (SX 2002) is now also mine...and I want to look after it properly!
For many years he told me that we just had bad luck with cars...turns out he just doesn't look after them, runs them into the ground.
e.g I checked the oil (thankfully learnt that on lessons) practically bone dry!
I've just replaced the wipers and two tyres since I got my hands on it too.
Anyway I wanted to ask a few questions...it is off for MOT friday (I'm expecting a bill).
On journeys longer than 20 minutes he always whacks up the heating so we boil, to cool the engine down in case he says. Is this normal? Surely this should be something you resort to if something is wrong. Surely they don't design cars to be like that?

There's a rattle when I accelerate, sounds like it's from the rear underneath. Worse uphill, I noticed the big spring thing (suspension) on the right underneath is lower than the left. Does this sound pricey? We have had terrible potholes here.
This one bugs me alot...the gear stick and surround comes off in our hands sometimes. Is there a fix for this?
Amazingly I got quite used to the weird lay out, still getting used to the subtle biting point. Do they make them deliberately more obvious in learning cars?
Sorry for sounding like a right girl!

Oh I forgot this one...because it's done it since we bought it, when you turn it on it says Eng ctrl fault return to garage. Husband said it doesn't seem to mean anything.

Congratulations on passing your test, it sounds like your OH really doesn't look after the car!

You shouldn't need to turn the heating up if the cooling system is maintained - i.e. if the coolant is the correct level, is actually coolant and not water, andthe radiator is sound. From your post I suspect your OH has driven a car where all / some of these have not been the case and overheated it. Turning the heating up can help a bit as the heat comes out into the car - but I'm not convinced it will help that much, and it certainly should not be routine!

It sounds like your rear suspension needs work - it might just be bushes (rubber blocks that stop metal banging on metal, basically) that have perished - parts are cheap, but you will also need to pay labour, but your local independent mechanic should be able to to fit them for not much - search on here for 'bushes' to get an idea.

I test drove a Multipla and the gearlever came off in my hand - I just put the surround on the floor and used the 'real' stick underneath. I didn't look, but I guess the surround just clips in the hole (which is the cup holder on the other side - I presume to save costs when converting to right hand drive) sounds like your clips have broken. Call a few scrap yards to see if they have one, or just glue it in.

Clutches are different in every car, and change as the clutch wears. The more you drive, and the more cars you drive, the less you will notice the differences.

Eng Ctrl Fault sounds to me like a sensor has failed somewhere. Chances are it is making the car run less efficiently than it should - when a sensor fails the cars computer has to use default data rather than real data - for example if it's the sensor that measures how much oxygen is in the exhaust gasses that has failed the engine will just assume a sort of average value, and provide fuel to the engine based on that, rather than how much oxygen is actually in the exhaust gasses - which could mean it is burning too much or too little fuel - basically it won't be running properly.

It sounds like your car is due a good service. Ask around your local friends or do a search on the net for good / recommended garages near you first though.

Brilliant thank you! I thought I was right about the whole heating/coolant thing!
Rattling is worse, definitely sounds like metal on metal. Hopefully it's bushes and not expensive!
We'd already booked it into a garage (one in walking distance) but I noticed from threads here there is a good fiat place in Wickford. Next time we'll have to try there!
I probably will just glue the gear stick a little bit. Bit frightening the 3rd time driving it and it comes off in your hand!
Thanks again. I'm sure I'll be back!

Get the code from the computer (Eng. Ctrl.) with this software: www.fiatecuscan.net
You'll have to get a cable as well.

Shockingly according to the MOT ( so I imagine they don't test everything) the only thing wrong is a blown exhaust (is the same as the manifold thingy as we got a new one last year...this car was a bargain when we bought it £2K, but nearly spent another 2K in the less that 2 years we've had it!).
I really didn't think it was the exhaust rattling, really did sound like it was on the right rear side.
Do they check the oil on an MOT? Because I put 2 litres in last week and already I'm getting the "low oil pressure" warning.

Re: New driver & exhaust advice

Sorry me again...
I just dug out our receipt last year for the work we had done...exactly a year and a week ago!
He replaced the manifold exhaust and gasket and catalytic converter and rear handbrake cable (then a week later the handbrake came off in husband's hand so had to go back for more work).
If my exhaust has blown now could this be a different part...if not surely they should last more than a year?

The MOT is just a check that your car is safe, not that it is mechanically sound. If it stops and steers, and there aren't bits falling off, you get an MOT. It's not the same as a service where they check everything is working proprerly, and replace things if they're not and/or before they fail. MOT's are a legal requirement, servicing is not - but regualr servicing will save you money in the long run as problems will be fixed before they get worse! An MOT won't check your oil level, but they will tell you if it is leaking oil. All cars burn some oil - some more than others. If you check your car regualrly you'll get an idea of how much you need to add and when.

If your car has been run low on oil for a long time I suppose it might use more oil now as there will have been more wear.

The exhaust runs from the engine to the back of the car - I would hope it's a different bit that is blowing now. The manifold is the bit at the front where it comes from the engine. If they just said 'exhaust' it's probably somewhere nearer the back of the car. 'Blowing' just means there is a bit of a hole in it. If you ask the MOT station they will tell you where it is - you can get tape as a temporary fix, or you can replace bits of the exhaust in sections; you don't have to replace all of it.

Hope this helps.

Brilliant thank you. I did suspect that the MOT just made sure it wasn't dangerous..not that it was a good drive!
I think I'll get the garage to sort the exhaust and pass it. Then go to this Fiat place in wickford for a proper service.

IMO the MOT needs serious updating. How can you honestly expect a customer to pay for a part(s) that has just passed its MOT in the same garage 2 minutes earlier!