General 2014 Fiat 500C Australia - Non-operative - what to do now (VIC)?

[BrokenFiat]

On 4th Jan 2024, My 2014 Fiat500C (72,000km) overheated and I pulled over and when my partner put water in the radiator, it made a god awful noise that sounded like it was about to explode. We had it towed to a Fiat garage in Woodend, Victoria and the mechanic said it had blown a head gasket and had no compression in one of the cylinders and was not driveable.

Since we're not mechanics we are thinking there are 3 options, 1. selling it for parts (take to the wreckers?) 2. finding someone who can repair it or 3. selling it to someone for their passion project.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what we should do, it was otherwise a great convertible.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

On 4th Jan 2024, My 2014 Fiat500C (72,000km) overheated and I pulled over and when my partner put water in the radiator, it made a god awful noise that sounded like it was about to explode. We had it towed to a Fiat garage in Woodend, Victoria and the mechanic said it had blown a head gasket and had no compression in one of the cylinders and was not driveable.

Since we're not mechanics we are thinking there are 3 options, 1. selling it for parts (take to the wreckers?) 2. finding someone who can repair it or 3. selling it to someone for their passion project.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what we should do, it was otherwise a great convertible.

Assume it's a 1200cc Pop. Has the Woodend garage quoted repairs? If it's only a head gasket and the odo's only 72k scrapping the car would seem a bit extreme.

Cute dog!

 

[John202020]

Probably needs a new cylinder head?
So is fixable?

 

[icheatatscrabble]

You should get it repaired. £500 (around $1000 AUS) job by a Fiat Specialist and the car is easily worth more than that when it is fixed.

 

[Derbyfella]

Thought oz prices were a lot. More or is that just for the auto boxes version

 

[irc]

You do need to find out what caused it to overheat in the first place... be a shame to get it repaired just to do the same again soon after.
Common problems include failed thermostat (outlet cracks & fails), partially blocked radiatior, leak in steel coolant pipe at front of engine, leak from hose, etc.

 

[steveras57]

Depending on supply issues might be cheaper to fit a replacement used engine! ,but of course im not savvy with parts supply and labour costs in OZ and of how much you would like to keep the car rather than replace it!?.

Putting water into the system when the car was badly overheated created super-heated steam which caused the noise within the engine!- the sudden cooling and therefor contraction of the metal components also risked further damage!.

Fortunately fiat dont fit a rad-cap only an expansion bottler cap!- otherwise you risked being badly burnt! you should NEVER add water directly into a overheated vehicle without allowing it to cool down and loose any residual pressures and then only with EXTREAME caution!
Thankfully you are ok and it now only comes down to money and inconvenience!.
Ps if the wee dog wants a holiday in the uk he would be welcome!

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Thought oz prices were a lot. More or is that just for the auto boxes version

Yes; the cars were sold here as a 'premium' brand (all European cars are regarded as 'premium' brands in AU, even VW's). Prices were higher for a Pop than for a Nissan Micra, or even a Mazda 2, at the time. A hefty price reduction was applied in 2013 when FCA took over distribution but prices quickly rose back to where they'd been. My 500C Lounge Twinair manual cost me $25,000 (roughly £13k) in 2013 and that was the 'reduced' price!

If the garage in Woodend is the one I think it is they should be able to handle it.

 

[BrokenFiat]

Yes; the cars were sold here as a 'premium' brand (all European cars are regarded as 'premium' brands in AU, even VW's). Prices were higher for a Pop than for a Nissan Micra, or even a Mazda 2, at the time. A hefty price reduction was applied in 2013 when FCA took over distribution but prices quickly rose back to where they'd been. My 500C Lounge Twinair manual cost me $25,000 (roughly £13k) in 2013 and that was the 'reduced' price!

If the garage in Woodend is the one I think it is they should be able to handle it.

The garage in Woodend don't seem interested in repairing it. I think they do high end maintenance for people with lots of money and repairs like this are not really what they are into. I thought I might sell it for parts? I bought it new for $21,000 in 2014 but not sure of next steps. Ring the wreckers or put on Gumtree...

 

[John202020]

I'd say ring round some more garages unless you can afford a new car, scrapping a car with a mere 45,000 miles sounds crazy to me, new head( less time than having the old one skimmed) probably fix it.

 

[steveras57]

You need to find a traditional "old school" kinda garage who wants the work rather than these modern idjits who just want loads of money from rich fools for simple work! take your time and you will find some one who can do the job for you and get the car roadworthy again1 try to find some one with good google or trust pilot ratings and positive customer comments! they might be a little less "mainstream" but i am sure they are out there! you would hope that some other owners in your country might have some idea of whos about and can do it !

 

[jrkitching]

You should get it repaired.

This would be good advice to someone living in Europe who had the skills and facitities to do the work themselves.

To someone living in Australia who would need to have this work done by a third party, I'm not so sure it makes sense.

I'd agree the car itself is probably worth saving, but not by someone with little mechanical knowledge and no facilities.

Ring the wreckers or put on Gumtree...

That.

In your position, I'd sell it 'as is'; extract what value you can, and put it toward another car. It just might make more than you think, and you can walk away from whatever difficulties lie ahead for whoever repairs it. It's never as easy as you think, and the risk of spending a perhaps considerable sum of money to end up with a car that never quite works properly again is just not a risk worth taking.

You've had it ten years, you've got your value from it, just sell it and move on.

If there's anyone in Australia who's handy with spanners and fancies a project, this could be a good time to join the thread...

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

You'd have to find a repairer who'll take it on, sight unseen, and then truck the vehicle to them, and Woodend is a fair way from, say, Melbourne. If you don't want to be bothered with all that a wrecker will give you sod-all for it so selling it as-is on Gumtree or whatever might get you the best return.

(There's a FIAT/ALFA wrecker in Thomastown; alfafiatlanciaparts.com)

 

[jrkitching]

You'd have to find a repairer who'll take it on, sight unseen, and then truck the vehicle to them

and once it's there, how do you know they're not going to hold you to ransom?

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

and once it's there, how do you know they're not going to hold you to ransom?

Fair point too.

The NSW rego suggest the car is already a long way from home...