Technical Clunking brake noise

[Northerngirl66]

Hello! Just got a pop yesterday. Noticed a noise on the passenger side when brake pedal is pressed and comes up. Got it from a big trade place. Read other comments. Is it safe to drive till I can get it in the garage next Tuesday?

Thanks

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Welcome to "our gang".

Something more on the car itself - Model, year, engine size, etc and more detailed description of the noise and what you're doing to produce it please.

 

[portland_bill]

As Jock says, more detail would be useful.

I'm assuming a 500 Pop. (Could also be a Panda Pop, similar front brakes and suspension.)
Sometimes brake pads can be slightly loose in a caliper, and move when applied, but this is not normally a feature of 500 or Panda. More likely is the pads or caliper getting sticky, so less likely to create noises when applied.
Any noise when applying brakes needs identifying, as a matter of urgency. If a caliper is not tight on its mountings, brake failure is a possibility. So get the wheel off and check everything for security. Preferable before driving it anywhere.
Other sources of noises on 500 and Panda are the lower suspension arms, when the bushes are deteriorating, requiring replacement arms. (Fit a pair)
A common source of noises are the anti-roll bar links. Cheap and easy to replace. Often the worn one is on the opposite side to the noise. Movement in these is sometimes difficult to determine when fitted to teh car, but once removed will slop about.

 

[Northerngirl66]

It’s an 18 plate, 54ooo miles, 1.2 petrol. 500 pop model. When pressing and releasing the brake there’s a clunking/banging noise.

 

[Northerngirl66]

Thanks. Will contact the dealer and not drive. Under warranty

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Thanks. Will contact the dealer and not drive. Under warranty

As it's under warranty that's an excellent course of action. If you start "fiddling" yourself the dealer may invalidate the warranty. Probably something which will be easily fixed would be my bet?

 

[Northerngirl66]

I think so from info on here. Thanks

 

[varesecrazy]

54,000 miles.. plenty to have worn something out mine is now on 52

Bought the same way

They are SUPPOSED to give the car a thorough check ( like an MOT) though

But certain things 'can just fail'

Do let us know how it goes

 

[Northerngirl66]

Hi, will do. Only had mot 1 wk ago! While under warranty will make sure everything’s done.

 

[varesecrazy]

MOT by the selling place..??

Or a garage you know..?

I know with my 2018.. it was traded in.. at exactly 3 years old.... and sat around for 6 months before I bought it.. the brakes were not in the best condition

 

[Northerngirl66]

Hi, by seller , I always take a new car to be fully checked out after buying to an independent garage, for my safety. I’ve told them I’ll do this. Will be done next wk . Want every possible thing to be checked so they can then fix then I’ll then have the work checked again!!! I’ll leave no stone unturned! I read conversations too! Don’t like being ripped off!

 

[Northerngirl66]

That should say record!!

 

[Northerngirl66]

Hi, by seller , I always take a new car to be fully checked out after buying to an independent garage, for my safety. I’ve told them I’ll do this. Will be done next wk . Want every possible thing to be checked so they can then fix then I’ll then have the work checked again!!! I’ll leave no stone unturned! I read conversations too! Don’t like being ripped off!

Hi , had my fist 500 checked by the garage today. I’ve attached the findings. The trader I bought from did their own MOT 1 wk before I bought it! Plus there’s the clunking noise on my passenger side brake. Going to call them shortly, want out of the agreement, mechanic said 2 clamps missing and 2 melt/disintegrated and bits left melded to the exhaust!
He said missing clamps should be a fail on a Mot. What do u guys think to the list? I’ve had the car 14 and now I want out of the finance agreement and my deposit back.
Thanks

 

[Northerngirl66]

Had the car 14 days today, last day to TRY and get out of the agreement. Who do I contact about a mot being dodgy? Thanks

 

[varesecrazy]

Go on gov.uk mot history of vehicle...
You can check cars previous mots and report this one if necessary

Contact trading standards.. your local authority

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Of course this sort of report is very upsetting especially if you are not a person who has knowledge and experience of cars? Sorry, I don't know how "technical" you are.

Let's consider what has been reported here. By the way, what year is your car and what mileage on the speedo?

Rear axle corrosion is common on many vehicles fitted with this type of rear axle - our Panda (2010 1.2 Dymanic Eco) will soon be needing a new one for this very reason. It's the degree of corrosion that's important. Our's has been rusty for years but it never failed it's MOT on it. The MOT tester is obliged to mention it though. So you need your garage to give you their opinion as to how serious this corrosion actually is - It could go on for years as it is.

Exhaust systems start corroding from the day they are fitted and especially if it's a fairly cheap aftermarket system. So it depends again on the degree of corrosion. Rear silencer boxes can look absolutely awful because many are double skinned and the outer skin can start to peel away when rusted. This outer skin can happily be cut away and the silencer will continue to work satisfactorily for at least another year or so. It's disappointing the clamp is missing though.

Tyres on 2mm? Unacceptable on a car which has just been bought. The legal limit is 1.6mm but I wouldn't be running with less than 2mm on one of mine as wet weather performance will be much reduced at that. The selling garage wasn't breaking any laws - as long as there was no actual damage to these tyres, but it's very disappointing they sold it to you like that.

Sight corrosion to front discs and pads half worn, no problem with that I'd say. I think your garage has just mentioned this for your general info as it seems hardly worth a mention. Might be worth checking if the front brakes are running freely though as they can get a bit "sticky" if not properly maintained. The "clunk" is quite another matter and needs to be investigated urgently. I'd not be driving it until either this is fixed or I know that it's not a safety issue.

So, I think it's very disappointing that the selling garage hasn't properly prepared this car for sale. Maybe they haven't really given it much of a check over at all? However it may be that this is just a wee car needing a bit of care and attention to make it a good proposition? A lot is going to depend on whether that back axle is severely corroded or just has slightly more than surface rust on it. That's the potentially expensive thing to repair if you can't do the work yourself.

Is your garage a "Fiat orientated" workshop. If not a Fiat specialist it might be an idea to try to find one and get them to give an opinion as they will be used to assessing the condition of the rear axle. Or maybe there's a forum member near you (roughly where in Yorkshire are you) who could take a look at it for you and give you an opinion?

Reporting a suspect MOT test? I've never done it but it can have very serious implications for the garage (rightly so if they deserve it) My workshop lost it's ticket briefly - due to a "silly" misunderstanding - and it took us ages to get reinstated and made me very unpopular with my management! However I believe dodgy MOTs do need to be questioned to uphold the standards. This may help? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-an-mot-tester

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

You could always take some pictures of the rear axle and exhaust so we can all see what they look like? Please don't get under the car if you decide to jack it up on the car's jack though will you - in case it falls on you.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Sorry Northerngirl, just noticed you told us year and mileage earlier on. I've got the grandchildren today so I'm being "attacked" as I'm writing this! Somewhat challenges the concentration!

 

[Northerngirl66]

Hi, thanks for ur advice. You’ve basically said what the mechanic said today. The axle is corroded but said it would have some times/in it.
The problem with the exhaust is that the 2 clamps on the front are missing and the back are very corroded and barely there! The mechanic said it should be a fail!! Yet it’s passed an mot 18 days ago. On checking all mots on line. Passed all, cars 7 yrs old and 53500 miles on it except 5-6 ago failed re suspension pin on the front. No advisories on any of the mots. The trader told me it has a had both front suspension pin arm done on it , they’d repaired it!!!
Oil on min as well. they said they repair paint work too, bodged that up, it’s horrendous!
Ge said these things should have been on the advisories. If I’d seen that or he’d told me I wouldn’t have bought it! I’d be put off at that price. I’ve contacted them this morning, their checking it out next wk and they’ll make a decision then, I want my money back and out of the contract. I’m putting in a Vt17 re dodgy mot as well. I’m just about to contact the finance people, I’ll be contacting trading standards too. I’ve book the car into another garage for another check, so I have 2 independent opinions before it goes in next wk!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

You seem to be doing all the right things. Please do let us know how it works out won't you?

Buying a used car is a real lottery if you have little mechanical knowledge. It's easy to say "stay away from the big supermarket type operations" but we bought my older boy's 2012 Punto from one of the well known "names" and in fact the car had been very well presented indeed with new front discs and pads and rear brake linings as well as a couple of new tyres and several other things which had been "fettled" that they probably strictly hadn't needed to do. I was very impressed! He's going into his fifth year with it now and all we've done is service it every year. If you don't have "the knowledge", once you find a car you fancy, it's a big help to have a friend who knows about cars or a professional with you to look it over before signing up.