I spent the afternoon fabricating a brake calliper Spring clip from a length of spring steel.
Why I hear you ask ?
Well, for ever (2 1/2 years) I've had a rattle from the off side footwell/front wheel.
I've had two annual services and both times I've mentioned the annoying rattle from the off side front but no problems were found, that's if it was ever looked into ?
As the rattle was only noticeable over rough roads, I just put up with it and blamed myself for buying a fiat in the first place.
Recently my daily commute has changed and on the new road surface the rattle became annoying enough for me to look for the cause. I traced it to the front off side wheel but when I went to take the wheel off I could not find the security wheel nut tool, (at this point I should mention that the car has only ever been in the Fiat garage and I believe the wheels have never been off the car.
I was left with no other option other than to buy a wheel nut tool ( it was the one size missing from the dealers box of nut adaptors so they couldn't help either)
Today I had the opportunity to take the wheel off and instantly I could see the problem, conspicuous buy its absence a missing spring clip, the one that puts tension between the fixed and floating parts of the brake calliper.
While the wheel was off the car I phoned the service department and spoke to a lady who told me if I booked the car in someone would have a look to see if they could find the problem !
I explained that I know what the problem is and I just need it putting right. A subsequent call and I'm told, I could have the part fixed but at my own expense.
Me pay for it, I Don't think so !
Useing the near side clip as a pattern I got buissy with my pliers, a vice and a length of 2mm dia Spring steel.
A few hrs later and I'm Driving down the road and no rattle detected.
Pleased as small boy with a free pass to a sweet shop, I'm minding my own business in stop/start traffic and some numpty drives past me, straddling the white line only just missing oncoming cars ! He didn't miss me though, he twanged my mirror past its stop and made it all floppety no, he didn't stop but his mirror did, as it fell off
Fortunately for me some kind sole had posted on this forum a "how to fix a bent mirror"
1hr later and my mirror is good as new and my panda still dosent rattle
Having a new love for my panda doesn't change the fact that I have had an unnecessarily noisy car for two and a half years all for the want of a spring and someone to spot that it's missing.
Buying new and paying for servicing I don't expect or want to be fixing things myself.
It's these little things that can put someone off returning to dealer/brand when it's time for a new car (I also have been considering the 500X)
Regards Carl
Why I hear you ask ?
Well, for ever (2 1/2 years) I've had a rattle from the off side footwell/front wheel.
I've had two annual services and both times I've mentioned the annoying rattle from the off side front but no problems were found, that's if it was ever looked into ?
As the rattle was only noticeable over rough roads, I just put up with it and blamed myself for buying a fiat in the first place.
Recently my daily commute has changed and on the new road surface the rattle became annoying enough for me to look for the cause. I traced it to the front off side wheel but when I went to take the wheel off I could not find the security wheel nut tool, (at this point I should mention that the car has only ever been in the Fiat garage and I believe the wheels have never been off the car.
I was left with no other option other than to buy a wheel nut tool ( it was the one size missing from the dealers box of nut adaptors so they couldn't help either)
Today I had the opportunity to take the wheel off and instantly I could see the problem, conspicuous buy its absence a missing spring clip, the one that puts tension between the fixed and floating parts of the brake calliper.
While the wheel was off the car I phoned the service department and spoke to a lady who told me if I booked the car in someone would have a look to see if they could find the problem !
I explained that I know what the problem is and I just need it putting right. A subsequent call and I'm told, I could have the part fixed but at my own expense.
Me pay for it, I Don't think so !
Useing the near side clip as a pattern I got buissy with my pliers, a vice and a length of 2mm dia Spring steel.
A few hrs later and I'm Driving down the road and no rattle detected.
Pleased as small boy with a free pass to a sweet shop, I'm minding my own business in stop/start traffic and some numpty drives past me, straddling the white line only just missing oncoming cars ! He didn't miss me though, he twanged my mirror past its stop and made it all floppety no, he didn't stop but his mirror did, as it fell off
Fortunately for me some kind sole had posted on this forum a "how to fix a bent mirror"
1hr later and my mirror is good as new and my panda still dosent rattle
Having a new love for my panda doesn't change the fact that I have had an unnecessarily noisy car for two and a half years all for the want of a spring and someone to spot that it's missing.
Buying new and paying for servicing I don't expect or want to be fixing things myself.
It's these little things that can put someone off returning to dealer/brand when it's time for a new car (I also have been considering the 500X)
Regards Carl