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General Technical hold at portbury

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General Technical hold at portbury

H

happyshopper

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This is my first post in this forum, I don't have the time unfortunately to contribute in the way I would like so I dip in when I can. I was going to post once I had received my 500 to add photos to the 500 gallery and thank everyone as this forum has been a huge help to me in configuring my final spec. But now this has happened.....

My dealer phone me last week to say that my car was due on 10/10. They have just called this morning to say that the car is on Technical hold (by Fiat Italy) at portbury dock, and that Fiat UK do not know what this technical hold is for. Seemingly this is only affecting the 1.3 Mjet models. Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks in anticipation.

Fi :confused:
 
Howdy. It seems there has been a few 1.3s held at Portbury. As far as I know we don't have an explanation yet as to why. But as it's just the 1.3s it would make me think, that there is some sort of recall work or somethig going on.

It is a good thing as it's a recall or potential issue you now don't have to worry about. ;)
 
Oh, so its actually Fiat in Italy thats put the hold on. They must have a very good reason and its probably something thats come to light at the factory, so to be safe they will hold back certain cars until they have been checked. There was an headgasket issue much earlier in the year on the 1.3 which was resolved very quickly.
 
^^^^^ beat me to it lol

Its not the head gaskets thing again is it (n)
 
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Scrogg told me that around 50 diesels were being held there for a reason unknown to him anyway. Mine sat there for 3 weeks without anyone I spoke to knowing why.

Oh and welcome, and good 1st post.
 
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The Beast said:
It is a good thing as it's a recall or potential issue you now don't have to worry about. ;)
Click to expand...

That's an excellent way to look at it. I think after having two children I am now blessed with extreme patience so the wait so far has not been a problem, but once I knew the car was potentially on its way to the dealer I did get a little bit twitchy. Have reverted back to calm patient mum mode now and will update once I have more news....

Thanks to everyone for their replies

Fi
 
:idea: I hope that this is for a mod to alleviate the clutch/gearbox noise that seems to affect the 1.3's in one form or other. If so, maybe all 1.3 cars might get the recall to have the part(s) fitted under warranty.
 
grimwau said:
:idea: I hope that this is for a mod to alleviate the clutch/gearbox noise that seems to affect the 1.3's in one form or other. If so, maybe all 1.3 cars might get the recall to have the part(s) fitted under warranty.
Click to expand...

No one seems to know why they are being held Tony!
It was Scrogg who told me as he thought this may have been why mine was held there for so long. I even asked Fiat UK and they couldn't/or wouldn't say why the hold up.
As already stated by "the beast" it must be a fault or recall of some kind they have picked up and wanted to check and rectify.
Only time will tell why/what they were held for.
 
grimwau said:
:idea: I hope that this is for a mod to alleviate the clutch/gearbox noise that seems to affect the 1.3's in one form or other. If so, maybe all 1.3 cars might get the recall to have the part(s) fitted under warranty.
Click to expand...

You could well be right as the remedial action which cured my clutch noise 100%, was immediately reported back to Italy. It's almost as if there was a glitch on the production line and this part of the assembly dropped off the computer. I'm sure that when they were designing and testing they wouldn't have let this problem go through without rectification. I'm still trying to see what clutch damper unit the Fiat specialist actually fitted to cure it. Will have a look underneath as soon as we get a dry day.
 
Well this is interesting, and also rather appropriate as just yesterday I was looking at honest john's website on the car by car breakdown of the 500 just to see if there was any info, etc. (he list recalls and the like) (link: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1162) and I noticed two things, the first being......

Quote: 'Knocking noise from transmission of diesel cured by fitting an engine damper, not fitterd as standard. (No dual mass flywheel on 500 diesel.)'

No idea how recent this is but it could be something to do with the above. I'm actually pleased if they say the diesel doesn't have the dual mass clutch as they seem to be the main failing point in diesel cars currently.

Additionally though, and I may post this as a new thread if someone else doesn't, but he also states 'Reducing tyre pressures to standard setting makes a huge difference to steering feel and handling. 2psi over makes the steering over-light and the car quite skittish.'

Has this been discussed in detail on the forum and I've just missed it ? I know HJ drives a 1.2 petrol so is this his findings based on that engine or is it across the range ?

Hope the above is of some help....and if anyone can give me advice on the tyres it'd be good. My poor 500 hasn't been out much, I have a prolapsed disc at the moment and as a result I can't easily drive.
 
philboo said:
Well this is interesting, and also rather appropriate as just yesterday I was looking at honest john's website on the car by car breakdown of the 500 just to see if there was any info, etc. (he list recalls and the like) (link: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1162) and I noticed two things, the first being......

Quote: 'Knocking noise from transmission of diesel cured by fitting an engine damper, not fitterd as standard. (No dual mass flywheel on 500 diesel.)'

No idea how recent this is but it could be something to do with the above. I'm actually pleased if they say the diesel doesn't have the dual mass clutch as they seem to be the main failing point in diesel cars currently.

I have a prolapsed disc at the moment and as a result I can't easily drive.
Click to expand...

Thanks Philboo, hope you recover soon and get out and enjoy the 500 before Winter sets in.
Excellent news about the noise problem, the more I hear the more I am convinced that Fiat will now have no option but to issue a recall for all affected vehicles. Also about the fact that there is no dual mass flywheel fitted, as you say, can be troublesome, and very expensive. (y)
 
Just a quick update. Have been advised by the dealer that Fiat UK emailed them to say that my car has now been released from Portbury and will be on it's way to the dealer shortly. They could not give me any more information than that, no explanation as to why the hold. Good news I guess?

Am starting to get twitchy again......
 
philboo said:
Well this is interesting, and also rather appropriate as just yesterday I was looking at honest john's website on the car by car breakdown of the 500 just to see if there was any info, etc. (he list recalls and the like) (link: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1162) and I noticed two things, the first being......

Quote: 'Knocking noise from transmission of diesel cured by fitting an engine damper, not fitterd as standard. (No dual mass flywheel on 500 diesel.)'

No idea how recent this is but it could be something to do with the above. I'm actually pleased if they say the diesel doesn't have the dual mass clutch as they seem to be the main failing point in diesel cars currently.

Additionally though, and I may post this as a new thread if someone else doesn't, but he also states 'Reducing tyre pressures to standard setting makes a huge difference to steering feel and handling. 2psi over makes the steering over-light and the car quite skittish.'

Has this been discussed in detail on the forum and I've just missed it ? I know HJ drives a 1.2 petrol so is this his findings based on that engine or is it across the range ?

Hope the above is of some help....and if anyone can give me advice on the tyres it'd be good. My poor 500 hasn't been out much, I have a prolapsed disc at the moment and as a result I can't easily drive.
Click to expand...

Honest John got his info from me. I asked him if he had heard of the problem and he asked me for an update. There is a separate thread from me which follows through to successful conclusion. I think it's titled Gearbox/Clutch Noise on 1.3 multijet.
 
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