Anyone had any trouble with their clutch?

After 2500ish miles of trouble-free motoring, my clutch has got stuck.

I was just about to drive us to the cinema, when as I usually do before starting the car, I put my foot on the clutch. It wouldnt budge at all. Totally solid as a rock. Hadn't even started the engine at this point, although the engine does start fine. Nothing unusual lights up on the dash to indicate a problem.

Anyone had this before, or know what might be causing it? I've called the AA, but thought I'd ask on here while we wait!

Yup. I had this. Started with the clutch sticking and not disengaging gear. I limped it back to the office and called the AA. Had it towed to the dealer. Turned out to be a fault with the hydraulic seals. Apparently this has happened to a number of 500's. Dealer took care of it on warranty. 1.4 Lounge for the record

Thanks jnoiles. Trying to get the car towed to a garage now, but getting a loan car is proving impossible.

Words of advice to anyone planning to have their car break down: Dont let it happen on a Saturday night/Sunday morning

Could also be clutch slave cylinder failure an easy repair ,check your brake fluid level for this one it usually dips slightly.,new cars same little problems..

AA man reckons its the master cylinder.

I've begrudgingly left it at the local Fiat dealer - Wessex Cardiff.

I really cannot recommend this dealer to anyone. They were awful to me when I was looking to buy a car, and now that I have a car, i'm not welcome there.

I have to get a taxi to work in the morning, as Wessex refused to give me a loan car. Not because they didnt have one, but because I didnt buy my car from them. In fact, his exact words were "if you'd bought the vehicle from us, we'd move heaven and earth to help you".

Service should be better than this ,they should try and bend over backwards to try and get your future service,esp in this credit crunch period of uncertainty

RobTuck said:

AA man reckons its the master cylinder.

I've begrudgingly left it at the local Fiat dealer - Wessex Cardiff.

I really cannot recommend this dealer to anyone. They were awful to me when I was looking to buy a car, and now that I have a car, i'm not welcome there.

I have to get a taxi to work in the morning, as Wessex refused to give me a loan car. Not because they didnt have one, but because I didnt buy my car from them. In fact, his exact words were "if you'd bought the vehicle from us, we'd move heaven and earth to help you".

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Way to bear a grudge eh? They must be brimming over with work to treat prospective new customers like this. Just bears out why you didnt buy the car from them in the first place!

RobTuck said:

I have to get a taxi to work in the morning, as Wessex refused to give me a loan car. Not because they didnt have one, but because I didnt buy my car from them. In fact, his exact words were "if you'd bought the vehicle from us, we'd move heaven and earth to help you".

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If a service manager said that his dealer principle should kick his arse for it. Sales have potentially lost a future sale because you have been treated like that. If a DP said it I'd inform Fiat CS.

I would inform them too. The only reason you went elsewhere to buy your car in the first place was because of their poor service. Who in their right mind would choose to buy from a dealer they feel uncomfortable with.

RobTuck said:

AA man reckons its the master cylinder.

I've begrudgingly left it at the local Fiat dealer - Wessex Cardiff.

I really cannot recommend this dealer to anyone. They were awful to me when I was looking to buy a car, and now that I have a car, i'm not welcome there.

I have to get a taxi to work in the morning, as Wessex refused to give me a loan car. Not because they didnt have one, but because I didnt buy my car from them. In fact, his exact words were "if you'd bought the vehicle from us, we'd move heaven and earth to help you".

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This is why i had my 500 from Griffin Mill in Ponty, the wessex cardiff dealer staff were pigs to me and my dad when we went there. They were more or less bullies, not a single bit of friendliness. Had mine From mill with Bret who was brilliant off topic i know but it had to be said

Well I've made some progress. After several phone calls, and some involvement of Fiat CS, Fiat have offered to provide me with a car until the end of the week. Unfortunately, they've left it up to Wessex to arrange the car. As such, I still have no car!

I don't blame them

If you had bought your car from elsewhere, I would tell you to get stuffed.

And don't tell me you wouldn't do the same either.....

Now you're in the crap, and you need them, you will 'begrudgingly' use their services.

So don't get all hoity toity when they 'Begrudgingly' accept.

Having been a dealer, I can see both sides here, and while you have a valid point, so do they.

'Their' customers get first choice. You opted out of this experience.

Why not use the 'Dealer you chose' eh? ROFLMAO Too far away???

and its mindsets like this that are the reason why Fiat dealers have such a crap reputation.

Historically, FIAT cars attract crap customers actually.

They bring out some great cars, but the reputation of the previous models, and it's huge discounts (Not the 500 mind you) tend to downgrade things a bit.

Hence, the typical MINI buyer wouldn't even consider a FIAT, but would sooner spend ££££'s more on a MINI.

FIAT dealers, admittedly not the Creme de la Creme, are not the worst by any means.

Why do you think I'm trading out of an '07 Mercedes for a Bravo....


Trouble is, when cars go wrong, and they all do, you can't expect a non-supplying dealer to bend over backwards. Some do, but some go bust in the process, so their own customers are more important.

Whether I bought the car there or not, theres no excuse for bad service, or a bad attitude. I'm guessing you wouldnt agree though.

Common courtesy is hardly 'bending over backwards'.

As my nearest dealer, its hardly courting any future business is it?

They didn't get it last time, my guess is they're assuming you won't afford them any different courtesy next time.

That sir, is the way the cookie crumbles....

Your reluctance to accept the fact you're expecting them to give you the steam off their urine, now you chose another dealer to give your ££££'s profit to, is frankly not going to make any difference....

Take it on the chin like a man. You bought elsewhere, and now, you go to the back of a long queue.

Call 'Your chosen dealer' and see if they give you a loan car. I would guess not

Luckily for me, Fiat customer services, and the guys colleagues don't share your views.

I don't understand, surely he is their customer if they are doing the work on the car?? Just because the car was not originally supplied by them does not mean that he is not a customer.

That aside isn't the warranty provided by Fiat, and it is my understanding that the garage would recharge fiat for the cost of the repair? If the warranty is with Fiat the surely you should be able to use any Fiat garage and expect the same level of service?

RUK said:

That aside isn't the warranty provided by Fiat, and it is my understanding that the garage would recharge fiat for the cost of the repair? If the warranty is with Fiat the surely you should be able to use any Fiat garage and expect the same level of service?

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You are correct.
All dealerships are in it for one thing and one thing only.

Money.

The manager of a dealership should know that selling cars and keeping a workshop busy. Are the only way to be successful. This means maximising all potential revenue. A customer buys a car at a different garage then comes to yours for warranty work.

The negative view is, lost sale customer is a tosser.

The correct way to look at it is. Current workshop revenue and if shmoozed properly a good chance of a future sale.

At the end of the day it's about the money, and spite is a luxury the greedy cannot afford.

thank god someone can express themselves without sounding like Angry of Mayfair!