I've got a 500 sport with standard wheels on, tried to remove the centre caps the other day so I could remove, clean and polish the entire wheel on each corner but couldn't get the caps off :s anyone else had this problem? Is it 'cos it's new?? Anyone got any tips so I don't damage my alloys?? :s :|

pritch4891 said:

I've got a 500 sport with standard wheels on, tried to remove the centre caps the other day so I could remove, clean and polish the entire wheel on each corner but couldn't get the caps off :s anyone else had this problem? Is it 'cos it's new?? Anyone got any tips so I don't damage my alloys?? :s :|

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I took off mine off last week and it needs 'a firm hand'. Using a flat head sharp screwdriver with a cloth behind it so as not to mark the alloy - just prise it off.

Started to do it but didn't have the balls - don't wanna knacker my wheels up :/
May bite the bullit but you a sponge instead of a cloth - probably wasnt the best design idea fiat had for the 500 :/

Really dreading if I have to send her in for anything doing and the technicians have to take off the wheels :s

pritch4891 said:

Started to do it but didn't have the balls - don't wanna knacker my wheels up :/
May bite the bullit but you a sponge instead of a cloth - probably wasnt the best design idea fiat had for the 500 :/

Really dreading if I have to send her in for anything doing and the technicians have to take off the wheels :s

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Centre caps cost around £15. Off Ebay for the chrome ones (not the red ringed ones) they're a lot cheaper. So a bit of elbow greese wouldn't do any harm.

It's the alloy itself I'm worried about damaging :s

pritch4891 said:

It's the alloy itself I'm worried about damaging :s

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When you get the flat head in don't twist it - just pull on the 'steel bit' of the screw-driver with the other hand. Try a different wheel which might be easier to get your confidence up. A lot better to practice at home than on a dark road in the middle of nowhere if you end up with a flat.

pritch4891 said:

It's the alloy itself I'm worried about damaging :s

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You don't need to use anything as dangerous as a screwdriver.

Working from the small cutout in the centre cap, slide an old credit card behind it, and with your thumb on the centre cap & your fingers behind the card, a firm pull will get the cap off. It's a bit of a knack, but once you've got it, this works every time.

If you're paranoid, put something on the ground for the cap to land on, as it might just slip out of your hand. However, the credit card might not be reusable for its intended purpose!

I know the feeling pritch4891 - i felt like :bang: each time I would tug thinking it would break.

Note that your centre caps are actually 2 parts. The top part that you see and the bit that clips to the wheel. You can only imagine my face, the expletives and the colour of my underpants when i prized off my shiny new red ones and one of them came apart in 2

A flathead screwdriver will be fine as long as you have something against the wheel to protect it (I've used paper in the past! It doesn't need to be something thick like a sponge), but in reality unless you've got fat fingers, you can pull it off with your fingers if you want to. I hear Lloyd has got fairly skeletal fingers so if you live in the Midlands just PM Lloyd, but do be warned, he'll turn up in a metallic **** coloured Yaris

I had the same worries as Pritch, and devised the following variation on the above advice: I used the screwdriver supplied with the car (flat blade end) and slipped a piece of rubber tubing over the shaft. This protects the alloy when you lever on it. The tube can stay on the screwdriver, which lives in the car, in case of roadside emergencies.