General Check under your drivers seat-Seat trim weird fault on 2008 chequered cloth

[Elio]

My 2008 Lounge 1.4 petrol has shown a very weird problem with the drivers seat chequered cloth trim you would not normally notice unless you check under the seat - how often does anyone normally do that!
After 3 years of ownership from new, after collecting from the dealer after an annual service I noticed what looked like wire sticking out under the seat, which turned out to be the inner hard plastic insert that gives the white trim around the base of the drivers seat it's shape inside the cloth trim.
After sending pictures to Fiat Customer services in Italy, they (after some persuasion!) aggreed to replace the base seat cover with a brand new seat cover paid for by them as well as the fitting by the local dealer.
Amazingly after just 6 months this problem has reoccured-it's simply bizarre, as it is the most inaccessible thing to reach and there is no reasonable explanation as to how this could happen.
Back at the dealership today and tomorrow who are scratching their heads to try to explain how this can happen, as indeed am I.
Both the dealer and Fiat in Italy say they are not aware of this happenning to other 500's - but check your car & let me know as any ideas or feedback will help me and indeed you as you may have a problem you are not aware of!

 

[RUI]

So the problem is that under the seat the plastic inside the seat piping is showing? Can you see this from anywhere apart from putting your head on the floor?

 

[Elio]

Yes, you have to actually tilt and slide the seat forward and get your head down behind the seat on the floor before this problem is obvious. Alternatively, squeeze the trim piping around the outside edge of the base of the seat to feel if it solid or empty and compare it to the passenger seat.
It's really weird as I have done less than 8000 miles in just under 4 years and hardly move this seat much.

 

[RUI]

Can you not just push the plastic back into the piping and then superglue or stitch the end to stop it coming out again?

 

[Elio]

No, as it's one of the most inaccessible places on earth as the access point is doubled back on itself. Tomorrow this is what the dealer will try to do, but first having to remove the seat cover by first removing the seat in order to manipulate it more easily. This is the plan and then as you say to re-thread it and glue/stitch the ends to stop it re-occurring.
Has anyone else heard of this problem and have any idea how this could occur - again check your seats!

 

[Elio]

Update-Dealers have removed the seat and cover but the fit of the plastic inner into the trim piping is so tight that even with 2 technicians trying to feed it through and using silicone to help lubricate it, it's only been possible to feed it back half way and so there is no option but to re-fit the cover and the seat and they are taking more photo's to send to Fiat HO in Italy.
Now I have to try to argue it out with HO to try to get them to replace it again something they have already told me they will not do!
Please can all 500 owners check their seats not only for themselves, but to give me some stats to go back to Fiat with to show I am not the only person this is happening to -Thanks!

 

[RobinPJ]

I'm amazed they repaired it the first time as it happened beyond the second year of warranty, and this is certainly a trim issue which I recall is not covered in the third year.

Out of interest, how much do you weigh?

 

[arorat]

I'm amazed they repaired it the first time as it happened beyond the second year of warranty, and this is certainly a trim issue which I recall is not covered in the third year.

Out of interest, how much do you weigh?

bad bad bad only Robin could ask this

 

[RobinPJ]

 

[Chrisilda]

bad bad bad only Robin could ask this

As i have already stated, Robin is soooooo mean!

 

[Chrisilda]

As i have already stated, Robin is soooooo mean!

Sometimes...

 

[Elio]

Cheek!

I'm average weight and height so no issues there!
Again this is what is weird about it as well as the fact that although I use my 500 daily, I have a short commute of about 3 miles and am in it for about 15 minutes each way, only 8000 miles in 4 years, with nothing unusual a ta all about the seat movement or use of the seat in any way.

Have you guys checked under your seats yet?

Has anyone checked their seats or heard of this happenning to anyone?

 

[RobinPJ]

I can't see anything under my seat. Too many empty kebab wrappers and pizza boxes in the way...

 

[Elio]

Oh dear!

Out of interest, how much do you weigh?!

 

[RobinPJ]

Weighed myself after doing a 10k after I got home from work last night - 12 stone 9, which I reckon is ok for a 6 foot tall 43 year old.

 

[RUI]

I don't have those seats

 

[arorat]

Weighed myself after doing a 10k after I got home from work last night - 12 stone 9, which I reckon is ok for a 6 foot tall 43 year old.

showing off now... 10k eh did you admire yourself in the mirror and post a pic on twitter

 

[arorat]

I don't have those seats

RUI, why don't you have spokes on your wheels in your logo and who nicked the shocks to make the car drop so much

 

[loveshandbags]

looked like wire sticking out[/B] under the seat, which turned out to be the inner hard plastic insert that gives the white trim around the base of the drivers seat it's shape inside the cloth trim....

I had that on a '09 Lounge with chequered seats. At the time I did think that it was unusual but IMHO it was not an issue that I would have bothered Fiat CS about. After all what you're buying is a Fiat with a bit of character. Sometimes high quality loses that 'magic' that can be hard to pinpoint.

 

[Elio]

Spent some time today trying to feed the plastic back through the piping - made some progress but it's ver difficult to do.

Looked at the passenger seat (flipped up the base/storage) and have noticed it's started slightly on there also, but as only a small bit it's not yet poking out from under of the cloth yet.

The only explanation I can fathom is that it's the movement of the person getting out of the seat that can be causing it, as on both seats the problem shows on the outside rather than the inside of the seat.

Easiest way for everyone to check is to squeeze the piping trim on the seat base near the back rest to feel if it's solid or not.