Hi everyone,

I've just bought a 2012 Fiat 500 Pop (petrol 1.2) and was surprised to see that it doesn't have an undertray beneath the engine.

Could anyone tell me if this is normal or has it just been lost along the way?

Many thanks
Neil

Doesn't come with one.

neil500 said:

Hi everyone,

I've just bought a 2012 Fiat 500 Pop (petrol 1.2) and was surprised to see that it doesn't have an undertray beneath the engine.

Could anyone tell me if this is normal or has it just been lost along the way?

Many thanks
Neil

Click to expand...

This is normal; Fiat don't fit one to the 1.2. Probably saves a few pennies off the cost of a service.

I see Maxi beat me to it this time.

In all fairness I think most manufacturers have done away with them. Chocolate teapot best describes them. They don't stop water or dirt and after a few years they need snapping off when having repairs carried out because the bolts are rusted in and covered in crap. That's if they haven't already fallen off during a blast up the motorway after being hit on those speed bumps in the middle of the road. Dangerous things if you ask me.

306maxi said:

Doesn't come with one.

Click to expand...

Sadly - it's true. No undertray in 1.2 versions.

I hate to have dirty engine compartment so in case of my ex-500 1.2 it was a must. A week after 500 left Fiat's showroom I mounted undertray made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which seems to be much more durable than the original one (which by the way was bloody expensive). I paid about 30€ for it.

Holes marked with yellow arrow were threaded, in holes marked with red arrow screw-thread was mounted (http://bit.ly/1cPjHjw). In these places four M6X16 screws were used. In two places marked with blue arrow I had to mount left (ePER no: 51806280) and right bracket (51806279) and use two M6X18 screws.

Thanks for all the replies. I am surprised though, I thought every modern car would come with one.

looks like I'll just put up with a dirty engine every time I service it then!

neil500 said:

Thanks for all the replies. I am surprised though, I thought every modern car would come with one.

looks like I'll just put up with a dirty engine every time I service it then!

Click to expand...

It's an aerodynamic aid.
The TA also has deeper arch liner extensions too (protrude down further past edge of arch)
The engine under tray actually doesn't seem to make much difference to it getting mucky. My TA is just as mucky in the engine bay as my wife's 1.2

I left the undertray off my 1.4 for a few months in winter and horrible stuff happened. The exhaust manifold rusted out at the bottom to the point where it fell off. A new exhaust manifold (and integrated cat!) from Fiat is £875. I'd say an undertray is a necessity

jnoiles said:

I left the undertray off my 1.4 for a few months in winter and horrible stuff happened. The exhaust manifold rusted out at the bottom to the point where it fell off. A new exhaust manifold (and integrated cat!) from Fiat is £875. I'd say an undertray is a necessity

Click to expand...

Oh no! That's bad. Mine looks really corroded even with under tray after less than 2 yrs : /

The Twins said:

Oh no! That's bad. Mine looks really corroded even with under tray after less than 2 yrs : /

Click to expand...

The other spot they rust out on is the boss where the lambda plug is welded in post-cat. Mine literally popped out. Most annoying. That's when I said to hell with it and bought a new manifold, drilled and applied M6 rivnuts and sorted the undertray out again.

Gregi, the HDPE one you have, have you got a link to it? Mines looking a bit battered from London pot holes. Yours looks really swish!

jnoiles said:

Gregi, the HDPE one you have, have you got a link to it? Mines looking a bit battered from London pot holes. Yours looks really swish!

Click to expand...

I bought it here - one of the biggest car spare parts suppliers in Poland: http://www.polcar.com/en/Company.aspx. I don't know however if they ship their products to UK - you will find contact data on this site so you can ask. These aftermarket undertrays do not have however sound deadening panels.

Some of 500 undertrays made by Polcar are also available on Allegro (in Poland more popular than eBay and also its rival) e.g. here: http://bit.ly/1al6Ww0, some of these sellers ship abroad.

jnoiles said:

I left the undertray off my 1.4 for a few months in winter and horrible stuff happened. The exhaust manifold rusted out at the bottom to the point where it fell off. A new exhaust manifold (and integrated cat!) from Fiat is £875. I'd say an undertray is a necessity

Click to expand...

Oh ok i was wondering because i see that my 1.4 has it naturally. And thank god because last service it had some scratches from 'bottoming out'!

Hi all, after changing teh oil on my 1.3, and there was no undertray!

Is there supposed to be one?

Nope

I really wonder why the 1.4 has it and the 1.2 doesnt.

All I can think of is that perhaps the 1.4 needed it for some noise reg or fuel economy.