General Fiat 500 Twinair Gearbox groan in reverse

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General Fiat 500 Twinair Gearbox groan in reverse

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Aug 2, 2009
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Hi all..! Has anyone else got this problem with the Twinair..? When I put it in reverse it makes a noise I can only describe as a 'groan' - it does it more when cold but sometimes does it when it's hot. The gearbox is fine in all other respects and the 'groan' doesn't seem to affect anything. It is a 2011 model with just 7000 miles on it - I bought it with 3600 miles on it, and it started soon after. I have asked several other people and it seems that it is a common occurrence with this engine. Is there a solution..? I am thinking of selling it soon, but the sound might put them off..! Thanks..! :)
 
Had this on mine, from new (12), mentioned it couple of times when it went in for work, they road tested it and said nothing out of the ordinary.

45k now and its still there no worse / no better. just put it down to being one of those Fiat things ;) in the end. Will only panic about it if the groan turns to a snap and clunk... Figure I have told them about it enough times and its been recorded in the records so if anything does go I can sling it back on an existing problem.
 
Does it only do it when the car's actually moving? If so are you sure it's the gearbox? A number of 500s seem to groan from the rear brakes when reversing, so just wondering if that's an alternative and less severe issue?
 
A number of 500s seem to groan from the rear brakes when reversing, so just wondering if that's an alternative and less severe issue?

My Dualogic 500 makes this "groaning" sound sometimes when reversing, particularly when I've just started the car and am reversing out of my spot -- it sounds like the car has its brakes on and is straining (but the handbrake is definitely not applied). Weird. :confused:
 
The wifes has started to do this, glad it seems like its a common issue/non-issue! Will mention it when it has its 2yr service next week and see what they say.
 
Mine too - thought something was on the way out but has got no worse over last 6 months.

Possibly an undocumented Fiat feature?
 
Hi I have a 2012 Fiat Panda Lounge Twinair it has done 35000 miles and has recently started making the groaning noise when I reverse
I got my panda 11 months ago from a fiat main dealer it is an approved used car with 12 months warranty. The car has been back for repair twice now to rectify the groaning noise' the first time it was in fiat said that they had fitted a new clutch and had resolved the problem but when I picked it up and got home the car started making the same groaning noise so I called them straight up and they then said it is a characteristic noise of the Twinair models WHAT ! so I booked the car back in with fiat again but this time apparently the groaning noise is now a recognised problem by fiats main organization in Italy and they now are saying that a upgraded clutch and a new flywheel needs to be fitted to solve the groaning noise ARGH ! so now two weeks over Christmas they had my panda fitting these new parts then I get the call on a Friday saying that my panda is ready is 100% done and has had a test drive over the past 2 days and is ready to collect so great Saturday I get to fiat to pickup my panda and the service manager says it has been sitting for 2 days WHAT ! so I test drive the car no noise. Then when I get it home and yep the groan noise is back and now it also does the groan noise in second gear occasional too. I only have 1 month left of my warranty to get this sorted and to be honest sick to death of the hole issue what can I do HELP!
 

Hi and welcome to the forum :wave:.

I have a 2012 Fiat Panda Lounge Twinair it has done 35000 miles and has recently started making the groaning noise when I reverse
...what can I do

1. pretend it's the starship Enterprise (always going forward...)

or

2. make sure the fault is proerly logged with both whoever provided the warranty and the garage carrying out the repair (if different). That way you'll protect your interests if you have to keep pursuing this after the warranty has technically run out.

If you genuinely believe this can't be properly sorted under warranty, then pragmatically you should consider cutting your losses and trading the car in whilst you can still get a reasonable price for it. Any secondhand car is always something of a gamble and you may just have drawn one of the short straws.
 
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Same here:
My 2011 500 twin air turbo has the same issue, right from new and still the same at 132000 km.

Especially if engine cold and / or cold outside.

Dealer told me that there is no solution for.
Lars
 
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Hi thanks for the great advice but one of the problems I have is that I still have two years finance left to pay on my panda I have thought about getting a settlement figure and trading it elsewhere but who would accept the car making that groaning noise I know that I wouldn't have brought it if made that noise on the test drive. I am expecting a call from fiat tomorrow who knows what they will say this time but I am sure that if they log this issue and I have any problems in the following two years that I will have a battle on my hands in fact in my view that groaning noise is unacceptable in any modern vehicle and there seams to be many people who same issue on newer and on lower mileage fiats. The mechanic called it a mooing noise btw
 
Hi it is reassuring that you guys cars have covered some miles/km that's my main worry if that if I am going to going to get hit with a massive gearbox replacement bill or something but my fiat garage have recognised that there is an issue but they do keep saying that not at any time was there any risk. I will post tomorrow to let you know what there next move is.
 
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