General Is it just my 500...

[j60dnl]

Hi all,
I recently bought a 65 plate 500 S with only 6k miles on it.
There were others locally but I chose this (slightly more expensive one) because of the low mileage and the lure of it being "barely used"...

I've had plenty of Fiats, most of them no where near this low mileage.
This 500 though... it's getting to me.

I've had it for 6 weeks now. On the day I collected it I was joining a busy roundabout and the car went into limp mode, engine check light and the StopStart graphic showed up on the screen. Took it straight back to my Fiat dealer. Very apologetic, put through the workshop and a new sensor was fitted. Problem solved. Being day one of owning it though - I felt a bit gutted but saw no reason to doubt the car further.

Since then, there's been knocks from the front passenger suspension (intermitent so no fault is found) To me, it sometimes sounds like the top mount is tapping, other times it sounds like a drop link knocking.
The brakes make a hellish grating sound (generally first thing in the morning but I'd be lying if I said it ever completely quitened down thoughout the day). Brake pads have plenty of life left.
When the car stops, and the StopStart kicks in - the car lunges to a halt, it definitely feels like the brakes are holding.
The engine often hunts on idle. Sometimes quite unnervingly, I can feel it through the cabin.

Apologies for this rant, I just don't know if this is fairly normal for the 500 or if I've got a clunker?

I really want to like this car, I love looking at it - but when I'm driving it I feel so disheartened by it. Pretty gutted to be honest.

 

[jimboy]

Private or garage? Obviously if the latter take it back & checked.

 

[jrkitching]

Most likely it's been sitting unused somewhere for a couple of months or more; perhaps quite a bit more. 6k in 3yrs is not normal usage.

If you replace the battery and clean the brakes as described in this thread, I'd say that's all that's needed.

I don't think this is particularly a Fiat thing; any 3yr old car with 6k on the clock would likely need the same treatment.

Given the other clunking noises, the other thing to check carefully is to look for any signs of repaired accident damage.

 

[chris3234]

Brake likely need a strip and clean and some fresh grease

 

[typecastboy]

The brakes oxidise really quickly making a scraping not just on braking but sometimes while driving. Takes a few miles to clear. As for the other issues, you certainly shouldn’t be having those problems with a 6k car. Makes you wonder why it was sold with such low mileage. Perhaps it’s a lemon.

 

[irc]

I have a friend who was trying to track down an "intermittent knock from the front passenger side" on their 500 1.2, coincidentally a very low mileage one, I think it was 2014 and about 13k miles.
3 dealer visits and no fix...
Turned out to be the REAR damper top bush. New dampers and noise gone.
Could be worth a look.

 

[John202020]

Replace the discs and pads about £35 if you can DIY, probably been sitting for "a long time" battery is possibly also had it, suspension noises could be anything but also age related rather than mileage, take it for a very long run 100+ miles ?

 

[aparsonson]

I've got a 2015 500S 1.4 with about 10k miles on it when I bought it in March last year. The front suspension has clonked since I've owned the car. It also manifests when i turn the steering wheel during certain low speed maneuvers. I suspect either a strut top mount or a drop link. It's going to the dealer next week to sort.

We also have a 1.2 Pop and the brakes have always made a slight grinding noise. It's very intermittent. We've had the brakes checked and changed many times. Our local trusted indie mentioned that all 500's are all hard on brakes.

 

[varesecrazy]

I've got a 2015 500S 1.4 with about 10k miles on it when I bought it in March last year. The front suspension has clonked since I've owned the car. It also manifests when i turn the steering wheel during certain low speed maneuvers. I suspect either a strut top mount or a drop link. It's going to the dealer next week to sort.

We also have a 1.2 Pop and the brakes have always made a slight grinding noise. It's very intermittent. We've had the brakes checked and changed many times. Our local trusted indie mentioned that all 500's are all hard on brakes.

Low speed suspension clonks.. possibly a seizing strut top bearing.

How many sets of discs and pads..?
A new disc and pad set should be virtually silent

 

[chris3234]

I've got a 2015 500S 1.4 with about 10k miles on it when I bought it in March last year. The front suspension has clonked since I've owned the car. It also manifests when i turn the steering wheel during certain low speed maneuvers. I suspect either a strut top mount or a drop link. It's going to the dealer next week to sort.

We also have a 1.2 Pop and the brakes have always made a slight grinding noise. It's very intermittent. We've had the brakes checked and changed many times. Our local trusted indie mentioned that all 500's are all hard on brakes.

I'd be looking at a new mechanic if you have had the brakes checked and changed a few times and they still make noise mine are virtually silent even after driving up and down the Moors so getting hot with the use