Hi all,

I just want to preface this: I know nothing about cars!

Occasionally with my Fiat 500 (60 plate, 1.4l engine), I find that when I go to lift my clutch in reverse, the clutch seems to engage as I feel the front or back lifting as if in bite, but the car does not move. Eventually, it will make a 'bump' noise - almost like a crack, to be honest! - and it will move, but this takes some work. Is this normal, as in could it just be that I'm not giving enough acceleration to make the car move, or does it look like a bigger problem?

Thanks in advance

jojida said:

Hi all,

I just want to preface this: I know nothing about cars!

Occasionally with my Fiat 500 (60 plate, 1.4l engine), I find that when I go to lift my clutch in reverse, the clutch seems to engage as I feel the front or back lifting as if in bite, but the car does not move. Eventually, it will make a 'bump' noise - almost like a crack, to be honest! - and it will move, but this takes some work. Is this normal, as in could it just be that I'm not giving enough acceleration to make the car move, or does it look like a bigger problem?

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

Hi and welcome to the forum.

If the rear of the car lifts when you take your foot off the clutch in reverse, then the rear brakes are binding/sticking; I'd expect this to be more noticeable after the car has been left parked for a while, particularly in damp conditions.

A 1.4 should have discs at the rear; making this even more likely as a cause, since the rear disc assemblies are well known for corroding.

I'd start by dismantling, cleaning/de-rusting, lubricating and reassembling the rear pads and reaction frames - essentially free (pardon the pun) if you do it yourself. If in doubt about their condition, replace both pads and discs; cost of the parts is about the price of a tankful of fuel.

Read this thread for more information; although this describes the front brakes; on cars with rear discs, both the problem and the solution are similar.

jrkitching said:

Hi and welcome to the forum.

This sounds to me like the rear brakes are binding/sticking; I'd expect this to be more noticeable after the car has been left parked for a while, particularly in damp conditions.

A 1.4 should have discs at the rear; making this even more likely as a cause, since the rear disc assemblies are well known for corroding.

I'd start by dismantling, cleaning/de-rusting, lubricating and reassembling the rear pads and reaction frames - essentially free (pardon the pun) if you do it yourself. If in doubt about their condition, replace both pads and discs; cost of the parts is about the price of a tankful of fuel.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome!

This does sound about right. It's normally first thing in the morning and especially when she's been left for a weekend!

Can you drive it forward first, then reverse? It'll be worse after lots of rain?

jojida said:

Thanks for the welcome!

This does sound about right. It's normally first thing in the morning and especially when she's been left for a weekend!

Click to expand...

My puntos all do it

Its a fine layer of Rust.. from damp air .. that is sticking the braking surface to the pads friction material

You often get a grumbly crunching noise when you next apply the brakes.. as it scours the rust away

Charlie

It'll be worse if you have wheels with a lot of air between the spokes. If you have steel wheels with the plastic covers, then the problem should be reduced, since the covers/wheel makes the discs less likely to get wet.


Ralf S.

varesecrazy said:

My puntos all do it

Its a fine layer of Rust.. from damp air .. that is sticking the braking surface to the pads friction material

You often get a grumbly crunching noise when you next apply the brakes.. as it scours the rust away

Charlie

Click to expand...

I get that most mornings, and my 500 lives in a dry brick garage!