Hi. My 1.2 pop has started to shudder when under light loads such as gentle slow traffic. Mainly in 1st and 2md gears. It doesn't happen if I'm accelerating normally or hard. Any ideas why this is happening? It sounds like the vibration/shudder toy get when a car is about to stall. Thanks
Technical Shudder when in slow traffic
- Thread starter Mja388
- Start date
Currently reading:
Technical Shudder when in slow traffic
hi is it a distinct “vibration” felt through steering wheel ect? Or is it just a noise? Someone will be along shortly to advise
callisr
Member
Does it happen in a certain rev range? Any particular circumstances changed (ie A/C on or other electrical load)?
Can you replicate it?
How old is the car? Has it been serviced lately or is it due spark plugs?
Try and give as much info as you can.
These engines seem very sensitive to less than perfect plugs....
Can you replicate it?
How old is the car? Has it been serviced lately or is it due spark plugs?
Try and give as much info as you can.
These engines seem very sensitive to less than perfect plugs....
Thanks guys. It's a 2012 1.2 pop with about 70k on the clock. I can't feel a shudder so I guess it's more of a vibration sound. It's very obvious when I'm balancing the clutch on a hill start but also happens when pulling away gently. Car starts OK and runs OK otherwise.
Does it only happen whilst letting out the clutch or, when fully in gear driving?
typecastboy any ideas? I know rough idle drove you mad recently! Could it be coil pack or plugs?
Ideally you need multiecuscan it’s fiat specific software it’s only €50 direct from the MES website and a set of cables the other software your using may not show errors!
Ideally you need multiecuscan it’s fiat specific software it’s only €50 direct from the MES website and a set of cables the other software your using may not show errors!
Use Iridium plugs not standard ones, yes they cost about £40 but are good for 5 years
It could be all sorts of things but plugs would certainly be the first thing to try. Just for info, plugs are pre gapped so don't try to alter the gap. Iridiums are the way to go for longevity too.
I had an idling issue so was slightly different to yours and was a nightmare to get to the bottom of. After changing virtually everything it still did it, albeit not as bad. Took it to the garage for MoT and asked them to see if they could figure it out and did it in less than half an hour. They reset the ECU in some way. Something I had done myself using MES but I can only assume their equipment can do a higher level reset. All is running fine now.
If the plugs don't do it, then maybe coil pack next. Easy to change and you can pick up a second hand one on eBay for around £20-25 including leads.
I had an idling issue so was slightly different to yours and was a nightmare to get to the bottom of. After changing virtually everything it still did it, albeit not as bad. Took it to the garage for MoT and asked them to see if they could figure it out and did it in less than half an hour. They reset the ECU in some way. Something I had done myself using MES but I can only assume their equipment can do a higher level reset. All is running fine now.
If the plugs don't do it, then maybe coil pack next. Easy to change and you can pick up a second hand one on eBay for around £20-25 including leads.
I was about to change the plugs when I noticed the tube at the front of the air filter had snapped at the bracket (the part that connects to the front bodywork) I glued it up and the vibration has stopped. Car seems fine. Idle is still a little rough but obviously it was the loose bracket causing the vibes. Thanks everyone for your help.
I was about to change the plugs when I noticed the tube at the front of the air filter had snapped at the bracket (the part that connects to the front bodywork) I glued it up and the vibration has stopped. Car seems fine. Idle is still a little rough but obviously it was the loose bracket causing the vibes. Thanks everyone for your help.
As it happens this happened to me! I too was in slow moving traffic I had just had my gearbox recon and new clutch ... I felt sick thinking it was my gearbox again ?? at home car was running with hood up ... found it straight away! The garage had lost the intake pipe securing screw and must have used one of my wheel arch screws! (I had one missing) YES I do notice such things on my car!!!
It’s amazing that one loose pipe can cause so much stress & trouble!
How did you fix the broken bracket? Only asking as such is the vibration it may happen again
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 272
- Points
- 158
Good spot, I'd never have thought of that, well done and saved a few quid as well
Yeah potholes & speed bumps not best friends with our 500s! Gorilla is good stuff so should be ok not sure how it holds up to heat especially in summer you may need to do a spot of plastic wielding in the future but hopefully not eh!
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2021
- Messages
- 240
- Points
- 111
Your post jogged my memory.
This happened to the Wife’s car a couple of years ago after the belt was changed.
Sounded awful so we took it back to the garage and they obviously couldn’t find anything wrong with belt or water pump.
Eventually realised it was that tube making all the noise. Not surprised you were worried.
Fixing the bracket will stop the vibration, but won't make any difference whatsoever to the rough running issue.
As has already been said, try fitting iridium plugs.
The phantom intake horn strikes again! Just had an exchange on another post about this...
A Grande Punto 1.2 I used to look after suffered this really badly and it was driving the owner (who had been round the exhaust, engine mounts etc) absolutely nuts. Nice to be able to nonchalantly effect a fix in seconds.... Not every day is like that...
