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General Boot catch

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General Boot catch

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cowabunga

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I'm sure I saw a pic on here of someone who's plastic/ rubber outer housing came off. Can't find the thread now.

Anyway I was coming out of the supermarket on Friday and mine fell off in my hand when i was loading the shopping into the boot.

I did ponder for a moment if i should just superglue it back on but as I was about 15 mins drive from a Fiat dealer I took it over and showed them.

The result is a bit baffling, it needs the whole thing changing apparently so I'm taking it in this Friday morning and their gonna fix it.

So far my 500x isn't living up to the 100% reliability of the 500 we had before.
 
Well known fault.Mine fell out at about 12 months old,as a quick fix I used some silicone sealant and put it back in boot lid intending to get it sorted at dealer. Forgot to do it.......it’s been fine for the last 2 years now!
 
Indeed - if you mean the rubber bit you press to open the boot this is one of the most common factory faults on early cars. I believe they have modified the part now to prevent it happening but very common. We viewed three cars before buying ours at car supermarkets and every one had gone on those. Its covered by the 3 year dealer warranty so take it along to be changed for free for the improved component. Had ours done.
 
I'm not going to doubt any of the issues with respect to this boot lid pressure switch.

Indeed I'd like to dig a little deeper as my 500X Cross Plus with production date of June 2015 shows no signs of this issue.

Since purchase we go swimming 5 days a week. So that is 2 opens / 2 closes per day. In addition Monday is shopping day so another 2+ cycles. Thus far we have no issues. I'll let others do the maths but this is leading me to think that the very early 500X models do not have the issue but later models do?

This could also be an issue with operation. One is supposed to gently squeeze/press the rubber pad, wait for the system to release the lock/catch and then and only then lift. It is quite common for people to do the one motion "lift" which places additional pressure on the pad that was not designed for.

As an engineer this one motion lift falls into the category of "foreseen misuse" and should have been catered for in the original design.
 
cowabunga said:
I'm sure I saw a pic on here of someone who's plastic/ rubber outer housing came off. Can't find the thread now.



Anyway I was coming out of the supermarket on Friday and mine fell off in my hand when i was loading the shopping into the boot.



I did ponder for a moment if i should just superglue it back on but as I was about 15 mins drive from a Fiat dealer I took it over and showed them.



The result is a bit baffling, it needs the whole thing changing apparently so I'm taking it in this Friday morning and their gonna fix it.



So far my 500x isn't living up to the 100% reliability of the 500 we had before.
Click to expand...



IMG_0538.JPGthis is what you mean!!
 
s130 said:
I'm not going to doubt any of the issues with respect to this boot lid pressure switch.

Indeed I'd like to dig a little deeper as my 500X Cross Plus with production date of June 2015 shows no signs of this issue.

Since purchase we go swimming 5 days a week. So that is 2 opens / 2 closes per day. In addition Monday is shopping day so another 2+ cycles. Thus far we have no issues. I'll let others do the maths but this is leading me to think that the very early 500X models do not have the issue but later models do?

This could also be an issue with operation. One is supposed to gently squeeze/press the rubber pad, wait for the system to release the lock/catch and then and only then lift. It is quite common for people to do the one motion "lift" which places additional pressure on the pad that was not designed for.

As an engineer this one motion lift falls into the category of "foreseen misuse" and should have been catered for in the original design.
Click to expand...



On mine the whole switch just fell out and left hanging by the wires. I have to admit every time the wife opened the boot she would pull at the same time as pressing! I would be sat inside and notice the force on the boot lid. It took her ages to get used to pressing then lifting the hatch. I think this started the problem.
 
Mine was replaced under warranty when I bought it used (registered September 2015). It's the whole assembly they replace, which includes the housing for the number plate lamps. I know this because as I was about to drive off from the workshop, I got a bulb fail indication. They hadn't re-fitted the lamp assemblies! The mechanic was sheepish and apologetic, and explained that the replacement assemblies often came with the lamps pre-installed, but this one hadn't. I thought then it must be a common fault. So far the replacement has lasted 15 months, so I have hopes!
 
That must be what their doing with mine. Seems such an overkill but I'm not complaining as it's all under warranty.

I think its a design flaw. Mine hasnt been opened closed that much and when I first release I then flatten my hand a bit and lift on the surround so it isn't misuse.

I think once it's done fingers crossed it should be OK.
 
Alex4x4 said:
View attachment 191232this is what you mean!!
Click to expand...

I'm looking at the picture you posted of the dislodge switch and it looks like nothing to my mine.

1) I don't have any "castling" around the perimeter

2) My centre pressure pad "ridge line" is smooth and not castled/corrugated.

This leads me to possibly conclude that Fiat changed the design to their detriment?
 
s130 said:
I'm looking at the picture you posted of the dislodge switch and it looks like nothing to my mine.



1) I don't have any "castling" around the perimeter



2) My centre pressure pad "ridge line" is smooth and not castled/corrugated.



This leads me to possibly conclude that Fiat changed the design to their detriment?
Click to expand...



That looks like the rubber cover has come off.
 
Mine was just the switch that fell out of the hole.It still worked but was hanging by the wires. Tiny amount of silicon put on the inside edge of the rubber and it stuck back in.
 
Yes, I think mine was the switch assembly falling out. If it hadn't been in warranty I too would have fixed it with a couple of dabs of silicone!
 
I bought my car used and the switch was already soldered by someone, and rather clumsily, too.
 
I had this fixed today, took it in and waited while they did it, took maybe an hour.

Feels similar to before but the electric catch below the outer seal feels to protrude a little more so I dont need to clench as much as before.

Not 100% sure he put the Fiat badge back on the boot that flush though. When I first saw it the badge seemed a little raised vs the bodywork, and moved a little. They said it'll settle when the adhesive dries or similar. I'll take another look tomorrow.
 
Update on mine: Yesterday the soldered latch finally gave out and broke inwards, exposing the wiring. Opening the trunk became extremely problematic. Going to deal with it ASAP.
 

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Wow... They quoted my 520 EUR (including tax) for the part. Plus the replacement costs. I don't know... You can buy a whole working car for this money in Lithuania.
 
Goodcoin said:
Wow... They quoted my 520 EUR (including tax) for the part. Plus the replacement costs. I don't know... You can buy a whole working car for this money in Lithuania.
Click to expand...

Ouch! At that price I think I would be blanking the long oblong hole off and fitting an industrial quality sealed switch.

Nice bid RED KNOB :D
 
Goodcoin said:
Wow... They quoted my 520 EUR (including tax) for the part. Plus the replacement costs. I don't know... You can buy a whole working car for this money in Lithuania.
Click to expand...



Challenge it. It is a known fault, many of us have had that part replaced, plus how many others. It takes less than hour to fix it. That is a horrendous price for a lock switch, a bit of trim and a badge
 
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