(T) Engine Noise

Mt new A500 is still sitting on the drive with 80 miles on the clock, as having to nurse my chipped ankle. More information from hospital tomorrow as to progress, as can't wait to get back on the road

On my 45 mile drive home from dealership and getting accustomed to everything, I did notice that on acceleration, particularly in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd a fluttering noise from the engine. When got home I listened to engine ticking over and I could hear a 'tappety' type noise. I phoned the dealer and spoke to salesperson who dealt with me and he advised it was a characteristic if the car. However he would get service manager to call me to discuss.

When he called I explained in detail and was advised it was Ok as the noise was from the injectors which is usual for this model car. He also stated that if there was a problem with engine the management system would show fault.

Am I being fobbed off here or is there some truth in what they are saying

Well surely with so many sensors in the car if there was a problem it would show it? I think you are just getting used to your new car!
I have always found turbo cars to sound weird!

What struck me first going from 1.2 500 to 1.4 with turbo is the turbo whine as I have never had a turbo car before. Not sure what sort of 'tappety' noise might be, maybe you can you tube it so we can hear? I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be coming along soon with some sensible advice...

Hi Melanabb

If it ever stops raining I'll hobble out on my crutches and see what I can do

My OH has just driven off in the Abarth for the 1st time. She has been used to a Dualogic for 18months. Maybe it'll come back in one piece. In the dark as well.

She will definitely come back with a grin on her face :-)

Ouch! I can't begin to imagine how you chip and ankle?!?!?!

I'm really impressed. That's the best dealer answer from any Fiat dealer anywhere.

I was messing with an aftermarket ECU on another engine not long ago. One of the software functions was injector testing. While playing with that and firing injectors I thought "that sounds like tappets".

I just went over on the ankle and really stretched the ligaments/tendons, some of which are channeled in the bone and as a result they have pinged off a piece of bone.

Tappets: now that takes me back to my old Austin A35 (my first car in 1968, which was a 1958 model) and my subsequent cars, Ford Anglia with sloping back window, Austin A40 Farina and Vauxhall Viva's. All of which were self maintenance, engine tuning, setting tappets with the dreaded feeler gauges, bleeding brakes with a rubber tube and jam jar with the OH pushing down on the brake pedal, at my command. Those were the days. See my photo of my 1st car the A35. Come a long way since then

I'm in hospital right now, just had my three wisdom teeth removed I almost don't want the numbness to wear off!

Funny thing is, my first cars were much older than ten years old. A ten-year-old car today probably wouldn't need much maintenance at all. Just think, for a lot less money in real terms than your A35, you could now have a 2002 Alfa 166 - so much more engineering! the challenges now are corrugated rubber airflow meter pipes that cost hundreds of pounds to replace, or suspension arms that wear out as frequently as the oil needs changing.

-Alex

Alex, hope all is well with you soon, remember short term pain for long term gain

Ahh! that explains why you have loads of time on your hands, lol. Wondered why you would be "liking" a 3 year old post of mine, now all is revealed.

Good luck with pain killers when the numbness wears off, I have just weaned myself off the oral morphine and other painkillers and the first couple of days were, how should I describe it, ............ memorable.

Cheers

Sorry to have hijacked the thread!
The numbness is wearing off now, I'm staying with friends tonight, though really I felt better after the general anaesthetic than I did this morning when I went in. Haven't felt sick at all. Quite a lot of bleeding in the mouth but yes, it will be worth it for the care of my other teeth - wisdom teeth have been nothing but trouble really, the odd ache over the years, crowding of the other teeth, trapped food, infected cyst (prior to their eventual breaking through the gum last year), even decay/toothache in the wisdom tooth itself.

I have made it to 32 without any fillings in my other teeth so the whole numb mouth/chin is a new one on me. However, today's little operation in a lavish private hospital has cost me $4275 (£2145), months of earnings which would have bought a lot of FIAT and Alfa parts. Actually my six-year-old Alfa 156 cost only $5000. Or more realistically I imagine hundreds of people in third-world countries could have been treated for that could have been done a little cheaper with sedative only but I was cautioned that there could be complications.

Note that medical insurance could be a good idea but considering I knew it would need doing years ago, I thought that would be a fraudulent claim! And, I hate insurance anyway. Spend that premium money on something else and sell it if you really need to...

I have a lot of updating on my thread to do tomorrow about my 500, which is now all back together.

I notice the occasional tapping/rattling noises at idle in all my cars, I've given up worrying about it. I once changed an Alfa Twinspark valve timing variator unnecessarily!

-Alex

Afraid I have cheated a bit and taken my leg support off 1 week before being discharged as an outpatient. I found getting behind the wheel once again not an issue, so drove car to the dealership from whence I purchased.

Mechanic drove the car and both he and Service Manager listened to the engine and decided it was probably a bearing associated with the clutch operation.

Other than this the car drives well so it has been booked in at a time convenient to me for them to sort. Loan car arranged and will probably be in for 2 days.

That's the spirit, surprised you waited that long, lol.

Thanks Tony, Need to be a little cautious as Have a holiday planned 7 > 22 Dec and want to be fit and agile