I'd take it back now.
Technical Master cylinder failure
- Thread starter Stuart J
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Technical Master cylinder failure
I 100% agree with Maxi; if it is possible for you to do so anyway.
There is obviously something not right, and I don't think it is a good plan using it for a few more days - it might well be that driving the car makes it worse and ends up causing more damage.
Might be a good plan to film the noise as you go up and down your drive so that you have some actual proof.
Good luck with it though.
There is obviously something not right, and I don't think it is a good plan using it for a few more days - it might well be that driving the car makes it worse and ends up causing more damage.
Might be a good plan to film the noise as you go up and down your drive so that you have some actual proof.
Good luck with it though.
Daft question, does the car appear to be boosting properly?
jimbro1000
Established member
The master cylinder on mine failed at about 18000 miles but it was still under warranty at the time. Was rather surprised when it happened at such low mileage. It hasn't given any trouble since though.
The dealer had the car for three days to get it sorted out and given how much other repairs have cost since it went out of warranty I would say that £1000 is quite feasible and possibly even a bit cheap.
The dealer had the car for three days to get it sorted out and given how much other repairs have cost since it went out of warranty I would say that £1000 is quite feasible and possibly even a bit cheap.
My total budget for repairs (excluding routine servicing & tyres) is £1000 for the first 10 yrs/ 100000 miles. Brakes, suspension & exhaust will also have to come out of this.
If the 500 doesn't make it inside this figure, it will be the first new car I have ever owned not to do so.
jimbro1000
Established member
Third year service on mine plus MOT, new brake pads and a set of new tyres was £1200 alone. Front suspension failed completely last year (thanks to pot holes, speed bumps, etc) resulting in new springs, dampers and mountings - another £1000 worth. Two hit and runs - another £500 (just the rear bumper).
The car is now 4 1/2 years old with just under 31000 miles on the clock and I think it has cost me about £4500 in servicing, tyres and repairs. Of that about £2500 is servicing and £1000 is tyres, that leaves £1000 in repairs. Compared with my Marea this is nothing, same for my Integra. I think I spent £6000 on my TVR in two years in repairs, tyres and servicing at least.
The car is now 4 1/2 years old with just under 31000 miles on the clock and I think it has cost me about £4500 in servicing, tyres and repairs. Of that about £2500 is servicing and £1000 is tyres, that leaves £1000 in repairs. Compared with my Marea this is nothing, same for my Integra. I think I spent £6000 on my TVR in two years in repairs, tyres and servicing at least.
You must have walked under a hell of a lot of ladders to have had so much bad luck. Workshop owner must rub his hands in glee when he sees you coming.
No offence intended but these figures are horrific. I buy my cars new and keep for three or four years, never spend a penny on most of them other than servicing costs at about £150 maximum per service, and generally less.
I am now lost for words as I really cannot get my head round your figures.
Or as Terry Wogan would say. Is it me?
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Trying to think how much our 1.2 has cost over 4 years and 56k miles.
£250 for a set of winter tyres.
£40 for front pads and discs
£120 for the first service
£250 for the second including tappets and brake fluid. Tbh a bit of a rip off, but others have paid much more!!!!!
£130 for the third service
£50 in parts for the 4th service as I did it myself.
£250 for a set of winter tyres.
£40 for front pads and discs
£120 for the first service
£250 for the second including tappets and brake fluid. Tbh a bit of a rip off, but others have paid much more!!!!!
£130 for the third service
£50 in parts for the 4th service as I did it myself.
ahmett
Prominent member
In three years and 72,000 km's, mine cost
237 Euros first service (i was stupid i got it serviced main dealer)
280 Euros 4 new Mitch Pilot tires
160 Euros 2nd service
50 Euros Front Pads
40 Euros Rear Pads
Lets say 40 Euros on new lights.
And about 80 Euros on oil topups = )
Battery and Dualogic Gearbox seal replaced under warranty for free.
So about 900 Euros so far!
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jimbro1000
Established member
Well you made me sit down and work it out a bit more thoroughly and I was indeed off - servicing over the four years was only £2100 but that includes a lot of new brake pads as the rear calipers keep getting stuck on.
The rear tyres have been changed once but the fronts are on the third set. That's 8 tyres at an average of £98 each. So call it a round £800 for sake of quick sums. So that's £400 off my original guess (for some stupid reason I had it down as 10 tyres).
The repairs though were actually more expensive as I'd forgotten the snapped brake pedal, completely failed rear door switch and the drivers door handle that snapped off plus a few other niggling bits and pieces. Thankfully the insurance covered the worst one that resulted in a new headlining, door seal and trim plus a repair to the roof panel.
I think people need to stop comparing the costs of their little 1.2's here as well. If I'd wanted a cheapo I'd have bought one but a 1.2 500 is not an Abarth 500 and if nothing else it shows in the price of the tyres alone. I've driven the 1.2 (and 1.4) and frankly they were awful and very nearly put me off buying the Abarth if only for the stupid variable steering assistance. At that point I'd promised myself I'd never buy another Fiat.
The rear tyres have been changed once but the fronts are on the third set. That's 8 tyres at an average of £98 each. So call it a round £800 for sake of quick sums. So that's £400 off my original guess (for some stupid reason I had it down as 10 tyres).
The repairs though were actually more expensive as I'd forgotten the snapped brake pedal, completely failed rear door switch and the drivers door handle that snapped off plus a few other niggling bits and pieces. Thankfully the insurance covered the worst one that resulted in a new headlining, door seal and trim plus a repair to the roof panel.
I think people need to stop comparing the costs of their little 1.2's here as well. If I'd wanted a cheapo I'd have bought one but a 1.2 500 is not an Abarth 500 and if nothing else it shows in the price of the tyres alone. I've driven the 1.2 (and 1.4) and frankly they were awful and very nearly put me off buying the Abarth if only for the stupid variable steering assistance. At that point I'd promised myself I'd never buy another Fiat.
This is a very valid point. The higher performance models of pretty much all cars will cost disproportionately more in servicing, repairs & consumables than the 'cooking' version.
I can get 60-70000 miles out of a set of front brake pads, but equally it's possible to wear a set out in a day on the track.
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The reason why people are mentioning their costs is because Abarth owners seem to get charged extra. If you bought your own parts and then bargained on the labour then it would be not much more expensive than a 1.2 to run other than fuel and tyres.
They do seem to be harder to work on, though. Having to remove the 'box to change the clutch slave cylinder is going to add considerably to the cost unless you can do it yourself.
Should it REALLY add as much as it appears to though? I bet I could get the clutch and clutch hydraulics done on our Subaru for less than that and that's a pig of a job.
Probably not.
There aren't that many franchised Abarth dealerships, so they can charge a premium and some folks might feel it's too specialised a car to trust to the local indie.
Not saying I agree, just offering an explanation for the pricing.
That's exactly why the pricing is that way.
With regards to the OPs issue, what I can't figure out is why he didn't phone Fiat/Abarth UK regarding a contribution to repair cost before going anywhere near a garage
Yeah it's out of warranty in terms of time, but it's not out in terms of mileage and the warranty terms suggested the problem would've been covered in year 3 when many things are excluded, so chances are they would've entertained a goodwill claim. They reimbursed me with vouchers to the full cost of repair when my Stilo's suspension springs snapped at 6 years/60,000 miles, so never assume they'll say no.
Also, if I was being charged north of a grand & got told there was no courtesy car available, they'd have been told which finger of mine to swivel on. To then appear unable to do the job properly suggests to me they're having a laugh and you've been mugged off. I hope to God this isn't an Abarth dealer? If it is, I'd strongly suggest calling Abarth on 00800 222 78400. They're seen as being above Fiat, so you'd hope you get some sort of preferential treatment for paying the premium over a regular 500.
Yeah it's out of warranty in terms of time, but it's not out in terms of mileage and the warranty terms suggested the problem would've been covered in year 3 when many things are excluded, so chances are they would've entertained a goodwill claim. They reimbursed me with vouchers to the full cost of repair when my Stilo's suspension springs snapped at 6 years/60,000 miles, so never assume they'll say no.
Also, if I was being charged north of a grand & got told there was no courtesy car available, they'd have been told which finger of mine to swivel on. To then appear unable to do the job properly suggests to me they're having a laugh and you've been mugged off. I hope to God this isn't an Abarth dealer? If it is, I'd strongly suggest calling Abarth on 00800 222 78400. They're seen as being above Fiat, so you'd hope you get some sort of preferential treatment for paying the premium over a regular 500.
With regards to the OPs issue, what I can't figure out is why he didn't phone Fiat/Abarth UK regarding a contribution to repair cost before going anywhere near a garage
Yeah it's out of warranty in terms of time, but it's not out in terms of mileage and the warranty terms suggested the problem would've been covered in year 3 when many things are excluded, so chances are they would've entertained a goodwill claim. They reimbursed me with vouchers to the full cost of repair when my Stilo's suspension springs snapped at 6 years/60,000 miles, so never assume they'll say no.
Also, if I was being charged north of a grand & got told there was no courtesy car available, they'd have been told which finger of mine to swivel on. To then appear unable to do the job properly suggests to me they're having a laugh and you've been mugged off. I hope to God this isn't an Abarth dealer? If it is, I'd strongly suggest calling Abarth on 00800 222 78400. They're seen as being above Fiat, so you'd hope you get some sort of preferential treatment for paying the premium over a regular 500.
Thanks for the comments.
Yes its an Abarth dealer but the way they are set up as a group anything that involves warranty or potential goodwill has to be taken to the fiat garage of Muppetry within the group. Servicing is normally carried out by the Abarth part & no issues thus far.
The car broke down & was recovered by the RAC to the Abarth dealer, at the time I assumed it was a linkage issue as it went from having gears to no gears, it wasn't a gradual failing ( again seems odd looking back) no real point having it recovered home & then deciding what to do with it, dealer is 45 mins away so we would have possibly paid to get it there.
Yes I had chats with Abarth, I have a private mobile of one of the top guys & a loaner mysteriously appeared after the call so we only had 2 days rental to pay. Warranty would not consider it but Abarth have promised some vouchers which pay nearly a 1/4 of the bill but yet to arrive.
Personally the dealer wont see the car again & wont ever sell me another car, Abarth have contributed but for what is so obviously a manufacturing quality issue I honestly expected more so that's put me off replacing the car with another Abarth
I have an Alpha 4C on order but IM beginning to wonder about that now, all the Fiat group after all.
To top it the Skoda needs tyres & a battery & the Nissan is having a new Engine built as it would no longer run when the crank decided to sub divide itself into 2 pieces & don't ask how much that is, s/hand abarth prices
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Go look at a Swift Sport.
Abarth is the good ladies car so her call
Must admit the residuals on the swift are pretty good
