I have a 02 Seicento 1.1 Sporting (the newer rounded body type) and the clutch pedal is down to the floor. On inspection it is not the clutch cable that has broken but the 4 inch rod that connects directly to the pedal to a hinge at the rear of the footwell. The 4 inch rod has a ball joint and threaded bolt on either end and it is one of these bolts that has snapped, leaving the rod hanging down from the top of the pedal. Hopefully I have attached a pic. The broken rod is the blue in the pic.

I know from another thread that this rod system is because the car is a left hand drive modded to be a right hand drive. Also that my best bet would be to look around local breakers yards for a replacement.

My question is (finally) are there any cars other than the newer Seicento 1.1 Sporting model with this rod system attached to the pedal? Maybe the older Sei's, Cinq's or even the new Fiat 500. I figure the greater the range of cars to look for at a breakers, the better my chance of success.

Thanks.

I think the Cinq and Sei are your only hopes. Later cars tend to use a hydraulic clutch.

BUT if that link has broken, it does point to probable clutch issues -- usually the cable or the quadrant go.

Some Seis being broken in classifieds here.

Cheers "fingers99". I did replace the clutch cable around a year ago and I believe it had been done at least once before then. I have had it since 30,000 miles and it's now done 53,000 so it may be time for other more serious things to start going wrong.

I know how to check and replace the cable (due to a decent guide on this site) but I've not heard of a quadrant...

...OK now I've seen pics of one am I right in thinking that it is a half moon shaped part that is attached to a rotating shaft at the engine end of the clutch cable? I can't check on my car as it is 50 miles away on someone else's driveway until I can find and go and fit the parts.

Would you know of any issues with the quadrant and what to look for? I am hoping that the broken rod isn't a result of something more serious further down the clutch system.

The underlying issue is more likely to be with the clutch itself. When they're on their last legs, the pressure you have to exert gets excessive and something will break. I'd say that 83,000 miles is a very good innings for a clutch.

Best (or easiest) bet for a replacement is ring Big Mick (Fluffy the Impaler) at eurocarcare in sunny Derby (or pop over if you're the right side of Nottingham) on 01332 345869 in the morning.

There should be a pic in ePer (if you can get on), but Fluffy -- or any FIAT dealer, will have it in house anyway.

For some reason eper lists spi and mpi as different part numbers but the price is the same. £79.04 so add 25% on and it might be todays price?
Can't see what the difference would be.

Try jiminwatford.

OK folks I now have my car fixed and back on my driveway. I've driven about 100 miles in it since fixing it on Tuesday and 10 of them in rush hour slow moving traffic so I think I've licked it. I've attached a pic of the old broken rod.

I found the rod on a breakers near by from a Sei S model. There was also another Sei there that had the old style square airbox and I swear the rod was the same on that too. I didn't know where to look to figure the engine type or model. It was persisting it down at the time and I wanted to get on with the job.

It took 10 minutes to take the old one off and fit the new one. I did have an attractive assistant with small hands to help (it's very crowded at the back of those pedals).


Thanks go to "fingers99" and "Fluffy the Impaler" for all the information given. It was a great help.

@cc1 "Fluffy the Imapler's" parts list said that the part was different too but I'm not so sure. I can't see how the engine size would dictate this part. Although I am a home car mechanic newbie. He quoted £70 new from Fiat but I prefered £5 from a breakers as long as I took it off myself.