500 (Abarth) The daily

Advice needed...we remounted the pipe to the intercooler with a shiney new jubilee. Returned boost though Ransoman wasnt convinced it was boosting right...

On drive home I got the dreaded "check engine" warning. Anyone had similar after a popped pipe?

You need to get a look with www.Multiecuscan.net. The free version might be enough but "registered" is only €50 runs on Windows laptop. You'll also need to get connection cables from MES.

DaveMcT said:

You need to get a look with www.Multiecuscan.net. The free version might be enough but "registered" is only €50 runs on Windows laptop. You'll also need to get connection cables from MES.

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Cheers. My mates got scanner and cables so thats the plan for later. Crossing fingers its just being moody or something!

Looks like we found our problem...

After much worrying we had a proper look at the car today.

The initial diagnosis seemed to point to the boost sensor being in need of cleaning or replacement, but Id also been told it may be an issue with one of the vacuum hoses.

Starting with the latter, the one near the main screenwash resevoir seemed to be kinked over itself. That didnt look ideal, so it was unkinked and checked for leaks. None!

We kept looking at the hoses and couldnt seen any obvious damage. Wish I could say the same fo2r the induction. The panel filter is m.i.a and theres no cap on the end. This needs some urgent attention.

After howking out the battery we cleaned and checked what we now know to be the Map sensor...leaving only the boost to check. At this point we fired up the car and it was a little louder through the exhaust..but still we cracked on.

Its kind of ironic that the boost sensor was literally a five minute job to inspect, clean and refit. It was fairly obvious that it was needing a good clean. The graphs on the diag software still pointed to an odd boost readout (hopefully Ransoman can update) but when back on the road the abarth is now boosting (and holding boost) as expected. It feels frighteningly quick again too. Im hoping thats from cleaning the boost pressure sensor rather than the battery being disconnected, but time will tell!

Welcome to the world of Abarth, no F’er let’s you out, Everybody gets up your ass ha.. I just bought a bluespark and whew! This car has some serious power

Stephen A500 said:

Welcome to the world of Abarth, no F’er let’s you out, Everybody gets up your ass ha.. I just bought a bluespark and whew! This car has some serious power

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I've actually been ok with that!

Had a look - like your new motor

So yesterday after all the issues with the air intake and vac hoses I got a mechanic to poll up at work and check everything out.

She's rocking the standard airbox & filter again (though I have a BMC waiting to go in!) and the cars been given a check over for potential damage. Turbo was inspected -guy said there's the slightest evidence of crap in the system on the very edges of the turbo blades, but nothing to worry about.

Pre-cat lamda needs replacing but other than that she's fine!

So - waiting on a price back for the lamda, gonna get that done then in for a 70k service :slayer:

Shes comin along nicely!

So the recent list of things done - that I can think of

• Pre cat Lambda
• New rear badge
• Red Mirror Caps
• Wind Deflectors

AND I'm managing to give Bart a decent bath every week or two.

Next up its the dreaded door handle repair - luckily for me its the brackets/hinges that have gone but still a bit of a PITA

Looking good as ever.

Sorry for your recent issues you have had but glad your getting through it. Bloody cars aye. Haha.

B19BST said:

Looking good as ever.

Sorry for your recent issues you have had but glad your getting through it. Bloody cars aye. Haha.

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I've had that to contend with and a tetchy battery on the Punto. But that got changed so it's all good!

Last week of running the Punto before she goes into hibernation for the winter and she almost got clattered by a bloody bus outside work!

Long time no spend on the Abarth

Well, not true. I'll get to the 'toys' in a sec...

Driving home from Dundee on Sunday morning and got onto the Aberdeen bypass...only for the turbo gauge to stop registering anything and the turbo to feel a bit...laggy...turns out the breather pipe blanker has gone AWOL.

So, the metal blanker goes on today.

I also picked up a 35mm Eibach spring kit - so have that, bump stops & new ARB links to get fitted today.

Oh - and a door handle repair kit.

Pics to follow :slayer:

MUCH better

So - door handle has no risk of falling apart now, the breather blanker is back on (and Bart is back to pulling like a train!)

He's also sitting right...at last. This was one of my bug bears after getting him home for the first time.

Oh and I mentioned toys - I forget to say before that I'd swapped the mirror caps over and got round to fitting wind deflectors.

Not sure there's much more to do now...but he's overdue a service

Looks good mate,. You’re literally going to be getting some air now.. getting off kurbs is fun too when the back wheel balances out.

I’m in the same position,. What next? I can’t think of anything to buy for her. I’m thinking a front mount intercooler.. but then it’s a different ball game and I’ll I have no money left as I’ll want to keep going forward.

Thinking drilled/grooves brake disc’s. The only thing stopping me is that I’m unsure if I have standard callipers, they’re massive.

Also driver door hinge needs to be fitted, have the kit and tools.. just being lazy

Haven't had a chance to do much lately, but I've managed to chuck some water over it...and add a new shiney up front

He did also get an interim service just before Christmas...big one due this year :/

And LED reg plate bulbs in too. With lockdown Im doing <10 miles a week. Cant remember when I last fuelled her up either!

So, with lockdown easing the fiancee & I have some family visiting to do in Englandshire. Despite Bart being given the gov MOT extension, though it'd make sense to put it in anyway to get checked over & the rear brakes changed.

Feared the worst when I saw the fail list...

Repair immediately (major defects):
Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))
Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))
Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))
Front Headlamp levelling device inoperative linkage broken (4.1.5 (a))
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Rear Upper Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))


But apart from the parts I supplied the horn connection needed cleaning & reconnecting and it was a plastic connector to get the light levellers back working. Phew!

My joy was short lived however. Despite having changed the drivers door handle hinge last year, a day after MOT the passenger side snapped. Well, the car needs the air con regassed so I guess its another wee job while its back in!