Hi! Basically I purchased my 2013 fiat 500 pop in September 2016 which had 2 previous owners. Since then I have had nothing but problems with my first car which has included having new spark plugs and other situations. All in all this has so far cost me over £600. Now there's a new problem! This one is actually my fault but here goes:
I went to the safari park (drive thru) and the monkeys that climb over your car ripped my windscreen washer things out the things that squirt the liquid on your screen! How much would this cost to replace? I'm guessing the part needs connecting back up to the hose but unsure of prices as I'm a student with a crappy job. Also my dash board recently told me in due a service when will I need to get this?

Hi and welcome

It sounds like the previous owners may not have taken great care of the little 500 unfortunately and it's fallen to you to try and keep it going.

Here's a link to a washer nozzle, should just be a push fit so easy to DIY.

Regarding servicing, it either needs doing at a particular mileage or yearly, whichever comes first. What type of service it needs is dependent on the age/mileage. The handbook should contain a service schedule so you can get a rough idea of what needs doing. The likelihood is that it's just an oil/filter change and visual inspection of brakes, etc.

If you're not looking to start getting into your own maintenance, let us know where in the world you are and maybe someone local can suggest a trustworthy garage

Thanks very much! Just ordered the washer nozzle. All there is to fix now is the chip in my windscreen, get a service and we're finally back on track?

You need to be good with a spanner to keep the 500 going at modest cost, thankfully parts are generally very cheap( as there's good demand for them!) spark plugs are a general service item and you would expect to replace them every two years at most unless Iridium plugs were fitted @£30 set then its every 5 years.
Most previous owners cars have been sold for some reason some just to buy a new one some due to a fault, cars need attention sadly some people may never open the bonnet even to fill the screen wash or check anything, are your DRL's( Day running lights front) working?
Take some time to look the car over, lights, tyres(check pressure and blow up spare!), brake discs, general condition of suspension parts, colour and level! of oil-black not good, brake fluid water in radiator etc. this may save problems in the future, I will guess you will have further expense in the future fixing things before they become critical can save in the long run, you can get a Haynes manual that covers most of your car though it only goes to 2012.
Its very likely the washer jet has snapped off and part of the pipe maybe in the plastic pipe under the trim panel or simply you cannot get enough pipe to grip to install, this guide(for suspension replacement) may help as it shows how to remove/lift up the front edge of the panel;
https://www.fiatforum.com/500-guides/440891-front-shock-absorber-replacement.html

Cg123 said:

Hi!

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Hello and welcome :wave:.

Cg123 said:

Basically I purchased my 2013 fiat 500 pop in September 2016 which had 2 previous owners. Since then I have had nothing but problems with my first car which has included having new spark plugs and other situations. All in all this has so far cost me over £600.

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Realistically most 4yr old 2 owner cars will have a few problems. If you've only spent £600 in almost a year, that's actually less than I'd realistically have expected. To keep costs down, avoid franchised dealers; find a good independent garage instead. Even better, build up a set of tools and learn how to do it for yourself.

Eklipze3k said:

What type of service it needs is dependent on the age/mileage.

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...and a 2013 500 is likely to need a cambelt & water pump change soon; that's something the OP should budget for.

Put some money aside each month for car repairs; £100 a month should cover what you're likely to need, and if you don't spend it all, you'll have a little bonus at the end of the year.

I found my local Fiat dealer was the cheapest for the cam belt at £215 ! though this did not include a water pump which is not a routine replacement part they said only if it appeared faulty was quoted £300_350 by independent fitters (one job I couldn't do myself )
What cost £600 to fix?
Service oil air filters oil you've done the plugs not much else to replace if you're really on a budget. At the very least change the oil and filter the cheapest and most critical thing to keep a car going, and do your weekly/monthly checks!

Cars are not cheap to run. Did you buy through a dealer?

D

rallycinq said:

Cars are not cheap to run. Did you buy through a dealer?

D

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I bought from a local dealership which were very unhelpful when the spark plugs went 2 weeks after I bought it! I had a slight accident about 8 months ago when I scraped past a car and as a result I think that the daytime running light has fell out (only a month ago) my very helpful grandad is handy with the mechanics as he is an engineer but doesn't have time to do these things. I am a student and only get paid roughly £300 in a decent month. Should I get my service done before I sort the problems out or wait until they are fixed?

jrkitching said:

Hello and welcome :wave:.



Realistically most 4yr old 2 owner cars will have a few problems. If you've only spent £600 in almost a year, that's actually less than I'd realistically have expected. To keep costs down, avoid franchised dealers; find a good independent garage instead. Even better, build up a set of tools and learn how to do it for yourself.



...and a 2013 500 is likely to need a cambelt & water pump change soon; that's something the OP should budget for.

Put some money aside each month for car repairs; £100 a month should cover what you're likely to need, and if you don't spend it all, you'll have a little bonus at the end of the year.

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Unfortunately, there's a few more problems that I am trying to stretch as long as I can as I am a student with a low income. It's a shame because I do love the car I just aren't taking as much care of it as I should. I did think that when I spend the £600 on the one problem that it would be it and no more problems little did I know there's always room for more!

Where are you based?

Garage labour tates vary by location

Charlie . Oxford

varesecrazy said:

Where are you based?



Garage labour tates vary by location



Charlie . Oxford

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Greater Manchester

Has the drl light cluster fallen into the bumper? if it has it will fail it's mot on lighting(not the drl but side light and main beam which are in the same cluster )which is probably due soon (check certificate ) have this fixed first and have a oil change (something you can do with few tools and cheaply £30_35) as it's coming up to a year you've owned it

Photo of the DRL

Cg123 said:

I am a student and only get paid roughly £300 in a decent month.

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I don't know how you manage to live on £300 a month, much less run a car on it.

How much longer will it be before you finish your studies?

jrkitching said:

I don't know how you manage to live on £300 a month, much less run a car on it.

How much longer will it be before you finish your studies?

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Another year then I'm off to uni for 4 years so at least 5 years before I get a stable Job! I save £40 a week for petrol but the car is going wrong all the time so it's hard to fix it with barely any money!

Welcome to the world of Fix It Again Tomorrow........

Not sure of anyone super-local to you.. but there are several recommended indy garages to the south..cheshire

Charlie

Bumper off job to attempt to fix the light cluster, not a hard job to remove two screw drivers and a spanner, good you tube video shows how to do it.
If the fixings have snapped off that could be a bit more tricky, there's always gaffer tape(on the rear) to get it to pass a mot?

Cg123 said:

I bought from a local dealership which were very unhelpful when the spark plugs went 2 weeks after I bought it! I had a slight accident about 8 months ago when I scraped past a car and as a result I think that the daytime running light has fell out (only a month ago) my very helpful grandad is handy with the mechanics as he is an engineer but doesn't have time to do these things. I am a student and only get paid roughly £300 in a decent month. Should I get my service done before I sort the problems out or wait until they are fixed?

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the garage should have sorted you out, a bit late now, but i'd have parked it on their forecourt and demanded my money back.

Check when your MOT is due, you dont want to be caught driving without one.

Cheers

D

How to remove the bumper to fix the light,