Hello, I wonder if you can help please. I bought a Fiat 500 auto 0.9 twin air about 18 month ago. Two weeks ago it went in for it’s annual MOT and service (service included full oil / filters change) with a Fiat garage.

It has the service and health check and only failed MOT on a tyre requirement which I had replaced.

Almost as soon as I drove the car home I noticed a bit of a funny smell, a kind of smoky smell but I put it down to new filters as everything seemed ok. Engine temp fine and no warning lights.

Drove the car for 9 days and all seemed ok until Monday when I was driving home from work and stopped in stationary traffic. Smoke stared coming out from under the bonnet and back in to the car. I obviously got out quickly and called the RAC. The RAC guy said there was an oil leak, but not from the tank as that was situated at the back of the car and this was towards the front. The oil tank was practically empty (although I hadn’t noticed oil on the drive way but possible I just missed it). They towed it away and back to the garage.

The garage have now been in touch and said that there is a leak from the turbo inlet pipe and it will need replacing. They have quoted £315 for this to be replaced.

So really I have two questions if anyone knows the answers to these please. Firstly is that a reasonable cost for the work and part that needs fixing. And is this something that should have been spotted at MOT / Service? The guy told me it was just something that had happened and it was fine it left them. So is it just coincidence / bad timing?

Would really appreciate any advice anyone can give and I really know nothing about cars! I do also have a warranty4life which I pay for each month but I am pretty sure they will say this is not covered and I have to cough up the £315.

Welcome to the forum, if only it was under better circumstances!

How old is the car? I know you say you bought it 18 months ago, but you don't say if it was new or 2nd hand. If new, I'd have thought things like this would still be under warranty.

You also mention that the garage carried out an oil change, the TA engine is very particular about what oil is used so if the garage (and I realise it's a Fiat garage, but that doesn't preclude the possibility) used the wrong oil, it could've caused all kinds of issues.

Eklipze3k said:

How old is the car? I know you say you bought it 18 months ago, but you don't say if it was new or 2nd hand. If new, I'd have thought things like this would still be under warranty.

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Given that it's just had an MOT, I'd say it's three years old at least, so manufacturers warranty is unlikely to apply.

MrsG1981 said:

I do also have a warranty4life which I pay for each month but I am pretty sure they will say this is not covered and I have to cough up the £315.

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It's always worth asking, but these sort of warranties usually have so many exclusions they're not worth the paper they're printed on.

MrsG1981 said:

...is this something that should have been spotted at MOT / Service?

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It's not part of the MOT (unless it's obviously blowing smoke), but certainly should have been spotted at the service/health check.

MrsG1981 said:

The guy told me it was just something that had happened and it was fine it left them. So is it just coincidence / bad timing?

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It's probably been on the point of failing for some time, which is why you noticed an unusual smell, and then chose to finally give up the ghost big time. Sadly these sort of faults do happen occasionally on turbocharged engines.