Can I call on the experts again? Trying to resolve a small problem where the exhaust pipe approx 50cm back from the bottom of the manifold rubs on the bottom of the car on the heat shield whenever the car is moving in reverse or under hard engine braking.

The local tyre fitting place looked at it when they changed the tyres and told me the mounting was broken. I've had a look and not so sure. It looked like the first section of exhaust pipe might not be on straight as it was seriously close to the bottom of the car in one place and not others. I slackened the bolts and twisted the section round slightly to level it and the problem is much better but still there.

Looking under the car with it lifted up, there is a gap between the bottom of the rubber stop and the mounting plate. If I put the car in reverse (brakes on) and let the clutch up, the torque rotates the engine and the gaps between the rubber and metal closes by the 5mm or so allowing the exhaust to touch the body.

The bolt travels up and down with the metal, appearing fixed to it, sliding in and out of the rubber part.

Should this be a fixed assembly or has the bolt sheared inside the mount somewhere. Here is a pic, hope it's clear for the experts to look at ..

This is the gearbox lower mount which attaches to the gearbox by two bolts..

It's bolted to the body by passing the bolt through an inspection hole in the engine bay. The rubber mount then goes on..and finally onto the gearbox lower mount. I have always found, if I remember rightly, there is a slight gap between the rubber mount and body.

In your pic things don't look quite right. It may have had a bang by hitting something underneath. I would unbolt the mount. It really is a 5min job.

Then again I could be wrong.....

There should be some movement of that centre bolt, it is only bolted into the rubber which then isolates it from the metal surround which bolts to the body. That's one of the things which make the Panda such a quiet and refined drive rolleyes It is prone to wear though and over time the rubber moves more and more until you get what you have now and the exhaust starts clouting the bottom in reverse or when you back off the throttle suddenly. Don't think anything's actually broken from the look of it but sounds like the rubber's just getting tired. They're relatively cheap and, as Kev says, easy to change so just depends how annoying the noise is really.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-FIAT-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4abb6225fb

Thanks for your help and putting my mind at rest. Oh, and an Ebay link too although the description does say "NOT 1000"

firecolour said:

Thanks for your help and putting my mind at rest. Oh, and an Ebay link too although the description does say "NOT 1000"

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oops looked right, didn't read any further.

not sure, but arnt they the same mount as what the cinquecento takes? being a fire engine 'n all..
i still need to tighten the mount up on mine. its loose :/

I bought it anyhow, Fiat want £66 for the part so got the Ebay one and can compare them, if it's wrong, I'll stick it back on there.

Update to this post. Thanks for your help Andrew. Bought the Ebay item and fitted it yesterday. Was the correct part and went in fairly easily. The old one intact but a bit "saggy" so this replacement worked a treat. Combined with the new radius arms (and the new bushes in them) the car now drives extremely quietly.

Thanks for your help everyone!

Thought it looked right. Glad you're fixed up.

Been reading this thread with interest as the CLX has just had new exhaust - see 'via mobile ' thread... and has been suffering same problem. Been back up on ramp this morning, and is much better - (I fitted a new rear engine mount on this car before taking it off the rd 3 yrs back) - though it's still rattling when I back off the drive (a bit uphill) - it's catching on the heat shield bolt now ( I know this cos I've put one of those rubber brake bleed screw cover over the protruding bolt... making it much quieter but still annoying)
I reckon after market exhausts are going to be more prone to rattles than genuine..? or has my engine mounting gone tits already..?

Firecolour still has the original exhaust but I found it was rotated slightly so the bend behind the CAT was pointing uphill a little. Even with the new gearbox/engine mount it does still rub when the car pulls hard backwards (up slight incline). Next guess is weak top mount rubbers allowing more engine flex than when new?

firecolour said:

I bought it anyhow, Fiat want £66 for the part so got the Ebay one and can compare them, if it's wrong, I'll stick it back on there.

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so was the mount you bought the one in the link above? i need a new one after a garage trashed mine when they forgot to bolt it on after a clutch change...as well as forgetting to refill the gearbox oil and other 'amusing' mistakes

peterainbow said:

so was the mount you bought the one in the link above

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oh and did it come with the big washer? as mine was lost...

Yes, the above link was the correct part. It doesn't come with the washer (I'm sure VmanC can oblige). Fairly easy to fit. Jack up car just enough to take weight off wheels so the engine is neither pushing nor pulling on the mount. Spanner will fit through hole in bulkhead panel to secure top of centre bolt whilst you undo bottom nut, or undo both securing bolts then jack up car to allow mount to lower enough to get to top bolt.

When putting back, you need to tighten the centre bolt only when the two mounting bolts are in place or there is a risk of having lateral distortion if you try to twist the mount to realign the side bolts. Leave centre bolt slightly loose, then turn mount to align holes. The body holes are slightly larger to allow tolerance in fitting but to centre the bolts, with the front wheels off the ground, I had someone start the car, in first gear with brake firmly applied, let the clutch up a little and engine torque allowed exact placement of the side bolts for tightening up.