General 1.4 Dualogic Update

[ahmett]

Hello everyone, have not been here for a long time!
My 2010 Fiat 500 1.4 Dualogic is still alive with 185,000 km's on the clock and is running just fine!
It has gone through 1 new Dualogic Unit, 2 new clutches, 2 new actuators, a radiator, new wiring, and a new timing belt+ water pump, new suspension kit, but other than that the normal wear and tear and everything works! Barely uses any oil or coolant!

I drive it much less now as I do not use it as a main car, but since it's fully paid I see no reason to sell it, I will just keep on running it and using it when needed!

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks for the update..
Is it in a warm place??

I guess the wiring was the rear hatch.?

Charlie - now with a 500

 

[ahmett]

Thanks for the update..
Is it in a warm place??

I guess the wiring was the rear hatch.?

Charlie - now with a 500

Yeah it is left outside in a Mediterranean climate and used almost monthly with around 5,000 miles a year, the rear hatch was the wiring that needed to be completely fixed. Since then no problems! Rust does not seem to be an issue 12 years in, the rubber external parts seem a bit melted by the sun, but I'll accept that as normal wear and tear and actually just replaced the windscreen wipers.

 

[DaveMcT]

Batteries much prefer to be used. A battery monitor will help it to last longer. Do check the electrolyte levels as a hot climate an evaporate the water.

 

[jrkitching]

Hello everyone, have not been here for a long time!

Hello again, my friend.

Nice to see you back - and to know your car still lives!

With the spiralling cost of both new and used cars, I think a lot of 500's are going to be kept on the road for a lot longer than Fiat perhaps originally intended. Annoying niggles aside, the core of the car is pretty sound, and the 4cylinder petrols seem to be good for quite impressive mileages. Our 2010 1.2 Panda has now done about 110k miles and still has almost all its orignal parts.

 

[ahmett]

Hello again, my friend.

Nice to see you back - and to know your car still lives!

With the spirraling cost of both new and used cars, I think a lot of 500's are going to be kept on the road for a lot longer than Fiat perhaps originally intended. Annoying niggles aside, the core of the car is pretty sound, and the 4cylinder petrols seem to be good for quite impressive mileages.

Yes thanks!

Up to 188,000 kms now and it only used 0.5lt of oil in the last 5,000km so very reasonable oil consumption given my driving style, so let’s see how long it lasts!
Will update periodically!

 

[ahmett]

Over 215,000 kms now and still going strong! Just changed front discs and pads, engine in very good shape. Battery may need changing at some point, it's been a few years now and I got the famous flashing mileage. Anyway we keep on driving!

Debating whether to change the timing belt (has been done once at around 100,000 km), when I did so it looked ok, no water pump leak either. Injectors and spark plugs changed, can't remember when I last changed the oil as I go through 3-4 litres a year anyway with my driving style so it gets a yearly oil change either way = ). Oil consumption has not increased at all since new. Air Filter also changed, so power is still good. Bilstein B14 suspension holding well, I think one of the Top mounts is being noisy, but haven't really changed it yet. Next MOT in a few months, it should pass.

 

[John202020]

A wise person would do the cam belt? I pushed ours to 7 and 15 years between changes

 

[ahmett]

A wise person would do the cam belt? I pushed ours to 7 and 15 years between changes

Honestly I did it once before and it looked just fine when I changed it. I’ll keep an eye on it if I hear anything slipping I’ll change it.

 

[ahmett]

Thermostat failed, temperature gauge was all over the place, barely made it to the garage. Oh and Battery also failed after 3 years, put a new one, changed the thermostat, and off we go again! 222,000 kms.

Annoyingly my steering wheel's leather is starting to peel off, thinking what to do about it.