Technical 2016 500x vibration issue

[Natalie8614]

I have a 2016 1.4 500x (28000 miles) and for the past 4 months, it vibrates/judders heavily on acceleration once the engine is warm. The vibration is felt throughout the car rather than just through the steering wheel. It’s particularly bad when going uphill or at speed and sometimes it feels as though the car is hesitating, but as soon as I take my foot off of the accelerator, it stops. Some journeys are worse than others which I find strange, sometimes it’s barely noticeable whereas other times it’s constant as soon as the engine is warm. There are no warning lights on the dash and this started suddenly one day.



We’ve already tried all of the below in this order and the issue is still there (apologies for any incorrect technical terminology - I am by no means a car expert! ):


Spark plugs replaced
Track rod ends replaced
Tracking done
Engine mount replaced
Gearbox mount replaced
Car was then checked over by a mechanic who experienced the issue on an extensive test drive. All wheels and suspension were checked and he said that everything appears ok, he suggested coil packs or throttle body.
Coil packs replaced
Throttle body checked and cleaned
MAP sensor replaced
Air filter replaced
Injector cleaner run through twice
Cleaned AOS/PCV valve
Air hoses taken off, checked and reattached


I just wondered if anyone has any advice please on what to try next as we’ve come to the end of what we thought could possibly be causing it? Otherwise my next option will sadly be to trade the car in, as my daily journey involves lots of motorway driving where it’s really prominent.



Thank you in advance!

 

[s130]

Check th engine mounts.

On 2015+ / earlier models the engine mount on the cam belt side of the engine was prone to failure. Any engine mounts in failed/poor condition will give you issues.

 

[Ralf S.]

If the mechanic actually drove the car and couldn't isolate the problem, then we're a bit in no-man's land.

Your mileage is very low.. but the judder sounds like my old Stilo when the driveshaft spider/inner CV joint disintegrated and/or later on when the dual mass flywheel (clutch) bearings fell out... albeit both of those happened past 180,000 miles.

If your symptoms are worse when warm, my money is on the flywheel, particularly if someone can confirm that it's a dual-mass type.

• When it judders and/or you come off the slip road of the said motorway, is the gear change notchy or difficult?
• If you press the clutch in and out a few times, fairly quickly, does the judder go away for a while...?

The driveshaft is easier to diagnose. you just need to grab hold of it when the wheel is in the air and, holding the inner CV cup still, so that it doesn't rotate, can you feel any movement in the driveshaft, if you try to rotate the wheel?


Ralf S.

 

[AllyC]

I have a 2016 1.4 500x (28000 miles) and for the past 4 months, it vibrates/judders heavily on acceleration once the engine is warm. The vibration is felt throughout the car rather than just through the steering wheel. It’s particularly bad when going uphill or at speed and sometimes it feels as though the car is hesitating, but as soon as I take my foot off of the accelerator, it stops. Some journeys are worse than others which I find strange, sometimes it’s barely noticeable whereas other times it’s constant as soon as the engine is warm. There are no warning lights on the dash and this started suddenly one day.



We’ve already tried all of the below in this order and the issue is still there (apologies for any incorrect technical terminology - I am by no means a car expert! ):


Spark plugs replaced
Track rod ends replaced
Tracking done
Engine mount replaced
Gearbox mount replaced
Car was then checked over by a mechanic who experienced the issue on an extensive test drive. All wheels and suspension were checked and he said that everything appears ok, he suggested coil packs or throttle body.
Coil packs replaced
Throttle body checked and cleaned
MAP sensor replaced
Air filter replaced
Injector cleaner run through twice
Cleaned AOS/PCV valve
Air hoses taken off, checked and reattached


I just wondered if anyone has any advice please on what to try next as we’ve come to the end of what we thought could possibly be causing it? Otherwise my next option will sadly be to trade the car in, as my daily journey involves lots of motorway driving where it’s really prominent.



Thank you in advance!

Hi Natalie,

I just wondered if you managed to get to the bottom of the issue?
I found your post after having issues with my own 500x (but 2019 1L) and what you describe sounds very similar.
It starts juddering when my foot is on the accelerator like it’s losing power (almost like it would stall) at usually approx 35 miles of continuous driving - mostly on the motorway. My car is currently at the dealership I got it from being tested, although they took it out for apparently a 50 mile round journey yesterday and it didn’t do it! Yet has done it on every longer journey for me. The only warning light/message that has come up (which hasn’t been every time) is ‘start, stop unavailable’ and then this disappears after turning engine off and back on.
Sorry I don’t have any answers but I’m just at a loss and wanted to see if you got any further with finding the problem?

Many thanks,
Ally

 

[Leo Wen]

Hi Natalie,

I just wondered if you managed to get to the bottom of the issue?
I found your post after having issues with my own 500x (but 2019 1L) and what you describe sounds very similar.
It starts juddering when my foot is on the accelerator like it’s losing power (almost like it would stall) at usually approx 35 miles of continuous driving - mostly on the motorway. My car is currently at the dealership I got it from being tested, although they took it out for apparently a 50 mile round journey yesterday and it didn’t do it! Yet has done it on every longer journey for me. The only warning light/message that has come up (which hasn’t been every time) is ‘start, stop unavailable’ and then this disappears after turning engine off and back on.
Sorry I don’t have any answers but I’m just at a loss and wanted to see if you got any further with finding the problem?

Many thanks,
Ally

Hi Ally,

I bought a Fiat 500X (2019, petrol, 1.3L) last week. For the past week it has been behaving well, but this morning I had a very similar problem as you described - the car is juddering and the Start&Stop Unavailable sign comes on, which disappears after restarting the engine. I was wondering have you found the cause of the problem? Thank you very much.

Kind Regards,
Leo

 

[AllyC]

Hi Ally,

I bought a Fiat 500X (2019, petrol, 1.3L) last week. For the past week it has been behaving well, but this morning I had a very similar problem as you described - the car is juddering and the Start&Stop Unavailable sign comes on, which disappears after restarting the engine. I was wondering have you found the cause of the problem? Thank you very much.

Kind Regards,
Leo

Hi Leo,

Sorry to hear you’re having similar issues.
Since I wrote the comment the issue got worse, with it happening on shorter journeys and eventually the engine light coming on and car going into limp mode on a few occasions. The only good thing is that meant it had stored a fault, whereas previously because there was nothing showing on the diagnostic they told me there was nothing they could do until it started to store a fault!
Previous to the issue getting worse I had the car in for a full service as it appears it has never had one (I was advised by a local garage this may be a good point to start at to narrow things down) and had spark plugs changed. After this is when the engine light came on and it started to store error codes. It then went back to the dealership for diagnostics and testing. They believed it was the coil pack so changed that.
Since then the car went into limp mode with engine light on again. This then disappeared but the car went back to the dealership for testing (on their recommendation) but it hadn’t stored any faults!
Sorry I can’t be of much more help but this is as far as I’ve got with it now.
I’m at the point of wanting to get shot of it as I feel anxious to drive it waiting for it to happen each time.

Kind regards,
Ally

Hi Ally,

I bought a Fiat 500X (2019, petrol, 1.3L) last week. For the past week it has been behaving well, but this morning I had a very similar problem as you described - the car is juddering and the Start&Stop Unavailable sign comes on, which disappears after restarting the engine. I was wondering have you found the cause of the problem? Thank you very much.

Kind Regards,
Leo

 

[Leo Wen]

Hi Leo,

Sorry to hear you’re having similar issues.
Since I wrote the comment the issue got worse, with it happening on shorter journeys and eventually the engine light coming on and car going into limp mode on a few occasions. The only good thing is that meant it had stored a fault, whereas previously because there was nothing showing on the diagnostic they told me there was nothing they could do until it started to store a fault!
Previous to the issue getting worse I had the car in for a full service as it appears it has never had one (I was advised by a local garage this may be a good point to start at to narrow things down) and had spark plugs changed. After this is when the engine light came on and it started to store error codes. It then went back to the dealership for diagnostics and testing. They believed it was the coil pack so changed that.
Since then the car went into limp mode with engine light on again. This then disappeared but the car went back to the dealership for testing (on their recommendation) but it hadn’t stored any faults!
Sorry I can’t be of much more help but this is as far as I’ve got with it now.
I’m at the point of wanting to get shot of it as I feel anxious to drive it waiting for it to happen each time.

Kind regards,
Ally

Hi Ally,

Thanks very much for your prompt reply, and I'm deeply sorry that you had so many back and forth with the car. My car did not show the same symptom on my short drive home from work this evening. I will keep an eye on it - if it happens again I guess I have no choice but to take it back to the dealership for a thorough check. I will surely let you know if they deciphered the mystery.

Thanks again for your kind help.

Best Regards,
Leo