Technical Change final drive or gearbox

[Klark]

We just purchased a 0km Fiat 500 Vintage (2015) with the 1.2L 69BHP engine.
It's extremely slow on acceleration från stand still. I've read a lot about it and people mention mapping problems and that it's done because of getting the car into class 6 (environmental), etc, etc. And that there is nothing you can do about it.

I've experienced a similiar thing with the latest (1997-2000) Rover Mini Coopers and the solution was to change the final drive (2.76) to a 3.1. The car became much more drivable.

I haven't read anything like that concerning the new Fiat 500.
In Sweden where I live, the 875cc engines have a 3.87 final drive, while the 1240cc engines have a 3.44 final drive.

My question is: can I swap the gearbox from a 875cc car with our gearbox? Is it bolt on or is it much more hassle than that?

 

[John202020]

Sounds like this thread; https://www.fiatforum.com/500/440493-euro-6-1-2-gutless.html

Its unlikely to be able to change the final drive, if you did this would improve some things but make others worse, like poor fuel consumption and lower top speed.
Best course of action is to see if there are any updates required of to have it remapped by a specialist tuner?

 

[Klark]

Increased fuel consumption on such an fuel economic car is totally unimportant. All my other cars consume 2 to 3 times more fuel per mile.
Lower top speed, not interesting.
A normal respons on the throttle is what matters for acceptable driving.

 

[John202020]

I would look to having the ecu remapped by a specialist rather than mechanical changes but that's just me?

 

[Klark]

Well. if it's an ECU problem, ofcourse.
In the case of the Mini Coopers, it was only a mechanical problem.
In 1997 Rover changed the final drive from 3.2 to 2.76.

 

[UFI]

In the 500 Fiat changed mapping in the ECU, not final drive, so it would make sense to fix it back by remapping, no?

 

[Klark]

If that's the case, yes.
I will contact the Fiat dealer that sold the car to us.
Just wondering why the 875cc engines have a shorter final drive......

 

[UFI]

The TA's have a shorter final drive because they'd struggle off the line. They only have one power stroke for every two RPM, so they can be easy to stall, especially when new and with a driver used to 'fours'. They also 'chug' at low speeds in top.

The dealer won't help you remap to Euro4/5 specs.

 

[jrkitching]

The dealer won't help you remap to Euro4/5 specs.

The Euro6 ECU is completely different (not even the same manufacturer), so I can't see how anyone could just transfer a map from an earlier variant.

Personally I doubt that changing the final drive ratio is going to get you what you're looking for. The Euro6 500 is designed to have a certain type of performance and if you want something different, IMO the cheapest and simplest option is probably to P/X your current car for a TA (or whatever).

If you could borrow a couple of smaller wheels with low profile tyres, you could simulate the effect of changing the final drive ratio to see how it might change the performance (this isn't intended to be a long term solution!). I believe that 13" Panda 169 rims will fit the 1.2 500.

 

[ahmett]

The Euro6 ECU is completely different (not even the same manufacturer), so I can't see how anyone could just transfer a map from an earlier variant.

Personally I doubt that changing the final drive ratio is going to get you what you're looking for. The Euro6 500 is designed to have a certain type of performance and if you want something different, IMO the cheapest and simplest option is probably to P/X your current car for a TA (or whatever).

If you could borrow a couple of smaller wheels with low profile tyres, you could simulate the effect of changing the final drive ratio to see how it might change the performance (this isn't intended to be a long term solution!). I believe that 13" Panda 169 rims will fit the 1.2 500.

haha yeah when i even did 195 width tires, the car felt much more sluggish. Now happily back to the 185's. I don't know how people with 16 inch rims can drive the Fiat 500 1.2, must feel ridiculously slow!

 

[Pathaleon]

Just a thought, could you not purchase a euro 5 ECU for the car? Depending on what they've done to pass euro 6 obviously.

I'm not really sure on that!