Technical Gets stuck in 1st gear in busy traffic.

[Rookeydooks]

My daughters 2015 fiat 500 has an issue, and we've taken it to 2 different garages including our local Fiat Dealership and they've said it's 100% fine, but it's not.

It drives perfectly 99% of the time, the only issue comes when I get stuck in traffic. If she stay's in 1st gear for too long, the car starts to shake, the clutch gets stuck at about halfway down, the gear stick gets stuck in 1st gear and won't come out, and the car will move forward on its own when she takes her foot off the brake.

If she has the brake all the way down it stops but the car shaking, like it's wanting to go forward, but as soom as she brings her foot off the break it drives itself forward with no gas pedal.

If she turn's the car off for a minute it seems to reset itself and works again.

The dashboard doesn't say it's overheating.

This only happens when she get stuck in traffic and moving slowly. Like a traffic jam or getting out of a busy car park.

Both our local garage and Fiat Dealership have taken the Fiat 500 for a run but can't recreate the issue. They say the clutch feels like it should for a 2015, 64 plate Fiat. Can anyone help.

 

[rmjbn1]

Hi and welcome
Is this a manual car?
If so, very common problem, and hopefully an easy fix.
Get some silicone grease under the rubber boot on the clutch slave cylinder.
As in this video (Panda, but the same issue)

 

[Rookeydooks]

Hi, yes its a manual. It has the 1,2,3,4,5 and R on the gear stick.

I've just taken it out to a local car park to try and recreate the issue. I put it in first gear keeping the clutch down and foot on the break and something seems to click on and the engine got louder, then click off.

I gradually moved forward as if in traffic, then after around 10-15mins, the brake seem to lock, I couldn't push it down, it was solid and the gear stick was stuck in 1st gear. The engine got louder and the car started to shake.

I lifted my foot off the clutch ever so slighty and the car jumped for forward and stalled. I put the clutch down and turned the ignition, and it came on and gears and brake were back to normal.

It's as if something comes on and locks the gear and brakes when the clutch is pushed down and in first gear for too long.

 

[The Panda Nut]

A clutch slave cylinder is the most likely culprit. £25 from shop for parts and any one or a garage could change this in about half an hour. If its stuck half way the clutch will drag and it will be difficult to release from the gear. Its not definite its this but highly likely. Good news is they drive so much better with a new one fitted. Its possible its the master cylinder, they are still quick and easy to fix but cost quite a bit more, The clicking and engine note change will be the air conditioning system working normally.

 

[Rookeydooks]

Many thanks. I'll speak to our local garage tomorrow and ask if they can change this for us. I'll report back if all goes well. Thank you so much for your time.

 

[John202020]

Just how long is she keeping the clutch pressed is the question if its normally fine? It shouldn't be more than about 5 seconds at most or take out of gear and use the hand brake?
Leaking slave or master likely cause, replace both
Also as you're new here it will require a new engine earth strap if its not had one

 

[koalar]

Sounds like

If you leave your foot on the clutch pedal

It slowly looses hydraulic pressure and eventually starts to engage the pre selected gear

When you pump the pedal the pressure builds up again, i.e when you switch the engine of and start again

The obvious first move would be to check the fluid levels and see if it's loosing fluid

If it is it's just a matter of find where getting wet, slave, master or quick connector

I would check for a weeping quick connector next regardless, rare but can cause weird clutch actions

If it's not loosing fluid and the quick connect is dry, I would try a bleed as the next step

Even if you get a garage to fix the problem, it worth diagnosing it first if possible, otherwise you will probably get billed for unessary parts and labour

 

[koalar]

Shame there no update with the outcome

Would help others as it's slightly different to the normal clutch problems

 

[Rookeydooks]

Hi, sorry. I haven't got it fixed yet.

The 3rd party warranty company has agreed to replace the following:

CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER
CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER (EXTERNAL)

I spoke to our local garage and he agreed the symptoms are most likely these cylinders. Its booked in on 7th October.

I'll update after. Thanks.

 

[koalar]

Fingers crossed it all goes well

Sounds good to me