Technical Growling noise in low gears in a 2012 1.2 automatic

[tod2024]

Hi, my mrs has a 2012 Fiat 500 1.2 dualogic automatic that's nearing 70k miles. Over the last year or so it's developed a growling kind of noise in first gear and second gear. It seems more noticeable in first gear. We're based in Ireland and I've called around some Fiat garages (as well as other garages) and none of them have heard of a 500 having any similar problems. A few of them said to drop it in for a diagnostic but it would be likely the transmission would need to come out and be serviced/reconditioned. I did a little research here and online in general and some have recommended topping up or changing out the transmission fluid as a starting point to see if that helps. It sounds like a more measured approach and a reasonable first step. Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of this problem before or have even had this problem before? And what was the fix? Also, just to add... the car is driving fine. It's selecting and going into gear like it always had. There's no loss of power or any other noticeable symptoms other than the noise in the low gears. Thanks in advance for the help. Appreciated.

Edit: Just to add some more information: The car has just had a pre NCT check and all rubbers, bearings, tyres, pads, discs and so on seem to be fine. No noise other than the growling when in first gear. I did have a look under the bonnet and on the right side there seems to be a small oil leak or seepage in an area underneath the battery tray. It's nothing major and not enough to drip onto the ground. The car is parked in the same place all the time and there's no oil on the ground. But there is a bit of oil and then some oil that has dried out and soaked into the dust if that makes sense. The oil leak/seepage seems to be on top of the engine part that sits underneath the battery tray though. I can't really see it properly but it's strange that a leak/seepage would leak upwards rather than down!

 

[varesecrazy]

What's it like in reverse..?

 

[tod2024]

What's it like in reverse..?

Reverse seems to be okay. It goes into reverse gear no problem and doesn't make any more noise than it used to. It's maybe a tiny bit growly or whine'y maybe but nothing much.

 

[varesecrazy]

Reverse seems to be okay. It goes into reverse gear no problem and doesn't make any more noise than it used to. It's maybe a tiny bit growly or whine'y maybe but nothing much.

Awkward.. As you cannot dip the clutch like a manual and listen for changes


One option..
Raise the front of the car, secure it on Axle Stands

Then you will hear / feel things without wind and tyre noise..

I did this with a wheel bearing..
It was an obvious drum that was heard.. / felt in the cabin

The gearbox is basically a manual.. And they are reasonably robust


Have you owned it long enough to rule out abuse..?

 

[tod2024]

Awkward.. As you cannot dip the clutch like a manual and listen for changes


One option..
Raise the front of the car, secure it on Axle Stands

Then you will hear / feel things without wind and tyre noise..

I did this with a wheel bearing..
It was an obvious drum that was heard.. / felt in the cabin

The gearbox is basically a manual.. And they are reasonably robust


Have you owned it long enough to rule out abuse..?

The mrs has had it since 2019 and there was 30k miles on it. The noise only developed over the past 6 months or year. She's a tidy little driver and doesn't drive rough or break the speed limit. The car also just had a pre NCT check and all rubbers, bearings, tyres, pads, discs and so on seem to be fine. No noise other than the growling when in first gear. I did have a look under the bonnet and on the right side there seems to be a small oil leak or seepage in an area underneath the battery tray. It's nothing major and not enough to drip onto the ground. The car is parked in the same place all the time and there's no oil on the ground. But there is a bit of oil and then some oil that has dried out and soaked into the dust if that makes sense. The oil leak/seepage seems to be on top of the engine part that sits underneath the battery tray though. I can't really see it properly but it's strange that a leak/seepage would leak upwards rather than down!

 

[varesecrazy]

Potentially Selespeed fluid..?

 

[jrkitching]

We've a whole thread dealing specifically with problems with these transmissions; I'll copy this discussion across.

Please continue the discussion here