Technical Replacement Engine

[F500DRIVER]

Hi all, i am new to this Forum and would like some help please..
I have a Fiat 500 1.3 Sport Diesel MultiJet 2009, and have recently had a big problem with the Glow-plugs fracturing within 2 of the cylinders, having taken this to my local garage and being assessed it has been decided that a replacement Engine would be the most economical path to get the car back on the road, we have been told that it could be in the region of £1500 & £2000 to strip and rebuild the engine altough might be more once the engine is stripped, i.e. damage to the Head or Block. Therefore i am in the process of looking for new engine, what i would like to know is what year of engine can i successfully fit in the body, obviously getting a newer / younger engine would prolong the life of the car.
Many thanks in advance for any information

 

[jrkitching]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

From memory, the 75HP 1.3 mJet was fitted from launch until 2010, after which the 95HP engine was used, so I'd say you're looking for one not later than 2010.

Sadly there don't seem to be many around; those that I could find on a quick search are all stupidly expensive for what is basically a high mileage salvage engine with no history. By contrast, used 1.2 petrol engines are plentiful, and cheap as chips.

Given the age of the car, the cost of used parts, and the amount of work involved, I'd think long and hard about whether this is actually worth repairing. Fitting an 11yr old engine of unknown pedigree to a 12yr old car isn't my idea of a cost effective exercise.

 

[John202020]

Have to agree with JR in this case you maybe better spending the near £2k on another car, I'd suggest buying a petrol regardless of make as they tend to be more reliable at the older end of the market, I realize this is not what you want to hear especially when you're new to the forum?

Eg. for £1600 you can get a nice Ford, as an example ?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-de...levance&fuel-type=Petrol&price-to=2000&page=1

 

[Bodga]

I don’t know if they are compatible but my sister has a 2009 Vauxhall Tigra with a 1.3 multi jet engine that’s visually exactly the same as my daughters 2008 Fiat 500 diesel.

Cannot see why the basic engine cannot be used if you can find a good one.

The engine in my daughters car isn’t original either as i need a hex bit to remove the sump plug and there’s a 2 pin connector that’s not used on the back of the sump?

 

[varesecrazy]

My old punto got 'sold' for £400 as that was the 'going rate' for an early 1248mj

Perhaps the used car market has effected parts prices too..?

 

[vexorg]

If the car's a write off then it's worth a go at taking the head off and trying to get it fixed. Or even get a second hand head.

 

[jrkitching]

If the car's a write off then it's worth a go at taking the head off and trying to get it fixed. Or even get a second hand head.

Only if you can do the work yourself.

The last thing you want is to be paying out £100's to a garage and get it back not working properly.

 

[Baglady1990]

If you really want to go down the route of an engine swap https://fiat500spares.co.uk/ They did my 1.2 and literally saved my life! Though your engine could be a harder find still…. Worth contacting them

 

[vexorg]

The last thing you want is to be paying out £100's to a garage and get it back not working properly.

If you are talking about a replacement engine, how much harm can it do? Worst case, tow it to a garage

 

[jrkitching]

If you are talking about a replacement engine, how much harm can it do? Worst case, tow it to a garage

Worst case

You find a local garage that says they'll put in a replacement engine for £500 if you get it delivered to them. You shop around on ebay and get a supposedly fully working engine for £999 including delivery (and yes, that's what they seem to be selling for right now). Well into the job, the garage tells you most of the ancillaries are missing and they'll need to swap them over from your old engine; that'll be another £400. Then they say you'll need to replace the glow plugs & timing chain and that'll be another £300. When it's put together, a couple of the injectors don't work and they want another £300 to get it running.

Now £2500 down, you drive it away; a couple of weeks later it breaks down on the motorway; after towing it off, the towing company says the bearings are shot and it's suspected there's been an oil supply issue. The engine seller says it must have been installed incorrectly; the installing garage says the oil pump must have been shot. Neither will contribute anything to the repair cost. You can forget trying to take anyone to Court; there's a 3 year backlog due to Covid. The towing company want £500 for recovery and diagnosis, but they say they'll reduce it to £300 if they can keep the salvage. You'll have to decide now, or you'll be charged another £100 a day for storage. Add the taxi fare home, and you've lost £3000 and the car.

Sometimes it's best to just cut your losses and move on.

Best case

You've another car to drive, and can store this one under cover until you find a written off mJet for a sensible price. Having found one, you carefully take out the engine, and sell what's left for more than you paid for the salvage in the first place. You just love working on oily bits, so installing it seems more of a pleasure than a pain. It starts first time and runs for the next 5 years with no issues.

If you've got first rate technical skills, and patience, fixing broken stuff can save you a shedload of cash.

 

[vexorg]

I was meaning just take the head off to see if it can be repaired, or worst case a replacement head, assuming the rest of the engine is fine.

Even sending the head off to a specialist company would be cheaper than a new engine.

 

[jrkitching]

I was meaning just take the head off to see if it can be repaired, or worst case a replacement head, assuming the rest of the engine is fine.

If I were doing the job myself, that's the first thing I'd do.

But if you get a garage to do this, once they've stripped it down, essentially you're committed.

If I didn't have the skills or facilities to do it myself, I'd sell the car 'as is'.

 

[FiatMatt94]

I personally wouldn't bother either, by the time you have sourced a replacement multijet engine which are not cheap & cheerful compared the the FIRE engine, had it fitted & could potentially go bang as the history of the replacement is unknown, you could buy a decent FIRE engine Panda, Punto or even the odd 500 if you look around for about half the money you would spend on this car & probably more reliable long term. I'd understand if it was something rare or special, but a multijet 500 is just a runaround fashion accessory & them engines don't have the best reputation, sometimes with cars you just have to cut your losses, scrap it or sell as spares or repair & move on

 

[chris3234]

I personally wouldn't bother either, by the time you have sourced a replacement multijet engine which are not cheap & cheerful compared the the FIRE engine, had it fitted & could potentially go bang as the history of the replacement is unknown, you could buy a decent FIRE engine Panda, Punto or even the odd 500 if you look around for about half the money you would spend on this car & probably more reliable long term. I'd understand if it was something rare or special, but a multijet 500 is just a runaround fashion accessory & them engines don't have the best reputation, sometimes with cars you just have to cut your losses, scrap it or sell as spares or repair & move on

As long as the oil changes are done regular the engine's are fairly solid
They certainly don't have. Bad reputation no more the fire engines with head gaskets

 

[chris3234]

Hi all, i am new to this Forum and would like some help please..
I have a Fiat 500 1.3 Sport Diesel MultiJet 2009, and have recently had a big problem with the Glow-plugs fracturing within 2 of the cylinders, having taken this to my local garage and being assessed it has been decided that a replacement Engine would be the most economical path to get the car back on the road, we have been told that it could be in the region of £1500 & £2000 to strip and rebuild the engine altough might be more once the engine is stripped, i.e. damage to the Head or Block. Therefore i am in the process of looking for new engine, what i would like to know is what year of engine can i successfully fit in the body, obviously getting a newer / younger engine would prolong the life of the car.
Many thanks in advance for any information

I hope the reg wasn't wp59dto ? if so that was my.old car