Technical rumbling noise from underneath Fiat 500

[Fiat568]

Hello,
There is a rumbling noise that seems to emanate from underneath car when driving on uneven ground.
Car has been to 2 garages and neither have been to identify the noise - the car has been checked thoroughly -
One garage thought it was the front stabiliser links and replaced them but the noise persists when driving on uneven ground.
Advised that it could be something to do with suspension but couldnt say what exactly and there were no visible signs - advised that i continue driving until the noise gets louder and then they could identify it - the noise only occurs on uneven surface and tends to be more at the front but sometimes it sounds like it's at the middle areas of car underneath.
Wondering if anyone else has experienced this?
There are no lose bits either and 2 garages have checked
One garage even took off the wheels - it has been on the ramp and been shook!!

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi

The fact its not been found..and only happens on 'rough surfaces' makes me question what tyres are on it

Im a newcomer to 500's and find my car poor for tyre noise

What year and mileage is your 500?

 

[Fiat568]

Hi

The fact its not been found..and only happens on 'rough surfaces' makes me question what tyres are on it

Im a newcomer to 500's and find my car poor for tyre noise

What year and mileage is your 500?

Hi there

Hi

The fact its not been found..and only happens on 'rough surfaces' makes me question what tyres are on it

Im a newcomer to 500's and find my car poor for tyre noise

What year and mileage is your 500?

HI there, around 520000 miles year 2016. I did ask mechanic about possibility of the noise being linked to tyres and he said unlikely. I have 3 continental tyres and 1 Goodyear on car. ...the noise only occurs on rough and uneven surface...it's a strange noise to describe...all I can say is rumbling. ...and emanating from underneath. ...2 garages and numerous mechanics and can't locate it. One garage is say the stabilisers so he changed them but noise persists ....

 

[Baglady1990]

How long have you owned the car? How long after did the rumbling start? Have any components been replaced? Suspension? Wheel bearings? Is it just rumbling…any other symptoms? Vibration? Grinding? Knocking? Or purely just a rumble?

 

[John202020]

The suspension is rather "crude" I'd rule out bearings if it's only on rough ground tyres too, though the odd one I'd have on the rear, at 6 years old there's quite a few here that would say its (the front suspension) at the end of its life replacing all the front suspension components even then noises creep back several years later.

 

[Fiat568]

How long have you owned the car? How long after did the rumbling start? Have any components been replaced? Suspension? Wheel bearings? Is it just rumbling…any other symptoms? Vibration? Grinding? Knocking? Or purely just a rumble?

the noise ha sonly been happening for 2 months - it has been to 2 garages and both couldn't locate it - one did say it is is linked to suspension but couldnt say where and they changed the front stabilizer links thinking that would solve it but it didn't - no other noise that I can identify - the noise only occurs on uneven or bumpy surfaces - nothing on smooth flat road - car went through mot early this year - just before the rumbling noise started - i had a slow puncture on a tyre and the garage repaired the puncture (a new tyre was not fitted) - could this be the source of noise? I know nothing about tyres but that is the only work carried out on car this year....

 

[Baglady1990]

the noise ha sonly been happening for 2 months - it has been to 2 garages and both couldn't locate it - one did say it is is linked to suspension but couldnt say where and they changed the front stabilizer links thinking that would solve it but it didn't - no other noise that I can identify - the noise only occurs on uneven or bumpy surfaces - nothing on smooth flat road - car went through mot early this year - just before the rumbling noise started - i had a slow puncture on a tyre and the garage repaired the puncture (a new tyre was not fitted) - could this be the source of noise? I know nothing about tyres but that is the only work carried out on car this year....

If the tyre is holding pressure it’s likely not the issue
Check all wheel bolts are tight! Jack one wheel up and give it a good tug to see if any play? It shouldn’t move
Check the other.. I’m leaning towards wishbones if it’s creaking it could point to perishing rubbers

It could just be coincidence that it’s started after puncture repair or it could have just highlighted something that’s on its way out!

Unfortunately our 500s as they age need some new components faster than you would expect

In my humble opinion anyone who thinks of buying a 5+ year old 500 regardless of how low the mileage should be a DIY mechanic!! If not find another brand!

 

[Fiat568]

If the tyre is holding pressure it’s likely not the issue
Check all wheel bolts are tight! Jack one wheel up and give it a good tug to see if any play? It shouldn’t move
Check the other.. I’m leaning towards wishbones if it’s creaking it could point to perishing rubbers

It could just be coincidence that it’s started after puncture repair or it could have just highlighted something that’s on its way out!

Unfortunately our 500s as they age need some new components faster than you would expect

In my humble opinion anyone who thinks of buying a 5+ year old 500 regardless of how low the mileage should be a DIY mechanic!! If not find another brand!

 

[Temeraire]

In my humble opinion anyone who thinks of buying a 5+ year old 500 regardless of how low the mileage should be a DIY mechanic!! If not find another brand!

Strangely enough, a month into 500 ownership I'm finding this out. Can you guess from the photo what I was doing?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Strangely enough, a month into 500 ownership I'm finding this out. Can you guess from the photo what I was doing?

Could that lower suspension arm lying in the foreground be giving the game away?

Regarding the OPs rumbling noise. Anti roll bar links usually make knocking noises, not rumbling. So I'm a bit mystified as to why the garage renewed them for a noise like this. It's terribly difficult to diagnose a noise which is so vaguely described (no offence to you 568) can you possibly post a recording of the noise?

 

[varesecrazy]

General - Strange rumbling noise....Fixed

For a few weeks now our otherwise great little car has started to develop a rumbling noise which sounded almost like the exhaust knocking underneath the car when you pull off and was very noticeable from inside the car. It sounded like the type of noise a 10 year old car makes when everything is...

www.fiatforum.com

Maybeeee

 

[jrkitching]

In my humble opinion anyone who thinks of buying a 5+ year old 500 regardless of how low the mileage should be a DIY mechanic!! If not find another brand!

I concur.

If you're dependent on the trade for all your servicing and repairs, running an older 500 may prove more costly than you might think.

Stretching a tight budget to buy a well used 500, and not leaving anything in reserve for the unexpected, is basically a high risk strategy.

 

[Baglady1990]

Strangely enough, a month into 500 ownership I'm finding this out. Can you guess from the photo what I was doing?

Yup been there ..done that

 

[Baglady1990]

Could that lower suspension arm lying in the foreground be giving the game away?

Regarding the OPs rumbling noise. Anti roll bar links usually make knocking noises, not rumbling. So I'm a bit mystified as to why the garage renewed them for a noise like this. It's terribly difficult to diagnose a noise which is so vaguely described (no offence to you 568) can you possibly post a recording of the noise?

One garage I dealt with a couple of years back said “it’s a process of elimination “ when trying to find my knocking noise… I swiftly left and got on to Google! Dealt with it myself!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

One garage I dealt with a couple of years back said “it’s a process of elimination “ when trying to find my knocking noise… I swiftly left and got on to Google! Dealt with it myself!

If the "process of elimination" consists of systematically working your way round all the possibilities - drop links, lower arm bushes, top mounts, etc, etc - pushing, pulling, tugging and levering as necessary until you find the offender then I'm very much in favour of that. If it consists of just replacing, at random, part after part after part until the noise, hopefully, goes away? That's not diagnostic, it's lunacy!

 

[Baglady1990]

If the "process of elimination" consists of systematically working your way round all the possibilities - drop links, lower arm bushes, top mounts, etc, etc - pushing, pulling, tugging and levering as necessary until you find the offender then I'm very much in favour of that. If it consists of just replacing, at random, part after part after part until the noise, hopefully, goes away? That's not diagnostic, it's lunacy!

Yup they said (bearing in mind in knew nothing then) we will start by replacing the drop links then work from there! I said err ok I’ll come back later bye

 

[A3jeroen]

So you effectively eliminated the garage?

gr J

 

[Temeraire]

Could that lower suspension arm lying in the foreground be giving the game away?

Regarding the OPs rumbling noise. Anti roll bar links usually make knocking noises, not rumbling. So I'm a bit mystified as to why the garage renewed them for a noise like this. It's terribly difficult to diagnose a noise which is so vaguely described (no offence to you 568) can you possibly post a recording of the noise?

Yep, a bit of a giveaway. Fun task to amuse myself with....

 

[Baglady1990]

So you effectively eliminated the garage?

gr J

They tasted dust

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Yep, a bit of a giveaway. Fun task to amuse myself with....

Void bush was it or bottom ball joint? I'm very grateful that I don't have to take the front panel off our old 169 to do this.

I like the look of that fancy jack in the background and I think I recognize a Halfords torque wrench? I've got one of their 3/8 drive ones for doing smaller fixings and very good it is too.

Ever dropped something small and important down that syver? (sorry, Scots for drain cover) I'd be sick with paranoid thoughts if it were me!