Technical Clutch sticking down

[Fiat Twins]

My wife took delivery of her brand new TwinAir Lounge last Monday afternoon. Drove less than 6 miles on Tuesday morning before the clutch stuck on the floor when changing down the gears approaching a roundabout. She got out and pulled it back up by hand and carried on. Same thing happened within 3 miles the following morning.
Took it back to dealer and picked it up again on Friday afternoon, told they couldn't find fault. Same thing happened on Saturday morning within 3 miles. Took it back to dealer again....very unhappy!!
Anyone any idea what it might be as dealer seems clueless?!?!?

 

[RUI]

dealer seems clueless

Welcome to Fiat dealers

 

[306maxi]

Take it to the dealer, even if someone on here could tell you exactly what was wrong, the dealership aren't going to replace parts on the say so of someone on a forum. Call Fiat customer service and log a case, it'll get sorted

 

[Fiat Twins]

Take it to the dealer, even if someone on here could tell you exactly what was wrong, the dealership aren't going to replace parts on the say so of someone on a forum. Call Fiat customer service and log a case, it'll get sorted

Thanks 306maxi, it's at the dealer just now (again) but think they might need some clues to lead them in the right direction. Like the idea of calling Fiat customer service, will try that tomorrow.

 

[grimwau]

As Maxi says, dealers won't take any advice from a forum, but just in case, other owners with this reported fault had it rectified by having the clutch master cylinder replaced.

 

[Super Uwe]

Hi Fiat Twins,

We have got a new shape 1.2 Panda which of course has the same pedals etc as the 500.

This happened to me last year as per this thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/309721-faulty-clutch-switch.html

I still don't know exactly why the clutch got stuck, but my only guess is that it somehow got lodged in behind the clutch switch and broke it off - it only ever happened that once. Also, it stopped the gear change indicators from working as well as it broke the circuit.

Anyway, I think I was in a slightly better position than you as I was able to physically show the dealer the part that had come off.

Another thread which might be of use is this one:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/326229-could-someone-500-s-s-do-me-favour.html

Worth a nose anyway as you might be able to find some similarities with the problems you've had so far.

As for the dealer - you just have to persevere. In their defence, it is difficult to resolve issues if they cannot replicate the fault, but I think you need to be relatively firm as of course the clutch jamming could be extremely dangerous and cause an accident if you are unlucky.

All the best anyway.

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

I assume the brake & clutch fluid is the same so check the reservoir is not too full.

This happened to my Brera after fitting different thicker pads

 

[306maxi]

Brake and clutch are separate on the 500

 

[Ransoman]

Took it back to dealer and picked it up again on Friday afternoon, told they couldn't find fault. Same thing happened on Saturday morning within 3 miles. Took it back to dealer again....very unhappy!!
Anyone any idea what it might be as dealer seems clueless?!?!?

Arnold clark?
Aberdeen?

I would not be surprised if the answer to the above questions are yes.

 

[T14086]

Anyone any idea what it might be as dealer seems clueless?!?!?

If you cannot replicate the fault then what are you supposed to do? What Maxi says is correct and yes it is likely to be a master cylinder issue but if it is not would you pay for it or do you expect the dealership to pick up the tab.

If the dealer is getting nowhere ask them to contact technical for assistance, thats what they are there for.

 

[RobinPJ]

If you cannot replicate the fault then what are you supposed to do? What Maxi says is correct and yes it is likely to be a master cylinder issue but if it is not would you pay for it or do you expect the dealership to pick up the tab.

If the dealer is getting nowhere ask them to contact technical for assistance, thats what they are there for.

If my new car keeps breaking, and they cannot work out why, then yes I would expect them to fix it by changing what they think is the most likely cause - they are meant to be the experts after all, and they have to provide a working car. Why the hell would I pay for that?

(When I say "they" I personally don't care whether it is the dealer or Fiat - let them fight it out between them as to who picks up the tab.)

 

[T14086]

If my new car keeps breaking, and they cannot work out why, then yes I would expect them to fix it by changing what they think is the most likely cause - they are meant to be the experts after all

There is a procedure and the dealership has to follow it, Fiat's rules not mine.

 

[Mal126]

My wife took delivery of her brand new TwinAir Lounge last Monday afternoon. Drove less than 6 miles on Tuesday morning before the clutch stuck on the floor when changing down the gears approaching a roundabout. She got out and pulled it back up by hand and carried on. Same thing happened within 3 miles the following morning.
Took it back to dealer and picked it up again on Friday afternoon, told they couldn't find fault. Same thing happened on Saturday morning within 3 miles. Took it back to dealer again....very unhappy!!
Anyone any idea what it might be as dealer seems clueless?!?!?

Are there mats in the car, could the pedal be getting stuck under the mat, if so take out and try. Have had this before

regards

Mal

 

[RobinPJ]

There is a procedure and the dealership has to follow it, Fiat's rules not mine.

You didn't ask what Fiat's rules were, you questioned whether the dealer should pay to make a repair on a new car that breaks down, but where the problem cannot be identified. My answer is "hell yeah!"

 

[T14086]

Whatever, I really can't be bothered.............

 

[grimwau]

If you cannot replicate the fault then what are you supposed to do? What Maxi says is correct and yes it is likely to be a master cylinder issue but if it is not would you pay for it or do you expect the dealership to pick up the tab.

If the dealer is getting nowhere ask them to contact technical for assistance, thats what they are there for.

If my new car keeps breaking, and they cannot work out why, then yes I would expect them to fix it by changing what they think is the most likely cause - they are meant to be the experts after all, and they have to provide a working car. Why the hell would I pay for that?

(When I say "they" I personally don't care whether it is the dealer or Fiat - let them fight it out between them as to who picks up the tab.)

This is looking at it from both sides, the dealers and the customers and both have merits, as T says, if they cannot replicate the problem I would imagine that tech assistance will be able to instruct the dealer of the most probable cause of the problem and authorise them to carry out the work based on the most likely cause.

I recall back in 2008 when the 500 was new and dealerships were replacing whole clutch assemblies on 1.3 MJTs to cure a noise that was caused by vibrations in the clutch hydraulics. Eventually the cure was found to be as simple as fitting a damper into the line. I can't imagine how much money was spent on this without achieving a cure.


I'm sure that Fiat won't baulk at the cost of a master cylinder replacement, especially on a car this new, which is a known cure for a problem that has the symptoms described by the OP.

However, I agree with Robin that they should be sure enough of diagnosing a problem based on the info given to them, it is impractical to ask that an intermittent problem be demonstrated to them before they can act.

 

[Fiat Twins]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Although this could be classed as an intermittent fault and I'm realistic enough to know that it can be difficult to replicate, it has happened every morning that my wife has had the car (3 mornings) within 3 to 6 miles from home. It would seem logical for the dealer to test drive it every morning for 3 to 6 miles and it may just happen to them. They may of course have already tried that but as they haven't bothered to phone us with any update we remain totally in the dark as to what (if anything) is being done! Customer anger 10, customer service nil!!

 

[306maxi]

Why should the dealer pay? What if they didn't sell the car? Should there be two tier warranty service based on where you bought your car?

 

[simon willgress]

If it happens again then get her to video the clutch stuck down so you have evidence, then if it can't be resolved you still have the option to reject the car.

 

[Ransoman]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Although this could be classed as an intermittent fault and I'm realistic enough to know that it can be difficult to replicate, it has happened every morning that my wife has had the car (3 mornings) within 3 to 6 miles from home. It would seem logical for the dealer to test drive it every morning for 3 to 6 miles and it may just happen to them. They may of course have already tried that but as they haven't bothered to phone us with any update we remain totally in the dark as to what (if anything) is being done! Customer anger 10, customer service nil!!

If it is Arnold clarke in Aberdeen as per my last post. Unless the fault happens to them on a test drive they will not investigate any further and give you a "no fault found".

I hate them for it, and they are very blunt in how they say it. I am pretty sure it is a standard responce aswell because when i took my evo in for a noise in the AC i showed the DET the noise. he said he could hear it. When i picked the car up they said no fault found. When they saw my vains twitch and realised I was about to explode in anger they suddenly said "Oh wait, we are ordering in a AC compresser".

3rd year warrenty is even worse, they make you pay for the diagnoses of the fault just in case Fiat don't authorise the remedial work.