Technical Gearchange issues

[Eccles60]

My wife and I bought a 10 month old Fiat 500 with 45 miles on the clock (an unused BSM car); it's a white 1.2 Pop with aircon and bluetooth. It's now done 1700 miles and we are basically ok with the car but not the gearchange.

It's baulky, notchy and quite unpleasant. It's particularly bad when the 'box oil is cold and improves a little when warm although it is never a good change and seems to oscillate between being almost pleasant and dreadful. There is also a pronounced whine in 3rd gear.

My Fiat dealer is actually a very good family run outfit that recognise the quality of the gearchange is marginal but won't do anything about it just yet but haven't dismissed the idea of getting Fiat involved.

Has anyone else had similar problems and does anyone know what the fix is? I'm torn between clutch and gearbox, or a combination of the two - a bit of clutch spin perhaps? Could the fact the car was sitting idle for about 10 months be a contributing factor?

I look forward to any bright ideas - this problem really is spoiling our experience with the car and I for one am considering a swap - it hasn't helped that when the dealer had the car for its first service a person not connected to the garage reversed into it and now it needs a new front bumper...

 

[loveshandbags]

My wife and I bought a 10 month old Fiat 500 with 45 miles on the clock (an unused BSM car); it's a white 1.2 Pop with aircon and bluetooth. It's now done 1700 miles and we are basically ok with the car but not the gearchange.

It's baulky, notchy and quite unpleasant. It's particularly bad when the 'box oil is cold and improves a little when warm although it is never a good change and seems to oscillate between being almost pleasant and dreadful. There is also a pronounced whine in 3rd gear.

My Fiat dealer is actually a very good family run outfit that recognise the quality of the gearchange is marginal but won't do anything about it just yet but haven't dismissed the idea of getting Fiat involved.

Has anyone else had similar problems and does anyone know what the fix is? I'm torn between clutch and gearbox, or a combination of the two - a bit of clutch spin perhaps? Could the fact the car was sitting idle for about 10 months be a contributing factor?

I look forward to any bright ideas - this problem really is spoiling our experience with the car and I for one am considering a swap - it hasn't helped that when the dealer had the car for its first service a person not connected to the garage reversed into it and now it needs a new front bumper...

Welcome to the forum Eccles60

How long have you owned the car and was it there when you first bought it ?

 

[jrkitching]

Welcome

.

Has anyone else had similar problems and does anyone know what the fix is?

Gearbox faults on new 500's are not common but they're not unknown either - at least one chap on here needed a new 'box shortly after taking delivery.

I look forward to any bright ideas

You've put a lot of logical thought into this and I suspect you've already had most of the bright ideas yourself. Clutch drag would explain most of your symptoms & as the car's been standing awhile it might be worth flushing out the clutch hydraulics (cheap & easy); however...

There is also a pronounced whine in 3rd gear.

...is definitely not normal and would suggest an internal gearbox fault.

A bit obvious I know, but has anyone actually checked that the 'box has the correct quantity of oil in it?

How much of a difference do you notice once the car's thoroughly warmed up?

 

[jnoiles]

As a point of interest, have you driven other 500 1.2's as a comparison? Maybe if the dealer has one ask him to do a back to back drive with his and yours. Any problem should then be obvious to him.