General Has you're sump rotted through yet ?

[Ricard]

I feel so-so stupid falling for this but I have to share it with you people. I replaced the sump on another Fiat vehicle and told by the garage who replaced it that they are all like this.

It's a steel pressing and very thin lick of paint with zero protection from the weather not to mention stones.

The reason I feel so stupid is I should have dealt with this two years ago, it's an easy solution if the corrosion isn't too deep. Rust converter then a few coats of either Hammerite or bitumen paint will solve the problem.

When the new sump was fitted to the other vehicle this was done pre-emptively.

The bizarre thing is that underneath the car there are places that have underseal and places with zero protection.

Have a look at your sump. our 500 will be four years old in April next year, right now the milage is 58.000. The sump went on the van in 2011. It was seven years old with 18.000 miles.

How come our lovely Fiat garage don't warn us, what happened to integrity ?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the 500 has an under tray does it not

Sumps are no different to how fitted to other cars, and I've never had to change one n a Fiat yet, although have on our Yaris at 11 years old with 150k on the clock - so it happens to the best of vehicles

 

[Andy Monty]

1.2 doesnt unless the dealer stole it

 

[Ulpian]

It may be me, But I don't really understand the op.

Was the sump rusting through? Never heard of this before. What van?

Eh???

 

[BigKev]

Don't understand this thread - our 2009 1.4 500C has an aluminium sump.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Don't understand this thread - our 2009 1.4 500C has an aluminium sump.

The 1.2, which is what the majority of 500s are doesn't

 

[Ricard]

Regarding the van I refer to, it's a Fiat Ducato. The Fiat 500 we have is 1.3 TDi, this has a plain pressed steel sump just the same as the Ducato. Neither has a sump guard.

I have a photo for you that I took yesterday just before I treated it with a rust inhibitor.

The only reason I have posted this issue is to share with those who may not be aware of what can happen, the Fiat Ducato I referred to started leaking oil like out of a watering can rose. When the garage tried to unscrew the sump plug a whole part of the sump came away.

I'm told by my garage (Not the dealership) that this is a particular problem with Fiat and that they replace Fiat sumps regularly.

What you see in the photo is the sump of our three years old and-a-bit Fiat 500. Clearly I expect far to much to expect the dealership to warn me and/or do something when they serviced the car in April/May this year.

 

[dave]

there is years left in that one

 

[Ulpian]

We'll this is a real surprise.
I had assumed that sumps would be properly protected and not seemingly considered by Fiat to be consumable items. The one in the photo looks like something dragged out of a lake!

My car has a sump guard, but I expect from this post that it will be made of ungalvanized and minimally painted mild steel.

 

[Ricard]

there is years left in that one

I truly hope so though you'll understand my panic if you consider the experience I had with the Ducato, I also compare with sump protection we have on the VW beetle which is a bit of a faff to get off if you do your own oil changes but it does protect the sump from stone damage.

The sump on the Fiat 500 is less than a foot from the road surface and subjected to everything our weather throws at us plus the salt during winter.

You say there are years left in the sump, do you have experience and should we really be regarding the sump on our cars as a consumable. I replaced the sump on the Ducato before I replaced the tyres and even considering your helpful comment that the 500 sump has years left in it I have seen how thin those pressing are and have no confidence that sump will last another year.

But i'm hopeful.

Ok-ok, there is an element of hysteria here. The door handles fall off, the gear shift gaiter assembly falling apart, the stop-start problems, the cover over the safety bag just above your knees coming away and now the sump.

Like I said, I only have experience of two other makes. Ford and VW, for the last 15 years we've had new cars from both these manufacturers and none of these problems we have with Fiat. I'm just wondering what is going to fall off next so i'll be reading the forum and hope you'll all keep me in touch.

Lets not be protective about our investment if it's a piece of poo, plenty of choice out there and our 500 will be up for sale next year though everything will be fixed though you may have to fix-It-Again-Tomorrow.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

What mileage has your 500 done? Must be a think with you're DERV Fiat sumps, although its alloy on my Bravo. Our 2009 Panda is fine, although its a 1.2, and I suspect most 1.2 500's will be trouble free also.

 

[Ricard]

What mileage has your 500 done?

The milage on our 500 is getting close to 60.000 miles, this car has been used until recently as a commute between West Wales, along the M4 to Berkshire and back every week for three years. Now it's retired to a shopping basket.

Oh-yes, the garage who is now looking after this car thought it was the same 1.3 engine as fitted to a Vauxhall Corsa and they've seen it on other vehicles but I don't remember the details now. Have I got that right ?

Right now the sump has one coat of 'Flag' rust neutraliser/preventer and a thick coat of bitumen paint. Fingers-crossed that the corrosion didn't get deep enough to cause the same problem I had with the Ducato.

 

[Mark 59]

Has anybody tried getting in touch with fiat bq and asking why there isn't a recall for these all to often dump failures due to rust

 

[Mark 59]

My wifes 500 15 plate went in for service today got a phone call 20 mins later saying sump needs replacing the fiat dealership sent me pictures and I've never ever seen this before it was rusted really badly and as this as paper not good at all

 

[Baglady1990]

Hopefully I caught mine in time! It did have “mild” rust but now it’s had a coat of rustproof weather seal car is 10 next year 1.2 will have to keep an eye on it though

 

[John202020]

Ours was replaced when we bought the car at 5 years old buy the supplying dealer, other parts were really bad too like the rear drums

 

[chris3234]

Has anybody tried getting in touch with fiat bq and asking why there isn't a recall for these all to often dump failures due to rust

Considering the around 2 million of these fiat have sold it dosnt seem that common of an issue

 

[John202020]

"Wearing part"?

 

[varesecrazy]

Considering the around 2 million of these fiat have sold it dosnt seem that common of an issue

2 million..?

There were 5 million punto 188s

And every panda made before 2012 had a steel pan

 

[chris3234]

2 million..?

There were 5 million punto 188s

And every panda made before 2012 had a steel pan

500s
Rather then the engine in general