General Servicing (again)

[grimwau]

On previous cars (all petrol), I've always done a "big" service once a year;

* Engine oil + filter
* Gearbox oil
* Spark plugs
* Air filter
* Fuel filter
* Brake fluid

For a relatively small amount of money (<£200) it keeps the car running sweet, and gives peace of mind. I plan to have the 500 serviced shortly (minus the spark plugs as it's a diesel). Is there anything else worth doing on the diesel engines that I've missed?

Pollen filter if you have A/C.

 

[ahmett]

by the way i had a chat with a friend of mine who has an 08 fiat 500 1.4 with 41,000 km on the clock (25,000 miles?) and he just took it to service and got charged 900 euros!
They told him his water pump was leaking so they changed that along with the timing belt and of course all brake pads. timing belt at 40,000 km? something sounds fishy for me maybe they ripped him off. hey techs, is this realistic, also if water leaks from the pump does this mean it has to be changed??? Also from my experience timing belt wear always looks worse than it actually is, and techs love showing off telling you how damaged it is and you are lucky that you changed it early otherwise you would have had no more car!! what do you guys think?

 

[306maxi]

by the way i had a chat with a friend of mine who has an 08 fiat 500 1.4 with 41,000 km on the clock (25,000 miles?) and he just took it to service and got charged 900 euros!
They told him his water pump was leaking so they changed that along with the timing belt and of course all brake pads. timing belt at 40,000 km? something sounds fishy for me maybe they ripped him off. hey techs, is this realistic, also if water leaks from the pump does this mean it has to be changed??? Also from my experience timing belt wear always looks worse than it actually is, and techs love showing off telling you how damaged it is and you are lucky that you changed it early otherwise you would have had no more car!! what do you guys think?

No, the timing belt probably didn't need to be done, unless something has leaked onto it or there is damage to it. That said, if the water pump is leaking and needs replacing then it makes sense to do the belt, the extra labour would have been very little.

 

[RUI]

I had the service done today. It cost me £45 plus the parts. I paid for the parts and oil with a Fiat voucher.