Back to the garage next week... blue smoke! [Archive] - 500fans.com the first US & Worldwide FIAT 500 & Abarth 500 Independent Forums

wreckmaster

8th June 2009, 16:28

Now we have blue smoke when pulling away :eek:

Have been on to Fiat direct as well as the dealer, lets see what happens this time. (I expect I shall get yet another Piccanto :triste: )

Lets hope it is something they can fix easily:icon_thumleft:

Animo

9th June 2009, 07:51

wreckmaster

9th June 2009, 10:40

Well, we've already had new pistons... what do you think it could be this time???? Rings???? Fiat seem to think it may be a software upgrade, he he he!lol I don't think so!

Fiat are VERY apologetic! They need to be, I shall be demanding a new engine soon.

It could be the piston rings, but they where changed when they changed your pistons. So it is way to early for them beeing wearn out. Does the exhaust smoke smell of oil or gasoline? Does the car use oil, more than normal? Is the waterlevel OK? Temprature?

Maybe you should try to go for a new engine straight away?

.Lefteris.

9th June 2009, 13:02

:( :( :(

Animo

9th June 2009, 13:04

Well, they 'say' they changed them. However, I used to work for this garage, who knows?!?! I know all about the little short cuts and cost saving activities, that's why I left.

She uses over a litre of oil per 1000 miles, Fiat say that anything up to a 1000 miles is normal. (If you ask me for a new car it shouldn't use any, my old Ford Scorpio with more than 140,000 on the clock never used a drop).

Water level is fine, temperature is fine. No oil leaks. The smoke is not there until you actually pull away. My gut instinct is that they never changed the rings. As it was a warranty claim I never got any paperwork. To you or I it makes good sense and practice to have changed the rings, but as I say, I don't think this happened. Or.... Running for more than 5,000 miles on the wrong size pistons may have worn the bores unevenly???? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I've never had to push for a new engine before, any pointers on what I should say, and remain calm and tactful??? Bear in mind that I am a woman and they treat me as such assuming I know nothing.:eek:

All help very much appreciated.

markbowie

9th June 2009, 13:25

i would be demanding a new engine now they had there chance the first time to put it right , they cannot keep pulling your engine apart and adding bits one at a time :mad:

wreckmaster

9th June 2009, 15:26

I think they changed them, because if you got new pistons with a slightly larger size, they would be to tight to fit. And I belive that a set of new pistons comes with new rings in the pack, but I am not sure.

I had my 500 on alight service last week and until that I had not filled one drop of oil on it, and I could still not see on the stick that it had used anything...

I think if it was me, I would have demanded a new engine:) Good luck:icon_thumleft:

Animo

11th June 2009, 14:01

minime911

11th June 2009, 15:13

So.... opened the bonnet today..... had a look around.... checked my air filter...... and oh! guess what????!!!! Oil :eek: in the crank case breather pipe in the air intake!!!!!

Now lets think..... :confused:

Oh hang on a minute.... what does this normally indicate???? PISTON RINGS

BLOODY TYPICAL!

Hi,

This might well be possible.
That must be a bunch of jerks working over there.
To save a few pounds they are running the risk of needing to disassemble an engine twice.
Might be that they missed to deglaze the bores at first reassembly.
Hope they do now a pressure leak down test.
Maybe they even mixed the rings or even mounted them upside down.
Have seen all of that before.:hair-raising::hair-raising:

The problem is that there are no capable mechanics out there anymore and everything more demanding than an oil and filter change is too high tech for most of them.
They get better training in writing bills than doing their actual job.:mad:

Greetings:

minime911

Animo

15th June 2009, 07:02

OK, so she's going in tonight, I think I may cry with nerves! I have made a list for the garage:

- Occasional blue smoke - not noticeable on start up but on pulling away.
- Uneven idle during warm.
- Intermittent ticking during warm up.
- Uses 1 litre of oil approximately every 800-850 miles.
- Oil seen around throttle body.

Oh and DO NOT WASH!

That should keep them going for a bit.

I bet they say there is nothing wrong. :mad:
Will keep you all posted.

Cadbury

15th June 2009, 15:34

Fingers cross for Bambina ;)

.Lefteris.

15th June 2009, 16:46

fingers cross for bambina ;)
x2 :)

Animo

16th June 2009, 06:33

wreckmaster

16th June 2009, 09:19

I won't keep you all in suspense.....

They say 'there is nothing wrong with her' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently her oil consumption is better than the average :eek:

Excuse me for saying this but...... ASSHOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a chance. :mad: Offcourse something is wrong. Go to another dealer or an independent garage to get her checked again:)

Animo

16th June 2009, 14:43

Animo rebels.....!

http://www.500fans.com/picture.php?albumid=57&pictureid=658

Animo

16th June 2009, 14:45

http://www.500fans.com/picture.php?albumid=57&pictureid=656

http://www.500fans.com/picture.php?albumid=57&pictureid=655

wreckmaster

16th June 2009, 17:14

Is that your car Animo??? Are you making an Abarth Replica:icon_thumleft: Looks good tough:) What kind of air filter is that?

Animo

17th June 2009, 01:17

I'm trying, slowly due to funds! The stickers look better than I thought they would as I was very wary! Got everything on ebay. The airfilter is K&N 57i induction kit and so far the best minor mod! She sounds incredible and it has made a huge difference to the power. I just couldn't believe the difference myself. I've put many an induction kit on a car but to date this is the best! biggrin2

Centre caps cost me £41.00 and were new, (the guy selling them has an Abarth and didn't like the centre caps I guess, I asked him if he was on the forum and he said he would take a look at it), air filter was £62.00, stripes which are tailor made vinyl were £14.99 and scorpions were again vinyl and £8.99 for 3, Abarth badges were £3.99.

I lowered her within the first week of having her.

I have some videos (from my mobile) so people can see/hear her but can't figure out how to put them on the forum:confused:

I'm trying hard not to make her look awful as I know some people can really make a meal of their mods. ECU remap and stainless exhaust are the next plans, but need to save some money first!

Thanks for noticing! biggrin2

VilleV

17th June 2009, 11:31

I love it! I think it looks very nice, allthough some real abarth owners may disaprove...lol

You could use youtube to post your videos and then put the links here! I would love to see them and hear her. I think that air filter is something I too could be interested of!

edit: I see you have the emblems on side of the car too! Nice! All you need now is red mirror caps which would go well with those red stripes!

Animo

17th June 2009, 13:27

http://www.facebook.com/video/editvideo.php?v=1113678133729#/video/video.php?v=1113678133729

Does anyone know how to get a video on here without having to log in to Facebook???

wreckmaster

18th June 2009, 02:32

Way to go girl:icon_thumleft: Looks really sporty:) And sounds excellent:icon_thumright:

VilleV

18th June 2009, 03:56

I have no facebook account so I cant see it. Someone please come up with an answer quick how to upload videos here! Lefteris? Or can you upload the video to youtube Animo and then post a link here? I want to see it too!!!!:please:

Animo

18th June 2009, 07:34

Will get it on youtube tonight. Sorry the quality isn't great, it was only taken on the mobile.

PS Have not long got off the phone from FIAT... and this is one very UNHAPPY customer!

:mad:

Cadbury

18th June 2009, 17:14

Why alter a car into something that it is not ? My father taught me to save until you can afford what you want. I too have passed his values to my sons.

Animo

19th June 2009, 06:36

Why alter a car into something that it is not ? My father taught me to save until you can afford what you want. I too have passed his values to my sons.

Everyone is different, there is no right or wrong thing. Showing your individuality through the person that you are is not wrong. Expressing that with the way people dress or choose to design their cars is something that should be embraced. Following other people is not something that I have ever done nor will I do.

My parents also taught me values, love, life and family, but they also taught me to be different and to express myself. Life is too short, my health fluctuates. I will never be able to afford the Abarth yet alone afford to insure it. If every month I can purchase something to enhance MY driving experience then it is my decision.

'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'.

Tyfio

19th June 2009, 11:23

I'm trying, slowly due to funds! The stickers look better than I thought they would as I was very wary! Got everything on ebay. The airfilter is K&N 57i induction kit and so far the best minor mod! She sounds incredible and it has made a huge difference to the power. I just couldn't believe the difference myself. I've put many an induction kit on a car but to date this is the best! biggrin2

I lowered her within the first week of having her.

I'm trying hard not to make her look awful as I know some people can really make a meal of their mods. ECU remap and stainless exhaust are the next plans, but need to save some money first!

Thanks for noticing! biggrin2

Looking good, nice one! biggrin2 Am going to go down same route myself, what lower springs did you use? Is it a 30mm drop? My Sport will have 16inch wheels and am thinking of a 25mm to 30mm drop, no more. Will also be going for the K&N as well, along with the stainless exhaust, again when funds allow.

Animo

19th June 2009, 12:20

Looking good, nice one! biggrin2 Am going to go down same route myself, what lower springs did you use? Is it a 30mm drop? My Sport will have 16inch wheels and am thinking of a 25mm to 30mm drop, no more. Will also be going for the K&N as well, along with the stainless exhaust, again when funds allow.

Thank you.

Springs were 30mm drop and certainly make a difference. Try these guys:

http://www.nuova500shop.com/shopping.aspx?cat=1

They have increased their prices since I ordered from them last year but the service is excellent. Good luck and don't forget to post some pics! :icon_thumleft:

Lucky Jack

16th July 2009, 14:22

Hi Animo, as someone who is - hopefully - soon to take ownership of a Fiat 500, I'm interested in how you got on with the oil burning problem. Did you manage to get anywhere with your dealer?
I think your car looks fine, and although we're not planning any modifications to our 1.2 Pop - not initially anyway, I wondered what the dealer said about yours. did they try to say the mods affected the warranty in any way?

Animo

21st July 2009, 14:05

Hey Lucky Jack!

Sorry for the delay in my reply, (been off line for a few days, not feeling great). Anyway, dealer said absolutely nothing about the mods but then they said the oil consumption was normal!!!

However, an update to everyone on the forum:

Decided to ditch the warranty and service her myself... boy that was a lovely easy and quick job! since then (approximately 700 miles since service) she hasn't used a drop of oil. Go figure???????

Lucky Jack

21st July 2009, 18:03

That's good news Animo. Perhaps your car is reluctant to allow anyone else to work on it ;)
I'm not aware of too many problems reported by owners of these little cars. This will be the first Fiat we've owned, and I'm happy to find that their reputation has improved significantly over the last few years.

Animo

22nd July 2009, 01:12

You will be so pleased with her! I always get attached to my cars and believe me this one is extra special! There is only one other car that I felt like his about and that was my Sierra 2.0l DOHC, (G reg and still on the road :icon_thumleft:)

(Not too happy with my husband at the mo though, after watching transformers the other night I turned to him and said that my Bambina was a transformer and his reply was, 'yes, during the day she is a washing machine!' - I do know he was only joking though as he is just as impressed with her as I am) ;)

My very first car was a 126, air cooled, I painted flowers on her once in my dads garage and he came in to see what I was doing and couldn't stop laughing! biggrin2

.Lefteris.

22nd July 2009, 02:30

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
(Not too happy with my husband at the mo though, after watching transformers the other night I turned to him and said that my Bambina was a transformer and his reply was, 'yes, during the day she is a washing machine!' - ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

My very first car was a 126, air cooled, I painted flowers on her once in my dads garage and he came in to see what I was doing and couldn't stop laughing! biggrin2
lol lol lol