2013 Fiat 500 questions

Hello GMR Hive.

I'm looking at a '13 Fiat 500 abarth. From what I could see a nice undercarriage and interior not too bad for the age how ever the sign say Low compression in #2 cyl.  I'm not up to speed on the new 500 and Dart motors what commonly fails?  i know I can find a motor for 2k and still be a head but would rather stick to my roots and fix it.  Is there common issues and things to check for?

It will be a computer for a bit while I decide what to do with my Cobalt SS that needs an undercarriage but at 270k thinking of tubular but pay off to cost....

Well...It came home tonight.  Sadly, got home just as it turned dark so no work yet.  Code reader shows #2 misfire and "Random cyl misfire" I have never seen  random misfire before on my code reader.

other known issues pass door handle and inoperable hatch (looks to be common wire harnesses issue).

These seem like fun cars. My SIL has a non-abarth version and never wants to let it go. 

I don't have any answers for ya but I hope it goes smoothly!

Had a 2013 Abarth for 7-8 years and the only issue I ever had was near the end of ownership the driver door window regulator broke.  Last day at work before Xmas break, made for a chilly ride home.  Otherwise?  I did go through a few balljoint/axles up front, thinking the used coil overs I installed may have caused issues.

But engine problems?  Not a one.  Hopefully it's not too painful and you get to have some fun.  I still miss that exhaust.

My son has a regular 500 and it has had the misfire issue. Start with new plugs, but don't be surprised if one of the coils is bad. His car has about 175K on it now and has been a much better car than I expected when he bought it. Other than the misfire he's had to change a CV joint, maybe both sides (I forget), and the driver's side door handle. The thing is still solid and rattle free, no visible rust yet, and he does a 110 miles commute daily.

Well i had 45 min of light before the Skitters came out...  Pulled #2 COP and the plug plug looks clean.  Tried to check compression but I'm missing the 10mm thread adapter (son of a nutcracker).  tested in air plug fires well. reinstalled and reset codes and fire it up same code and motor boat sounds.  Swapped COP 2 and 3 reset codes and same result #2 misfire. with motorboat sound. 

The engines tend to be pretty solid.  The only experience I had with one (non Abarth) was electrical everything.  Every time I hit the brake, it said I had a brake light out.  It was because they cheaped out and used (get this) 1157 bulbs.  Not even 3157, but 1950s tech.  Cleaning out the socket kept the warning light off for a couple weeks.  The whole thing had crusty grounds, error messages that came and went, and it even gave me a code for "shift solenoid A."  It was a manual.

The radio always come on to 93.5 when you turned the car on.

Super fun to drive, though.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Those are notorious for multiair issues. A bad multiair actuator/solenoid will cause low compression. 

fatallightning said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Those are notorious for multiair issues. A bad multiair actuator/solenoid will cause low compression. 

I came here to say. I once had to replace a multiair unit due to a dead cylinder. That car is still on the road 6 years later

What happen to RonnieFnD?

I believe he had some in-depth experience with the multi air engines.

Well, I couldn't wait for the adapter so I just bought a new tester. 140 0 135 135..... Thankfully the fitting on the plug adapter had the same fitting as my leak down tester so I could add air into the cyl as expected 100% leak down but its all out of the exhaust so My guess is a burnt exhaust valve. i tried to use my bore scope but all i could tell was the piston top was there. I did manage to get the valve cover off before the mosquitos came out to feast..

Can anyone tell me what size the tork's / poly drive head bolts use?

My google fu is failing me loads of posts about needing good ones as they tend to snap off but no one says what size or brand works... I'm two hours down the rabbit hole...

Thank gang.

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I have a 2012 Abarth. No problems at all with it, granted my car only has 25,000 miles on it. I am actually thinking of getting rid of it soon as I just do not drive it much. 

Known issues are the wiring to the hatch getting brittle from excessive usage (?)

door handles breaking from people being too rough on them.

driver's seat arm rest breaking from people putting too much weight on them when getting in or out.

Generally, be gentle on the car, but rough on the drive train and it will provide a lot of grins. 

Well....  I'm awaiting a exhaust valve and many other parts to fix it up a good 30% of the face of one EX valve is gone.

Finding technical specs for this motor is proving to be harder then it should be.  Valve tip height? Valve lash with lifter collapsed ect.

Seem the EX valve are way to commonly burt away to me this means they were held off the seat and didn't cool cause they could not transfer the heat to the seat / head. The only way that would happen is if the seat and face wears and the lash closes up more than the lifter can take.  I'm going to ask the guy at the machine shop if he can take a extra .005 off the tips I need to be able to flog this thing daily and have it reliable.  Of corce i wanted to see if anyone here thinks this is a bad idea or has done such a thing.

The PO used Castrol "edge euro" car oil its not very clean and stinks, plan to flush it all out and use a real syn oil not some hydro fracted legaly considered syn oil but what I've not looked in to to much as of yet.  I hear the motor is vety picky on oil due to the multi air.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Apparently Joe's sprit is still hangin' round!

Okay Sorry no updates for a bit.  Took me weeks to find a machine shop that would touch the head as Fiat never published specs for common things like tip height, installed spring height open and closing pressures etc.  The one shop that was willing was fully backed up and 3 weeks before they could touch it, Then i needed another valve another 2 wk delay.  The shop surfaced the head even knowing I told them not to and it didn't need it... errr.   They did trim the tips as i asked and left me 0.022 clearance in the hydraulic lifter I'd measured before hand and some only had 0.006 WAY to tight for my likling for a 6mm stem.  Most Motorcycle that use 6mm stems they want 8-10 clearance so i wanted extra so the lifter would not bottom out and hold it off the seat.  While the head was out I acquired the adapter for my Blue point valve grinder so now i can hold the smaller stem valves and will not have to farm it out!  :)

Got the motor reassembled and put in to find the gasket kit i purchased was missing some gaskets and other were not well labeld for direction and well IT LOOKS like I missed on the head gasket that if you put it in upside down the oil supply holes to the Multi-air unit get blocked. so now i have to pull the darn motor again and redo the top end and of corace that means bolts and gaskets...  berkeley me.