FIAT 500 1.2 PETROL
Launched in 2008, the long-awaited Fiat 500 became an instant hit. The one we’re looking at is from 2012 and is powered by a four-cylinder 1242cc single-cam engine that’s also fitted to the Mk2 Ford Ka. In fact, both the Ka and 500 were assembled at the same Polish production plant.
Regular CM readers may recall the Survival Guide on the 500 in the April 2017 issue, which explained, “The 1.2 is reliable, although some software fixes have been needed to cure hesitation at low speeds. Also, the breather pipes can split on early engines leading to oil/petrol fumes in the cabin. When removing the airbox on this engine it pays to be careful as the fitting for the second smaller breather pipe on the rear snaps off easily.”
Nearly seven years since that Survival Guide and the list of potential issues has grown, so we visited a specialist that deals with the 500 on a regular basis, Turin Motors of Leeds in West Yorkshire, to find out more.
