2009 Fiat 500 grating noise on trying to start engine

Car: Fiat 500
Year: 2009
Variant: 1.2 Dualogic
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
When turning the ignition key, I sometimes get a loud grating noise and the engine doesn't start. This doesn't happen every time, but when it does, usually first thing in the morning. This started a year ago and Fiat first fixed "corroded earth points" which didn't fix the problem, then replaced the battery saying Fiat had fitted a too low powered one. That seemd to fix the problem, but now a year later it has started again. Fiat now say the battery was low on charge, and charged it overnight, but only a week later its making the awful noise again. I'm worried its causing damage, as it sounds horrendous. Again, it doesn't do it every time. Is it the battery or something more serious ? (I only do short local journeys mainly, 8 - 10 miles).Fiat don't seem to want to do anything. Many thanks for any advice
Posted: Jan 4, 2012 (12 years ago)
sounds like the starter motor to me.
Posted Jan 4, 2012 (12 years ago)
Hi Tez,
Thanks for your solution (its what I suspected myself, but the Fiat Dealer wouldn't consider it, til on my 4th visit just now, they've finally admitted "sounds like the starter motor" and with just 2 months left on the warranty.hmmm!).
Thanks again Tez. Vic
Posted Jan 4, 2012 (12 years ago)
Hello i also have the exact fiat model, the 500 1.2 lounge dualogic, and the exact same problem has happend to me too. The mechanichs at fiat are just changeing the car battery and it seems like the problem is fixed but within a month the problem strats again, i get the strange noise when i start the engine. I have changed the battery 4 times till now!!!! Are you sure that it is the starter motor?? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Posted Jan 22, 2012 (12 years ago)
Hello i also have the exact fiat model, the 500 1.2 lounge dualogic, and the exact same problem has happend to me too. The mechanichs at fiat are just changeing the car battery and it seems like the problem is fixed but within a month the problem strats again, i get the strange noise when i start the engine. I have changed the battery 4 times till now!!!! Are you sure that it is the starter motor?? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Posted Jan 22, 2012 (12 years ago)
Hi it sounds like the starter or flywheel or a misaligned starter or bad clutch change.
Posted May 9, 2014 (9 years ago)

This problem is archived

If you're having a similar problem please click below to re-post this problem, you can then customise it to suit your situation.

Join the community
Got a question? Can you answer other questions here? If so please...
More problems with the 2009 model year Fiat 500

We have 1 problems and solutions in our database for this model year of the car.

View all Fiat 500 Problems