1999 Fiat Seicento Citymatic from UK and Ireland - Comments

Hi does any one know how to unstick the actuator.

Hi, My wife and I both own a citymatic each. Mine is a V reg (30,000 miles) my wife's is a T reg (70,000 miles). We bought them just over two years ago. My wife's had 4 new actuators, 1 new clutch, 1 new gear box, thankfully all on warranty. Previous owner also had 1 new actuator. Mine is now in the garage requiring its 4th actuator, but because the warranty has run out I'm facing a big bill. Our garage has been very good and Fiat seem to be on the verge of offering to buy/replace car, but I'm not holding my breath.

The problems don't seem to have a pattern. Sometimes you get a sense they're going to fail/ sometimes not. All I know, it's not a matter of 'if' they're going fail, it's 'when'. Mileage/weather/driving style seem to make no difference.

My actuator was replaced about 18 months ago and it failed again last week (outside of the miserable one year guarantee period). I decided that there was no point in paying £700 for another actuator as nobody will buy one of these cars now that the problem with the actuator failing has become well-known. And I might have to buy another one next year anyway!

So I got my local Fiat dealer to convert it to a manual clutch system. They knew about it as they had done a similar conversion before. (!!?) The alternative was to scrap a perfectly good car.

They charged £156 for parts, but a massive £987 for labour (including VAT). They claimed it was a difficult job, not recommended for amateur mechanics.

But at least I should have a few years trouble-free motoring now.

Billy.

After two actuator failures on my wife's V Reg Citymatic

(11000 miles on clock), I took the case up with Fiat Customer Relations. After repeated badgering, they agreed to convert the vehicle to a manual clutch at THEIR expense.

It is a concession that they will offer, PROVIDED you keep on at them. If anyone needs any advice, E Mail me at

Bmfinland@aol.com.

Brian Finland.

I would also like to say. for about 2 weeks I noticed my gears started gettin stiff and was somtinmes really struggling to get it into gear. one day luckily I was at my house I turned the engine on, and my gears totalled seized I couldnt get it into any gear. I thought I had the same problem and was lookin and a £700 bill. but my dad fiddled with one of the cables and it solved the problem, I dnt no how long it will last, but am now looking into getting it converted to manual to safe the hassel of the gearbox fully going. if anyone has any information bout converting it I would appriciate an email. starzz121@hotmail.com

many thanks

steph gough.

I've have just had problems with my fiat losing its gears when the car was cold! once warm it was fine.A fiat dealer said it was a big job and would cost around £1000!! After surfing the net I found this company

http://www.bba-reman.com they said the problem was the clutch actuator which is easily removed from the car (it took me about 10 minutes).once removed I sent it to be repaired and they charged me £167 pounds including pickup/return delivery and gave me a two year warranty. The car is now fine.

My citymatics actuator decided to not work while I was in a dangerous position. What gets me is that there is no warning that its going to fail. It would not go in to gear and left me stranded. The actuator has been changed before, but at a cost of £700 plus all the time (and it seems to fail every year) its not worth it as when you mention 'citymatic' no one wants to know. I have seen the site which lets you remove the actuator and send it off for repair, but I feel that its only going to last a while, until it refuses to go into gear again. I want mine and all the citymatics converted into a manual clutch before someone gets killed, they are death traps. Please email me at adamoakes@btopenworld.com and lets fight this together.

Re 1999 Fiat Seicento Citymatic. My vehicle has had 3 x actuators so far although I do a small mileage. It has broken down again this week (after a cold/wet spell) this time in such a dangerous situation I was in danger of a serious road accident! No gears again!! I too have written to Fiat UK HQ and Italy, the only response I received was after 9 x months from the UK offering me £2K off a new car which was impossible when I am still paying for this one. I am on a low income and are desperate for a solution - surely Fiat should take the responsibility and convert all these vehicles to 'manual'. I would join any group taking action. My e-mail address is jill.bayliss@taw.org.uk.

Hi, Jill again. Collected my Seicento back from my local dealter yesterday (17-3-05). It did 7 x miles and then the gear actuator went again!! I had to get a low loader and transport for myself and passengers. The car was dumped on my local dealer's forecourt as it was late at night. I have now taken Adam's advice (who kindly e-mailed me today) and am pressing for a manual gearbox to be installed. As he says they have done it for other people and are doing his (after pressure) so we should all press and bombard the UK HQ (Slough).

After help and advice from another 'sufferer' on the gearbox actuator on this site (Adam Oakes) I have kept up the pressure and now at long last Fiat have agreed to convert by vehicle to a manual gearbox at their expense. So to everyone else out there - do not pay vast sums of money out of your own pockets, keep up the pressure until they agree to convert your vehicles to 'manual'. Also get on to Trading Standards in Slough and Watchdog - its amazing how quickly Fiat start to respond once questions are being asked!!!

Jill Bayliss.

I cannot say enough that you must NOT drive the Seicento Citymatic with a clutch actuator present. It's a death trap, Fiat will fund a manual clutch to be fitted, just keep on at them to do it. There should be no need to pay for one yourself or replace the actuator yourself. (every time it sticks we get under the car to remove the actuator and send it off for repair, me thinks not, what car owner should have to do this?) Imagine if the actuator sticks whilst in the fast lane of the motorway?? How would you be able to get out of danger? The Citymatic is the car that drives in the city, if it even gets you there in the first place. We must make this public knowledge on things such as Watchdog, so that those without internet access can get it sorted. As a respectable company Fiat 'should' do a recall on the Citymatics and get them off the road, converted to manual. Keep on at Fiat to get it done, before its too late. Fiat are converting my Citymatic, make sure yours is too. If you need any support or help with this then feel free to contact me on adamoakes@btopenworld.com Well done to Jill for finally getting her Citymatic sorted, get yours sorted too!!

I have had my citymatic for a year 2000 model, in November the acs light cam on and gears stuck. I must admit it frightened me to death. I has now happened again, the last bill was 500pounds and I really cannot afford this again just 6 months later. I walk to work and use my car only when need to I have only done just over 5000 miles sine had it. I think I will get on to Fiat straightaway as Saturday when it went I was on dual carriageway. I pulled over and then could start it again after 10 minutes. Managed to get home, but not the point. It was late at night and as a single women on my own did not feel should have to wait in laybys until car decided to start again.

Yet another Citymatic sucker here. My mothers 2001 citymatic is on its third actuator in only 9000 miles. Has anybody in Ireland succeeded in getting Fiat Ireland to do a manual conversion or buy-back??

Daniel.mcguinness@invensys.com.

My 1999 V reg citymatic has done 17,000 miles and in that time it has had 2 new actuators fitted and now needs a new clutch. I also have problems getting my car in gear when the weather is poor. There is obviously a design fault and Fiat should be held responsible. I would like Fiat to pay to convert my car to a manual and would be very grateful of any advice in getting them to do so. Also anyone who is getting a group together to challenge Fiat on their shoddy citymatic gearbox I will gladly help. You can contact me on brantanosal@postmaster.co.uk.

I recently bought a Fiat Seicento Citymatic, V-reg with only 23,800 miles. I thought it was fab - nippy for such a small engine, and very economical...BUT...now I can't get it into gear so I can't use it. I cannot afford to get it fixed at the moment either, so I am not best pleased. I got in contact with Fiat UK Customer Relations (eventually, after numerous attempts) who just said they could not help with repairs because the car is out of warranty. I asked if they planned to put out a recall on citymatics to sort out the gear actuator problem, but they said no. I understand that others have managed to get Fiat to pay for their citymatics to be converted to manual to prevent this problem recurring. How? Please contact me by e-mail: sueb4@tiscali.co.uk Thanks! Sue.