7th Nov 2004, 11:30

Hi does any one know how to unstick the actuator.

8th Nov 2004, 08:33

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.

4th Feb 2005, 09:40

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.

6th Feb 2005, 11:34

I would also like to say, for about 2 weeks I noticed my gears started getting stiff, and I was sometimes really struggling to get it into gear.

One day luckily I was at my house. I turned the engine on, and my gears totally seized. I couldn't get it into any gear. I thought I had the same problem, and was looking at a £700 bill, but my dad fiddled with one of the cables, and it solved the problem.

I don't know how long it will last, but I am now looking into getting it converted to manual, to save the hassle of the gearbox fully going. If anyone has any information about converting it, I would appreciate an email. starzz121@hotmail.com

Many thanks, Steph Gough.

1st Mar 2005, 15:22

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 including pickup/return delivery, and gave me a two year warranty. The car is now fine.

18th Mar 2005, 04:44

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).

24th Mar 2005, 08:10

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!!

4th Nov 2005, 08:42

Yes, another unhappy Fiat Seicento Citymatic user. I'm italian and in the same situation of you all. Fiat refuse to assist me, this is the third time and the most expensive (950€). The only offered solution is to transform the car to a manual gearshift, they will partecipate to 50% of the cost.

19th Jan 2006, 09:44

Hi

Just to let you know I had the same problem and had the whole thing converted to manual. I found a very reasonable company in South Wales who charged me £450 and haven't had any trouble since. This is the best thing I could have done - no more danger on the roads.

A very happy Seicento owner

Amanda.

25th Jan 2006, 12:19

I was very interested in Amanda's comment. Is it possible to know which company in South Wales did the conversion to manual? My daughter recently bought a Citymatic at auction and is already experiencing trouble with the actuator. We are going to contact Fiat UK, but would like to know who converted Amanda's car in case we have to go along the same route. It would give us peace of mind to know that my daughter is no longer driving this dangerous vehicle.

Janet.

7th Mar 2006, 04:25

Having received instructions from David London (see comment 16 on this site, dated the 5th March 2004), my daughters Seicento Citymatic has now been converted to a manual. If anyone else wants this done, the private mechanic that we used is Vince Cambridge in Bristol. His number is 0117 9324129.

Janet.

28th Mar 2006, 04:05

Have a look at ebay number 4622843977 and it might not be the answer to your problems, but it will hopefully make your the repair a bit cheaper.

Glad I can help.

24th Jul 2006, 21:05

I'd like to add my name to the list of "affected". In my case the electronic clutch has been changed one time. Now I'm still waiting for the 2th (just stopped for good). It is really bad. Near one month trying to get a solution, but Fiat does not want to hear. Here in Portugal they charge about 1300€ for the repair (part + labour).

There is a BIG problem and we all know it.

If anyone wants to take legal action, feel free to contact me and I'll sent you all the documentation to support it. My contact mail tomatte.mail@clix.pt

14th Oct 2006, 12:28

Here we go again,

I bought my wife this T reg Citymatic, and in the last two years I have had the actuator fail 2 times!!! Lucky for me am an aircraft engineer, and have a good background of electronics. After the 2nd actuator, I opened up the control box on the actuator and changed some components that were burnt out. I got the spec of them and replaced them with higher spec ones at the cost of 17.00. My wife has now done over 9000 miles since, and touch wood, it is still running.

However, Fiat should take full responsibility for this very poor design. I have contacted Fiat with my problem, and all they seem interested in is selling you a new actuator. If you want my help, then please email me at roger AT aviation.fsnet.co.uk