Fiat Multipla what to look out for?
Discussion
We need a new family car and like the look of a Fiat Multipla. Has to be the pre-facelift ugly one as we much prefer its looks, much more original.
Have seen a 2002 one advertised locally at just under £2,000 with 58,000 miles on the clock
What should I look for ask when I go to see it?
Thanks.
Have seen a 2002 one advertised locally at just under £2,000 with 58,000 miles on the clock
What should I look for ask when I go to see it?
Thanks.
We used to have one as the family car (51 plate 115 ELX JTD). For a people carrier, generally an alright place to be and very useful with the 3 seats up front arrangement.
From memory, points to look out for and issues I had with mine:
- Check air con blows cold. I could never get mine to do so, even when recharged (although I admit I don't know if this was a problem across the board).
- Dashboard warning computer seemed to have a mind of its own and would randomly tell me the alternator had issues / check engine / brake fluid low when I knew all to be OK.
- The higher quality easy-to-clean upholstery on the ELX version was actually not brilliantly hardwearing so check for wear to drivers bolster and seat cushion.
- Automatic folding door mirrors often go out of sync so one will fold and the other remain static. I believe there is a reset procedure on the web somewhere.
That's what I remember at the moment. I'm sure others will add to it
From memory, points to look out for and issues I had with mine:
- Check air con blows cold. I could never get mine to do so, even when recharged (although I admit I don't know if this was a problem across the board).
- Dashboard warning computer seemed to have a mind of its own and would randomly tell me the alternator had issues / check engine / brake fluid low when I knew all to be OK.
- The higher quality easy-to-clean upholstery on the ELX version was actually not brilliantly hardwearing so check for wear to drivers bolster and seat cushion.
- Automatic folding door mirrors often go out of sync so one will fold and the other remain static. I believe there is a reset procedure on the web somewhere.
That's what I remember at the moment. I'm sure others will add to it
hogfisch said:
- Dashboard warning computer seemed to have a mind of its own and would randomly tell me the alternator had issues / check engine / brake fluid low when I knew all to be OK.
- Automatic folding door mirrors often go out of sync so one will fold and the other remain static. I believe there is a reset procedure on the web somewhere.
It's a Fiat.- Automatic folding door mirrors often go out of sync so one will fold and the other remain static. I believe there is a reset procedure on the web somewhere.
Electrical problems were standard fitment.
RosscoPCole said:
We need a new family car and like the look of a Fiat Multipla. Has to be the pre-facelift ugly one as we much prefer its looks, much more original.
Have seen a 2002 one advertised locally at just under £2,000 with 58,000 miles on the clock
What should I look for ask when I go to see it?
Thanks.
I know your on the look out for an ugly multipla, but just how far are you prepared to go? Is the standard one ugly enough, or should we consider the tuned route to really finish it off?Have seen a 2002 one advertised locally at just under £2,000 with 58,000 miles on the clock
What should I look for ask when I go to see it?
Thanks.
ps: sorry to crash the thread.
pw32 said:
RosscoPCole said:
We need a new family car and like the look of a Fiat Multipla. Has to be the pre-facelift ugly one as we much prefer its looks, much more original.
Have seen a 2002 one advertised locally at just under £2,000 with 58,000 miles on the clock
What should I look for ask when I go to see it?
Thanks.
I know your on the look out for an ugly multipla, but just how far are you prepared to go? Is the standard one ugly enough, or should we consider the tuned route to really finish it off?Have seen a 2002 one advertised locally at just under £2,000 with 58,000 miles on the clock
What should I look for ask when I go to see it?
Thanks.
ps: sorry to crash the thread.
Only joking, that belongs in the Badly Modified Thread!
My girlfriend has one as a dog wagon (1.9JTD). Quite a clever design, but build quality is a bit cheap and cheerful by modern standards, to say the least. Oh, and forget the reviews that say it handles quite well - it might do for a people carrier, but if you're used to driving anything decent it understeers like a supertanker.
There are quite good online owners forums for technical advice on Yahoo! Groups and fiatforum.com.
We have managed to avoid electrical gremlins, so they're by no means universal.
The two 'characteristic' problems we've suffered are failure of the dual-mass flywheel (quite expensive - cost about £750 with new clutch at same time, from what I recall) and poor running problems due to carbon build up on the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve; happens about every 60K miles, apparently - negligible cost to fix yourself, just a mucky, filthy job cleaning the carbon off. Google 'Fiat Multipla dual mass flywheel' or 'Fiat Multipla EGR' and you'll get a wealth of information on either issue.
We've also had brake problems (sticky caliper slide pins - common on any car of that age, so can't really complain), air con compressor failure (a few quid for a second-hand compressor and the cost of a re-gas), and the handbrake cable tends to freeze up in very cold weather (must remember to lubricate it before next winter, but so far she just leaves the handbrake off and the car in gear when its really cold).
There are quite good online owners forums for technical advice on Yahoo! Groups and fiatforum.com.
We have managed to avoid electrical gremlins, so they're by no means universal.
The two 'characteristic' problems we've suffered are failure of the dual-mass flywheel (quite expensive - cost about £750 with new clutch at same time, from what I recall) and poor running problems due to carbon build up on the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve; happens about every 60K miles, apparently - negligible cost to fix yourself, just a mucky, filthy job cleaning the carbon off. Google 'Fiat Multipla dual mass flywheel' or 'Fiat Multipla EGR' and you'll get a wealth of information on either issue.
We've also had brake problems (sticky caliper slide pins - common on any car of that age, so can't really complain), air con compressor failure (a few quid for a second-hand compressor and the cost of a re-gas), and the handbrake cable tends to freeze up in very cold weather (must remember to lubricate it before next winter, but so far she just leaves the handbrake off and the car in gear when its really cold).
I used to own one.
I've also driven MANY people carriers.
After one set of front tyres in short order I had the front wheels set parallel on advice from various owners. It made the fronts last much longer. I never felt it was OVERLY understeery, Sam, but it's a big vehicle with FWD. I liked the handling a LOT. Very reliable and little body-roll for such a bus.
I'd recommend one to ANYONE after something with 6 seats minimum. Build quality, I thought was OK, in that it was screwed together quite well, but the actual quality of the materials used were pretty low... seat fabrics and plastics....
Oh.
Yeah, handbrake cables..LOL!
I've also driven MANY people carriers.
After one set of front tyres in short order I had the front wheels set parallel on advice from various owners. It made the fronts last much longer. I never felt it was OVERLY understeery, Sam, but it's a big vehicle with FWD. I liked the handling a LOT. Very reliable and little body-roll for such a bus.
I'd recommend one to ANYONE after something with 6 seats minimum. Build quality, I thought was OK, in that it was screwed together quite well, but the actual quality of the materials used were pretty low... seat fabrics and plastics....
Oh.
Yeah, handbrake cables..LOL!
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