22 · Diagnostics

Vehicle drift

Make: Fiat
Model: 500 Factory Service Manual
Year: 2007–2024
Section: Steering – vehicle behaviour › Vehicle drift

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Fault diagnosisVehicle drift

VEHICLE DRIFT

1.2 8v, 1.3 Multijet

The vehicle tends to drift to the left and/or the right whilst driving in a straight line. If necessary, carry out a road test on a straight, flat road with no cambers. Check the effective drift from the path by very carefully loosening your grip on the steering wheel.

0	PRELIMINARY CHECKS	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
		Test results
	First of all, check the type, condition and pressure of the tyres. Check that the tyres are fitted correctly and the wheels are correctly secured.	Move on to Step 1	1. Tyre inflation pressure not correct 2. Tyres unsuitable or worn 3. Tyres not correctly fitted 4. Wheel not correctly fastened	1. Restore the correct tyre inflation pressure 2. Replace the tyres 3. Swap the front wheels round 4. Tighten the wheels correctly.
1	WHEEL CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check: That the wheels are correctly balanced; That the front wheels turn freely (front brake calipers correctly fitted) That the rear wheels turn freely (rear drums correctly fitted)	Move on to Step 2	1. Wheels not balanced 2. Front brake calipers not correctly fitted 3. Rear drums not correctly fitted	1. Balance the wheels 2. Restore the correct fitting or replace the brake calipers Op. 3310A30 FRONT BRAKE CALIPER (ONE) - R.R 3. Refit the rear drums correctly or replace them Op. 3320B30 REAR BRAKE DRUM (ONE), LEFT OR RIGHT - R.R.
2	FRONT GEOMETRY CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the vehicle geometry and front wheel angles Op. 4450A10 FRONT WHEEL GEOMETRY - CHECK USING OPTICAL EQUIPMENT - INCLUDES ADJUSTMENT IF NECESSARY	Move on to Step 3	1. Geometry not correct 2. Angles not correct	1. Replace the suspension springs Op. 4410A12 FRONT SUSPENSION DAMPER (ONE), LH OR RH - FOR MCPHERSON STRUT SYSTEM - INCLUDES DISMANTLING/REASSEMBLY OF ASSEMBLY AT BENCH - R.R 2. Restore the correct angles where possible
3	REAR GEOMETRY CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the vehicle geometry and rear wheel angles Op. 4450A40 REAR WHEEL GEOMETRY - CHECK USING OPTICAL EQUIPMENT, INCLUDES ADJUSTMENT IF NECESSARY	Move on to Step 4	Geometry not correct.	Replace the suspension springs Op. 4420A40 L/H OR R/H REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING (ONE) - R+R
4	UNDERBODY CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Visually inspect the underbody. Check that there are no accidental knocks, dents or bent suspension arms.	Move on to Step 5	Damage to the front suspension in particular.	Restore or replace the damaged components.
5	WHEEL BEARINGS CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition and the operation of the wheel hub bearings	Move on to Step 6	1. Front wheel bearing worn or damaged 2. Rear wheel bearing worn or damaged	1. Replace the wheel hub bearing Op. 4450C32 ONE FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING, LH OR RH - REPLACE 2. Replace the wheel hub bearing Op.
6	BUSHES AND FLEXIBLE MOUNTINGS CHECK - FRONT AREA	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition of the bushes and mountings. In the following order: steering box rods; track control arm flexible supports; flexible mountings for anti-roll bar.	Move on to Step 7	1. Steering box rods worn or damaged 2. Wishbone supports worn or damaged 3. Anti-roll bar mountings worn or damaged.	1. Replace the rods Op. 4110B10 STEERING LINKS - R+R ON VEHICLE - CHECK TOE-IN/TOE-OUT SEPARATELY 2. Replace the supports 3. Replace the mountings Op. 4410C16 FRONT SUSPENSION STABILIZER BAR JOINT BUSHES - REPLACE
7	POWER UNIT SUPPORT MOUNTINGS CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition of the support mountings for the power unit and the engine reaction rod connected to the mechanical crossmember and also check that the mechanical crossmember is correctly centred.	Move on to Step 8	1. Power unit support mountings faulty. 2. Reaction connecting rod faulty. 3. Mechanical crossmember faulty.	1. Adjust the fastenings: loosen the bolts, centre them in their housings and tighten them to the recommended torque. Op. 1008A POWER UNIT FASTENING 2. Adjust the fastenings: loosen the bolts, centre them in their housings and tighten them to the recommended torque. Op. 1008C POWER UNIT REACTION ELEMENTS 3. Adjust the fastenings: loosen the bolts, centre them in their housings and tighten them to the recommended torque.
8	DIFFERENTIAL CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition of the differential: make sure, in particular, that there is no clearance.	End of diagnosis	Irregular operation of the differential.	Overhaul or replace the differential Op. 2110D MANUAL GEARBOX DIFFERENTIAL

1.4 16v

0	PRELIMINARY CHECKS	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
		Test results
	First of all check the type, state and inflation pressure of the tyres. Check that the tyres are correctly fitted and the wheels correctly fastened	Move on to Step 1	1. Tyre inflation pressure not correct 2. Tyres unsuitable or worn 3. Tyres not correctly fitted 4. Wheel not correctly fastened	1. Restore the correct tyre inflation pressure 2. Replace the tyres 3. Swap the front wheels round 4. Tighten the wheels correctly
1	WHEEL CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check: - That the wheels are correctly balanced; - That the wheels turn freely (brake calipers correctly fitted)	Move on to Step 2	1. Wheels not balanced 2. Front brake calipers not correctly fitted 3. Rear brake calipers not correctly fitted	1. Balance the wheels 2. Restore the correct fitting or replace the brake calipers Op. 3310A30 FRONT BRAKE CALIPER (ONE) - R.R 3. Restore the correct fitting or replace the brake calipers Op. 3310B36
2	FRONT GEOMETRY CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the vehicle geometry and front wheel angles Op. 4450A10 FRONT WHEEL GEOMETRY - CHECK USING OPTICAL EQUIPMENT - INCLUDES ADJUSTMENT IF NECESSARY	Move on to Step 3	1. Geometry not correct 2. Angles not correct	1. Replace the suspension springs Op. 4410A12 FRONT SUSPENSION DAMPER (ONE), LH OR RH - FOR MCPHERSON STRUT SYSTEM - INCLUDES DISMANTLING/REASSEMBLY OF ASSEMBLY AT BENCH - R.R 2. Restore the correct angles where possible
3	REAR GEOMETRY CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the vehicle geometry and rear wheel angles Op. 4450A40 REAR WHEEL GEOMETRY - CHECK USING OPTICAL EQUIPMENT, INCLUDES ADJUSTMENT IF NECESSARY	Move on to Step 4	Geometry not correct	Replace the suspension springs Op. 4420A40 L/H OR R/H REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING (ONE) - R+R
4	UNDERBODY CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Visually inspect the underbody. Check that there are no accidental knocks, dents or bent suspension arms.	Move on to Step 5	Damage to the front suspension in particular	Restore or replace the damaged components
5	WHEEL BEARINGS CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition and the operation of the wheel hub bearings	Move on to Step 6	1. Front wheel bearing worn or damaged 2. Rear wheel bearing worn or damaged	1. Replace the wheel hub bearing Op. 4450C32 2. Replace the wheel hub bearing Op. 4450D10 HUB FOR ONE REAR WHEEL, L/H OR R/H - R+R WITH WHEEL REMOVED - CHECK WHEEL GEOMETRY SEPARATELY
6	BUSHES AND FLEXIBLE MOUNTINGS CHECK - FRONT AREA	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition of the bushes and mountings. In order: - steering box rods; - wishbone flexible supports; - flexible mountings for anti-roll bar.	Move on to Step 7	1. Steering box rods worn or damaged 2. Wishbone supports worn or damaged 3. Anti-roll bar mountings worn or damaged.	1. Replace the rods Op. 4110B10 STEERING LINKS - R+R ON VEHICLE - CHECK TOE-IN/TOE-OUT SEPARATELY 2. Replace the supports Op. 4410B FRONT SUSPENSION TRACK CONTROL ARMS 3. Replace the mountings
7	POWER UNIT SUPPORT MOUNTINGS CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition of the mountings for the power unit, the engine reaction rod connected to the mechanical crossmember and that the mechanical crossmember is correctly centred	Move on to Step 8	1. Power unit support mountings faulty 2. Reaction connecting rod faulty 3. Mechanical crossmember faulty.	1. Adjust the fastenings: loosen the bolts, centre them in their housings and tighten them to the recommended torque. Op. 1008A POWER UNIT FASTENING 2. Adjust the fastenings: loosen the bolts, centre them in their housings and tighten them to the recommended torque. Op. 1008C POWER UNIT REACTION ELEMENTS 3. Adjust the fastenings: loosen the bolts, centre them in their housings and tighten them to the recommended torque.
8	DIFFERENTIAL CHECK	All OK	Problems encountered	Operation
	Check the condition of the differential: make sure, in particular, that there is no clearance	End of diagnosis	Irregular operation of the differential	Overhaul or replace the differential Op. 2110D MANUAL GEARBOX DIFFERENTIAL

‹ Prev Short travel for handbrake lever in vehicle or incomplete return to rest position Next › Drift whilst braking

Parts & tools for this job For 2007 Fiat 500

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