That’s not gone well

"smobgirl" (smobgirl) 03/24/2020 at 12:52 • Filed to: None

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Flashing check engine light, smells like burning, lost boost. 

Nick Has an Exocet > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 12:55

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Poof. The magic smoke came out!

What kind of burning smell? I still kind of want one of these cars someday d espite logic.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 12:59

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Oh shit...

E90M3 > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:01

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That happened to me in my explorer. One of the leads to the spark plugs came undone and it flashed the CEL at me. I drove along way too long like that, well, a lot longer than I’d like to admit. It was a 5 second fix once I popped the hood. 

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:02

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Yep, it’s just reminding you that it is still a Fiat

MonkeePuzzle > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:02

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oh dear!

jimz > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:07

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flashing CEL= repeated misfire, burning smell may be the catalyst overheating.  

smobgirl > Nick Has an Exocet 03/24/2020 at 13:07

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Well, it’s been 80,000 miles of joy and a half mile of sheer terror.

I didn’t see the dreaded puff of blue smoke but once I started losing power I was mostly looking ahead for a spot to get off the highway.

Thomas Donohue > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:08

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T hat’s not smoke, that’s snow!

I still want a 500e.

smobgirl > Thomas Donohue 03/24/2020 at 13:09

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Those cars are absolutely adorable. Not convenient for my work, but adorable nonetheless.

sony1492 > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:10

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Take the oil cap off and see if a ton of smoke pours out/ the cap is milky.

Ho pefully it’s nothing though.

Aremmes > jimz 03/24/2020 at 13:13

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This.

smobgirl > sony1492 03/24/2020 at 13:14

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No smoke and no milky grossness. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:47

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Oh no! Hopefully nothing major, but that sounds weird....could be a boost cut because of the issue though, not something like the turbo dying!

Keep us apprised...especially me, as I love me some small FIATs ! :(

sony1492 > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 13:53

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That bod es well for engine internals

JMordu becoming “savethemilanos” > Thomas Donohue 03/24/2020 at 16:16

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I will have one. Either an early orange with the white/orange interior or h opefully the new generation if it comes here, honestly seems like the best fit for me of all the new generation electric city cars

Thomas Donohue > JMordu becoming “savethemilanos” 03/24/2020 at 16:57

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You can get a used 500e for $7000 - not a bad deal if you are only running around town (~70 mile range). It’s like a street-legal golf cart, and about the same price.

I have a spreadsheet somewhere in which I figured out a properly sized solar array for charging the Fiat for ~25 miles each day. When the world ended, I’d still be able to cruise around in my car until it broke.

JMordu becoming “savethemilanos” > Thomas Donohue 03/24/2020 at 17:14

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I’m very aware. But very picky. Only want the orange and white exterior with white and orange interior. There aren’t many anywhere near me in Ohio, and since you’d have to transport it home with such limited range, that 7k gets expensive in time and money for what’s really a cute, road legal golf cart . So I’m waiting out a nearby one coming up for sale or the next generation to come out.

There was A perfect  one in Chicago last fall, but everytime I called the dealer (over several weeks) they claimed it was “under deposit” and “all but sold” and wouldn’t take my info, so I didn’t waste a day trying to get it.

I’m also currently working on installing a lot more solar than needed for the Fiat (and already have a 32amp 240v car charger at home for my ELR) , though not quite 100% of my usage and no battery so not really an off-grid set up.

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/24/2020 at 19:44

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No update today. I’m pretty depressed about it. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 20:24

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Damn, I assume it’s at the garage now?

Nick Has an Exocet > smobgirl 03/24/2020 at 20:45

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Time to go with a big turbo upgrade?

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/24/2020 at 20:46

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Yeah. I don’t really have the time (or knowledge) to mess with it myself. I was driving to a work site when it happened, which is now rescheduled for tomorrow, and have 4 more in the next week so I’m just going to get a rental. The only good news is that I was planning to rent for my trips early next week anyway  and it’s basically the same price to get the car 3 days earlier. 

smobgirl > Nick Has an Exocet 03/24/2020 at 23:50

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With whose money? 

This is, economically, the absolute worst time for this to happen.

(Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against the idea!! I’ve wanted to play around with it since it was out of warranty. I’m just too depressed right now to even focus on  that silver lining)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 03/25/2020 at 08:42

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I’m hoping it doesn’t have somethin g to do with the Mu ltiAir system that manages the valves...it’s usually pretty reliable, but I’ ve heard of sporadic failures in the past...

Keep us apprised and good luck!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 03/26/2020 at 06:27

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Any updates on the little buz zbox? :(

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/26/2020 at 12:37

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Nothing solid yet. Sounds like the oil consumption was way worse than I realized but no idea if it’s terminal. If not, I’ll probably look at selling it once the economy picks up again anyway. I’m too bummed to even want to look for anything else. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 03/26/2020 at 17:31

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Yeah...that’s one thing that worries me about any car with a turbo...if something happens to the oil feed to it or the oil gets to low and the turbo gets screwed, things be bad... :(