Seeking Advice on 2012 Fiat Strada with Transmission Issues and Warning Light

Hey there, I've got some experience with cars - wouldn't call myself a mechanic, but I know a thing or two! I had a similar issue with my 2010 Fiat Punto, so very similar situation. I noticed the same gear shifting problems and the dreadful noises. What I ended up doing is taking my ride to a trusted workshop, where they diagnosed my problem as a low transmission oil level. It's not that complex of an issue but doing it yourself if you're not 100% sure can lead to more problems. They took care of it, and bam - the issue was resolved. It set me back by about 365 Euro, but totally worth it. It would be useful if you could post more about your Strada. What's the mileage on it? Have you ever changed the transmission fluid or the filter? Did your warning light indicate any error code? More information will help me better understand your situation, and maybe I can offer a bit more help. In the meantime, hope this helps!

Thanks for jumping in with your experience! My Strada's current mileage is at 170287 km. I took it for the last service slightly over a year ago, it was routine maintenance stuff though– oil change, brake inspection, etc. As far as transmission fluid or the filter goes, I didn't get a chance to change them. The warning light didn't indicate a specific error code, it just lit up recently combined with the symptoms I described. Sounds like I might be heading to the workshop sooner than later. Truly appreciate your advice, gives me a good direction to navigate this issue. Cheers!

Hey. Glad to hear my advice is helping. Our Fiats seem to be in pretty similar situations. I remember my Punto was also around the 170k km mark when the gear troubles started. Speaking from my experience, it seems like changing the transmission fluid and filter could be overdue. Typically, these should be changed every 80k-160k km, depending on the vehicle use, but many people overlook this. When the fluid becomes dirty and the filter clogged, it can cause erratic shifting and sometimes even the noises you've mentioned. These components help lubricate the gear parts, so if they fail, you can get grinding. What added to my troubles back then was I completely ignored the warning light. Turns out, it was the car's way of saying "low transmission fluid". So you might want to get that checked too. Visiting a workshop is a smart move here if you're unsure. A good mechanic will be able to diagnose these problems pretty quickly. Good luck with it and any more questions, just holler! Cheers!

Hey there, Thanks again for your helpful tips! The whole transmission fluid and filter change thing makes a lot of sense now that you’ve mentioned it. They've probably been overlooked in routine maintenance. You’re right, I'm not gonna take any chances and ignore the warning light either. Will book an appointment with my mechanic first thing tomorrow morning and hope to sort it out promptly. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and guide me through this. Cheers! Will keep you up to date if I hit any more bumps along the way.