No, it specifies that if you do less than 10k in a year that the engine oil and filter should be changed every 12 months. I am looking at the manual......
Technical First Service. Unknown dealer or trusted independent?
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Technical First Service. Unknown dealer or trusted independent?
No, it specifies that if you do less than 10k in a year that the engine oil and filter should be changed every 12 months. I am looking at the manual......
ahmett
Prominent member
yes correct just saw that in the latest manual, didn't see it in my 2010 one. It says if under 10,000 km, oil should be changed every 12 months.
nope, it's been a requirement of the warranty from at least 2009.
At the end of the day it would come down to a legal definition of the words "should" and "must". IMO the handbook isn't sufficiently clear and conflicting reports of the position taken by different franchised dealers doesn't help clarify things, either. I've not heard of anyone actually being denied a warranty claim on a low mileage car specifically because they didn't change the oil after 12 months.
That said, irrespective of whether it might or might not invalidate the warranty, leaving a little-used engine standing around for more than a year without changing the oil could lead to internal corrosion and cause serious problems in the car's later life (though admittedly it's unlikely the first owner would notice any problems during the warranty period).
To the OP - whilst you were certainly charged a fortune for what was almost certainly just an oil change (I do my own; it takes less than a half hour & costs me under £25 for the oil & a genuine FIAT filter), at least take some comfort that you may just have spared some unfortunate impoverished subsequent owner from an expensive breakdown many years on from now
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So, I made a decision to use an independent as I have no intention of selling my car. The Dealer sent me a letter which starts Dear...your Fiat. ..Then it changes to a Ford !! So I went for the indie. There is also a copy of the bill...any comments welcome.
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IIRC it is specifically stated in the owners manual that engine flushing oils should not be used :nono:.
I hope I'm wrong, but I suspect Fiat would not now honour any warranty claim on your engine going forward.
I thought that, but was in a little bit of a hurry as my lift had to be somewhere..!
I don't think it's a great idea using engine flush on a higher mileage car if they've not had it done from a low mileage, but my Mk2 Punto had had it done virtually from new and I never had any bother with it up to the 85,000 miles & 8 years I had it.
I wouldn't be overly concerned - the engines in the 500 aren't known for problems & if you do have problems, it's highly unlikely they'd occur within the warranty period.
Incidently, are you in Oxfordshire, werdna? I ask because that bill looks very much like one I had for my Punto from an indie in Oxford, and the dealership in Oxford is also Fiat & Ford (amongst others)!
Yes, in Abingdon. The dealer is Hartwell Ford. I wasn't over impressed when I got my 500. The salesman was never there to answer my queries and all I got was " we'll get him to ring you back " ha ha. The letter I got referred to my Fiat once then everything else was about Ford. In today's world that should have been easy to change every mention of Ford to Fiat !!
The indie is Palmer and Phillips in Cowley. It was a toss up between them and Solo Italia, who I have used in the past. I will use P and P again, but make sure no more flushes are done.
The indie is Palmer and Phillips in Cowley. It was a toss up between them and Solo Italia, who I have used in the past. I will use P and P again, but make sure no more flushes are done.
Thought you must've been. I'm in Carterton, though originally from Hanborough. Not overly surprised by that sloppy letter from Hartwell. Not used their Fiat franchise but the Parents and other relatives had abysmal service from the Ford and Vauxhall franchises in Kidlington (Vauxhall now changed hands to Skurrays though), so they bought their 500 from Grays in Warwick.
I've used Palmer & Phillips with my Mk2 Punto and the Stilo and always been impressed. Their prices are a bit lower than main dealers but they do arguably a better job. Some places you collect your car and wonder if half the stuff on the bill has actually been changed, but with them I've always been able to see the new parts and everything felt like it'd been adjusted/serviced.
Not been there recently as had some service vouchers from Fiat to use on the Stilo, which I redeemed at Pewsham Garages in Chippenham, who were also excellent, so returned there for a couple of things. However the new MiTo might go to Palmer & Philips depending on how much the main dealers want for servicing it - my Parents & Sister got quoted £375 for their cars :-/
