Alloy Wheels - Bubbles in Laquer

Hi all

As the above,

I've had my bravo since September 2007 and now this on the drivers side front wheel

I've only ever used Zymol Autobathe shampoo and a mitt to clean them and protect them with Autoglym alloy wheel sealer stuff.

Is this covered by warranty, if not it should be!

Cheers

Jonno1

It should be covered. I can't see why not as in my opinion the wheels are a very important part of the car.

I've never used Zymol Autobathe shampoo but you need to check out it properties first. I know a lot of these 'wheel cleaners' contain acids which actually in the long run damage wheels. I'd make sure it's not a result of the Zymol Autobathe shampoo before complaining to Fiat but I couldn't see it being that myself.

I would hope it would be covered but i can see a little pitting on your wheels this could be used by fiat as a get out card

get it to fiat and see what they say, hope you can sort this out but we all know what dealers can be like if its going to cost them money...

It will be covered by warranty BUT you will have a fight on your hands to get it done. Had a few friends buying new cars and this has happened,none fiat right enough,and all have had to fight to get them replaced or repaired but aslong as you make sure your heard in showroom when its busy if they decided to give you hassle then it WILL get sorted

Go give em hell m8

Hi all

Thanks for your comments so far.

The Zymol Autobathe is a very gentle car shampoo and so will be fine for alloys. See http://www.zymol.com/zymolclear85oz.aspx

The pitting you see is easily cleaned off with Autoglym Tar Remover, using a paper towel, so the actual surface of the alloy is fine. The paint itself seems to be bubbling from underneath as though it hasn't "taken" on application.

If it was the cleaning stuff I was using, wouldn't all the wheels be affected?

It is only the driver side front, all the others are perfect.

I haven't contacted my dealer yet as I cannot get time off work in the short term to take it to them. Saturdays are out as "We don't do warranty work on Saturdays, only servicing"

Any advice from you friendly dealers would be helpful.

Thanks

Jonno1

appears to be rust coming though, if manufactors defect they will cover if they refuse DONT SHOUT AT DEALER l/t they wont help u trust me i work in one best to contact fiat if not and c/m care will sort.... 08003890019 as last resort but dont piss off ya dealer it can backfire

Haven't heard of dealers not carrying out warranty work on a saturday before. Mine does and why should you be any different to anybody else who is having work done. You have to take the car in for a fault that is down to poor quality not because you have pranged it or forgotten to check your oil. Also, how long does it take to look at a wheel and say 'Ok, we'll get a new one ordered!'

sorry mate dealers have a limited amount of slots on a saturday and 9/10 wont do warrenty work then as they need them slots for straight forward servicing nor repairs.

with paint/wheel issues its not taht simple im sure you have to take pictures and send them off to fiat for authority,

sorry to disagree.

Hi all

I've delayed posting to make sure there were no last minute hitches.

Instead of contacting my supplying dealer (a well known one in Derby) I contacted JCS at Kegworth who told me to bring my car along and they would check ALL wheels for the same problem.

I arrived at the appointed time and the receptionist came out very cheerful and chatty armed with a digital camera and firstly checked the wheels by running a finger along the spokes of all 4 wheels. She discovered that the rear drivers side wheel was also beginning to bubble, although it was so small you could only tell by touch. The poor woman had brake dust all over her fingers even though I had washed the car and cleaned the wheels the day before. I felt really bad and kept apologising.

She then took photographs of the damage at all angles and said the photographs would go off to Fiat for a decision to be made. I got the feeling that it had made her day as it was a chance to get out from behind the reception desk.

I had 2 new alloys fitted under warranty today, at a time convenient to me and they even offered a courtesy car although the work only took an hour. I was more than happy to stay in the showroom and catch up with the mags on the table. (Trust me there really is NOTHING to do and nowhere to go in Kegworth.) - Promptly gets flamed by the Kegworth resident!

I honestly cannot fault the dealership as they kept me informed all the time on the progress of my warranty.

I have no connection with this dealership whatsoever and can recommend them for warranty work. (I shall sample the servicing in September)

As a family run firm they sell used Fiats but cannot keep a stock of new Fiats as the showroom is fairly small although they can get hold of new cars on order.

Jonno1

We got our Croma from JCS.... Top guys.