Technical Service schedule

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Technical Service schedule

Well said and worded oilrag.on my audi a2 tdi it told you how to reset it in the book,after you had done your own service,i think there is a way to reset it without a computer link up,just after try to find out how cheers.
 
Hi T, This shocked me a little this as I have always serviced our Fiats after the warranty period. If its *locked* to the Fiat examiner for re-setting the service interval indicator its going to be quite a pain when running two Fiats long term and doing DIY.
Currently we have a 2 Fiats that
don`t have a service indicator to reset.
But my wife is right at the point of buying either a 1.3 Panda or ( more likely) a Multijet Grand Punto new from our local Fiat dealer. She has already test driven one but has still to decide.
We have discussed it and will cancel the planned purchase if we have to pay to have a service indicator cancelled. As we have saved a small fortune over the years doing our own servicing. To be honest its the principle and time involved as well as the money ( what is it about £40 each time?)
Is there not an over ride option on the console its self?
Or we could switch to one of those `used car supermarkets` and pick up one of the last of the old models. When did Fiat switch to Dealer only service indicator resets?
Regards:)

I am only going by the initial tech info given out which is subject to change before the release of the car to the UK market,you need to read the manual to confirm this.

Might I also add that iof you brought a car with fake service schedule you would be p*ssed off to say the least,using diagnostic equipment is a way (although not foolproof of course) ensuring a correct service is carried out.

One further point is other manufactuers have been doing this for years so its not a new thing that Fiat have came up with to rip off the customer.It is free if you get it serviced at a Fiat dealer or yes there will be a charge if you get it done elsewhere.£40 is not what we charge (a tenner) so get service light put out from another dealer or leave it on.
Some models have to have the mileage reset due to a oil degredation system fitted.................& yes other manufacturers use this same system aswell infact i'm certain most diesels will have to as stricter emission laws are enforced.
It seems silly not buying a car for (even if it is £40)...why not buy a service plan aswell ?
 
Hello T,
I used to have a Volkswagen TDI and some of the guys on the TDI forum in the states had put together to buy the VW diagnostic tool even though it was very expensive. This was then shared out and it allowed forum members to diagnose their own cars.
I remember some techs participated and the result being a hobby and interest for owners in servicing their own cars and of course saving money.
I have never regretted moving to Fiat, with particular reference to the Multijet engine and our local much respected main dealer.
I enjoy servicing my own cars though and knowing a thorough job has been done.
( I am not implying a dealer does less) There is the cost saving too, but the main issue is being free to service your own car and that being an interest and a hobby.
If someone resets the service indicator after they have done a DIY service I dont see a problem. Firstly its ( obviously) their own property to do with as they wish, but also there will not be a service recorded in the book so its not as though anyone will be tricked in anyway.
IMHO, its not the DIY service thats the potential problem regarding resetting the service indicator. But rather someone who does not service the car at all and then pops into a main dealer and just pays for a service indicator reset.
Regards:)
 
I enjoy servicing my own cars though and knowing a thorough job has been done.
( I am not implying a dealer does less) There is the cost saving too, but the main issue is being free to service your own car and that being an interest and a hobby.

If the car is under warranty though it must be service by authorised garage.

A problem I find that if someone does their own service (not saying you by the way) is that they miss things that a tech would be aware of,when the car then goes for its MOT the customer thinks the garage is trying to make work for themselves when faults are found/car fails MOT when infact the person that done the service is not aware or hasn't seen the faults.Realistically unless you have a ramp,pry-bar to check bushes etc its not easy to do a full service yourself however I do agree its your car & you should do with it what you like after the warranty expires.When car is out of warranty ignore the service message until you sell the car then get it reset as it would probably put off a potential buyer,or explain to the buyer you are good enough to do your own servicing & you will knock off £25 off selling price as service light on so they can get it reset.

IMHO, its not the DIY service thats the potential problem regarding resetting the service indicator. But rather someone who does not service the car at all and then pops into a main dealer and just pays for a service indicator reset.
Regards:)

Good point but I personally refuse to reset a service light unless I see a invoice for that the service has been carried out but no doubt it has been done as you rightly say.
 
A problem I find that if someone does their own service (not saying you by the way) is that they miss things that a tech would be aware of,
.
I think we are both saying the same here and both being diplomatic.:)
Fact is though my multijet got a 3/4 litre overfill of engine oil at the (warranty) dealer service recently. I know you and your senior techs would not do this but IMHO a garages reputation can sometimes be at the mercy of the poorest quality work in the shop.
Thanks for the debate about the service indicator, I can see the situation from the dealers perspective too ;)
 
Fact is though my multijet got a 3/4 litre overfill of engine oil at the (warranty) dealer service recently.

Sounds like the apprentice filled it up:rolleyes: ,you are quite within your rights to speak to the tech working on your car before & after,something I fully recommend,after all you pay for a service and expect it to be carried out by trained personel in the correct manner.
 
Thanks T, Its a really good garage though and *all* of the more difficult work has been spot on.
I have a vaccuum extractor so it was a moments work to suck it back out.
Also really would not want someone to be given a B***icking on my behalf, so I let it go.
I`m one of the old school who has stripped and rebuilt quite a few engines outside in my youth in grim conditions.
Have worked briefly too in a main dealer ( long gone) and know what its can be like when a job comes back, so although annoyed, I have some sympathy:)
 
Thanks for the compliment T, I prefer to be known as the:devil: though:D
Re Dealerships and DIY, this is how I see it.
I don`t think there is a dichotomy in my interactions with dealerships and DIY. On the one hand, I buy the cars new, let them service them during warranty and the more difficult aspects of servicing afterwards. ( I don`t use independents) Also I buy Fiat parts from them for DIY and am supportive, as I want them to succeed in business for our mutual benefit.

On the other hand, I do all the `regular` DIY servicing myself and as I back the Dealerships up by the former, I expect information from them when I need it.
This has worked really well to date, even to the extent of being shown how to do a job in their workshop.
IMHO, You can`t get better than that regarding a customer/dealer relationship.

Regarding the service indicator and "the examiner".
If the independent garage trade are unable to do Fiat service indicator resets, when this information starts to feedback to customers, it is maybe going to give a jaundiced view of the brand though and some resentment? After all, *most* cars go to independents after warranty for service.
Sort of `once bitten, twice shy`. at the next car purchase.
Maybe all cars are now like this? I don`t know, but it would only need a few manufacturers to have a user/diy/independent, friendly system for them to seem to start to have a commercial advantage. With cars being `fully servicable` by independents/DIY and you can argue they are NOT without the reset) and with proof of garage servicing ( if one wishes this) being in the service stamp.
Regards:)
 
Ooops didn't make that very clear did I :eek:

I meant 'afraid not' as in you cant do it yourself...dealer has to reset with examiner.

Apologies,hope that cleared it up:)

When my first service was due, the servce counter told met it was due at exactly 30,000kms. Now I have past 60,400 kms and the service counter says its not due for another 300 odd kms??

Does that mean that the service counter was not reset correctly at the first service:chin:
 
Afraid not.
You need to buy a car specific ECU tool prices 14-145£. I am going to get one soon the pricier end to be able t reset the service light and read error codes. I think if you google the subject you will find he same answers I have. www.gendan.co.uk think
 
:p
 

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