I visited the Fiat main dealer this morning, for the first time since buying my Marea. Whilst there I asked them to pop the radio out of the dash which they were happy to do.

I then asked the service department for some information about my car that didn't come with it:

1) The two codes on the code card. We all know that these would be with the car if the ****** UK insurers hadn't insisted that new owners could not be entrusted with such information, and that it should instead be got from the Fiat dealer when needed. We also all know how potentially useful it is.

2) The radio code. Obvious enough as I was about to rewire the radio to work with the ignition rather than stay on all night after I leave the car and possibly flatten the battery for me.

I was told, by the main dealer, that:

a) They can "no longer obtain the 'code card' security codes for the Marea because it's too old" and further that "because of this, most customers who find they need them on cars of this age simply scrap the car as the alternative [new ECU, locks etc] is too expensive."

b) They can "no longer obtain the radio code for the Marea because it's too old" and further that "if you don't know the radio code and you disconnect the battery for any reason you'll have to buy a new radio, Sir."

My Marea was built in 1998 so is nearly 7 years old now and, whilst no longer a current model, I am surprised that Fiat's policy would be to wish it off the road quite so soon. Has the dealer mislead me, or is Fiat's attitude towards second/third owners of its vehicles truly that poor? Does Fiat really want to end-of-life cars just 7 years old?

Assuming that the dealer has not misinformed me then surely it does very little to aid the residual value of a Fiat car, which should concern Fiat as such a thing obviously affects TCO and thus sales of new cars.

Has anybody else encountered this problem?

Should I report it to BBC Watchdog to investigate and get the full story? If there is any truth at all in what the dealer said then I am sure that it would interest them.

my seicento was a '99 and the code card was easily obtainable

i would imagine its stored in a big database in italy somewhere, well thats where mine came from apprantly, so i would imagine its just a case of matching up a few details to get it sorted, i needed my code cause the ecu locked up, not because of changing keys

the radio code was supplied with the radio, have a look in your handbook and any other documents that came with the car, if you havent done so already, it might be hiding, maybe it is even on the back of the radio

other than that, you can get radio's de-coded, im not to sure about factory standard ones though, but always worth asking around

i would personally try another dealer

Its funny u mention scappin the car oilburner, cos to change the cambelt in my marea ( a 20 valve one ) cost nearly £1000. So in theroy i should scrap mine when its value drops below £1000 cos it would cost more to service it than its worth?

how can dealers charge this much for routine things?

Gaz,

I too had assumed that all this information was held on a large database somewhere. According to the dealer I visited though, this is no longer the case. As you say, perhaps I should try another dealer.

I have checked in the documentation for the radio code and cannot find it. Its definitely not on the radio because that is loose at present so easy to check. Certainly I could probably get it de-coded ... but why should I go to that trouble and expense when it's information that any other manufacturer would have readily available.

Or is this really the importer's fault, i.e. Fiat UK, as opposed to the Italian manufacturer being at blame.

Gadge,

I think the answer here is to get away from the main dealer network and deal with teh smaller independents: i.e. those companies that have the sense to value the custom that we provide as opposed to (apparently) considering supporting us to be an inconvenience.

I have only had my Marea a short while but enjoy driving it. I have already learnt of several specialists, all of which are able to do things that Fiat claim to be impossible and at a fraction of the cost. Resources such as this Forum seem invaluable if we are to continue running our cars.

None of which (unfortunately) changes the fact that the dealer I visited yesterday claims that my car is "too old" at 7 years for the information I requested to be available. I think I shall write to Fiat UK to give them a chance to comment officially, and see where that leads.

I was wondering though if anybody else on this Forum has had a similar experience, or is it just me?

Anyone that states a 1998 Marea is "too old" is clearly an idiot. Surely they are obliged to cater for older models?

You should have had a leaflet included with the car, allowing it you to register it too UK register (you get some window stickers too!) this is done when the car is first purchased at the dealer, they store information such as the red key number and window numbers etc.

Its worth a try i've been reading the leaflet, whats a free phone call worth, to see. Should be in your booklet, if not i'll give you the number. All FIAT vehicles (and Renaults, Citroen's Hyundais, Alfas, etc. are stored on this database after about 1996)

Below is a picture of what the radio key number card looks like:

If image doesn't work http://www.fiatgb.co.uk/car/Fiat_02s.jpg

gadge said:

Its funny u mention scappin the car oilburner, cos to change the cambelt in my marea ( a 20 valve one ) cost nearly £1000. So in theroy i should scrap mine when its value drops below £1000 cos it would cost more to service it than its worth?

how can dealers charge this much for routine things?

Click to expand...

search the forum, lots of people doing the 20v cambelt for around £400 or was you meaning if you had to pay main dealer?

Never heard that one before, could just be a lazy dealer.
You can get an audio dealer to get the radio code for about £30 or buy a decode set from eBay. Again check with another dealer first.

dave said:

search the forum, lots of people doing the 20v cambelt for around £400 or was you meaning if you had to pay main dealer?

Click to expand...

Just checked them out mate and that DOES seem more sensible, RESEARCH at Nuneaton quoted me a staggering £950 to do my cambelt!!!1

gadge said:

Just checked them out mate and that DOES seem more sensible, RESEARCH at Nuneaton quoted me a staggering £950 to do my cambelt!!!1

Click to expand...

You can try Powerfiat.com in Daventry. @ £550 I believe or take a longer trip to Laindon in Essex to Powerfiat.co.uk who do it for £395 including the water pump.

Lots of good deals around. Reason Fiat charge @£1k is that they use their menu pricing system. The engine no longer has to come out to do the cambelt and so doesn't take the 8 or so hours that the book says anymore.