Hey all,

It's been months since I posted. Having had to have surgery and a few too many complications since, I've been in and out of hospital and my car has been laid up in the garage and not in use, bar my missus taking it out once a month for a 30 mile motorway blast to keep it all in check. Everything turned off when parked.

Well come to last week, I'm finally recovered enough to be driving again and the doc has given me a clean bill of health, I can't say the same about my battery.

Went to start the car and.....nothing. Wouldn't even turn over. Power was so low that when I tried to open the window the radio turned off. I trickle charged it for 24 hours and it started fine, took it on a extended drive (3 hours and 180 miles). Parked it up and all was well. Until I had the same problem the next day.

Well I've checked the alternator voltage, battery voltage and while it's charging just fine, it's not holding charge at all.

Dealer says it's a wear and tear part and therefore won't replace it, but I contacted Exide (the OEM supplier) who says the battery has a 3 year warranty and fiat must replace it. Had anybody else had a issue with Fiat dealers replacing a battery? The car is only 23 months old so I would have thought they would be more receptive but they have zero interest!

On a side note as I need to use the car, I've replaced it with a Exide Premium EA530, 4 year warranty and the 53Ah capacity and 531 CCA are vastly better than the original. The OE battery only has 300 CCA and 40Ah capacity. (To put that in perspective, a Lion el cheapo special from Euro Car Parts has a absolutely shocking reputation in the trade for lasting less time than a drunken old mans ciggie actually has a higher AH and CCA than the OE battery)

Car turns with zero effort and charges to full capacity in half the time of the original. So if anyone with a 1.2 needs a new battery, that's a good shout. £62 from my old school motor factor compared to the OEM battery being £92.86 from the dealer and £89 online.

And on a brighter note, during my recuperation, the car has had a comprehensive service at my favourite local indie, my fathers private plate is now on the car after he left it to me and it's having new wheels fitted next week. Cannot wait to be driving it again!

A battery can go wrong just by standing/left connected in a car. I once almost went crazy because my jeep battery - new battery - kept going flat. The shop I bought it from exchanged it (after I fitted a new alternator to no avail..) and said that even a new battery standing on a shelf can develop problems after just 3 months.

If you ever have to leave your car standing for long periods, consider using a solar powered trickle charger:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...kw=solar+powered+car+battery+charger&_sacat=0

My friend bought one, connected it to his car and went to China for 1 year. The car started immediately on his return..

First of all, I hope your health issues are resolved - they put everything else into perspective. I had to have the battery on my 13 reg 4x4 TA changed after about six months - no hassle - probably not closely comparable but I'd say you should get a replacement under warranty.

I agree with babbo_umbro. The battery has a 3 year warranty. If you'd bought it from, say, Halfrauds, you would have returned it to them, and expected them to replace it. In this case, Fiat supplied the battery to you, as part of the car. But it's still covered by its 3 year warranty, so Fiat should replace it. Otherwise, your warranty on the battery is worthless.

Firm but polite - such as,"I'm afraid my inability to restart the car means it will probably be stuck across the entrance to your showroom until there's a working battery in it."

babbo_umbro said:

First of all, I hope your health issues are resolved - they put everything else into perspective. I had to have the battery on my 13 reg 4x4 TA changed after about six months - no hassle - probably not closely comparable but I'd say you should get a replacement under warranty.

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Thanks for the kind words, yes 95% recovered now. Unfortunately it was a routine operation but complications got in the way, law of sod I think.

I've been to 3 dealers in the past week and just got a faint whiff of disinterest each time, each time the old 'wear and tear' was the excuse trotted out. Hell one of them even tested the battery which was in my boot and said it was kippered.

I'm half inclined to drive the car to the dealer tonight and put the buggered battery back on when I arrive and leave it there until they resolve it. I'd even accept reimbursement for the replacement that I had zero choice in buying as I needed the car to go back to work but flat refusal has been the name of the game so far. We shall see what gives.

Very glad you are on the mend.
I agree you have had shoddy service from the Fiat dealers.
You have some options,
Contact Fiat head office and see what they say , contact trading standards for advice, read terms of warrantee to see if battery specifically excluded.
Or if this has already caused you more than £62 worth of aggravation put it behind you and enjoy a working car during rest of your recovery.
I know the last option is difficult initially but it is a valid choice.

jackwhoo said:

Very glad you are on the mend.
I agree you have had shoddy service from the Fiat dealers.
You have some options,
Contact Fiat head office and see what they say , contact trading standards for advice, read terms of warrantee to see if battery specifically excluded.
Or if this has already caused you more than £62 worth of aggravation put it behind you and enjoy a working car during rest of your recovery.
I know the last option is difficult initially but it is a valid choice.

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Indeed a fair point! I will likely try a final attempt to resolve tomorrow but if no luck I may just try to forget the matter and carry on.

For what it's worth, looking at the technical specs I managed to dig out, the OE spec battery is pretty poor. I think typical Fiat cost cutting plays a part as even £39 no name batteries I've found have exceeded the OE levels by some margin. As the new battery has a 4 year warranty and from a local factor I've been using for donkeys years with no hassle I may just roll with it, at least if it goes pie in the sky I can just walk in and get the owner to swap it with no hassle. We live and learn I guess!

As a final update, after haranguing the Dealer Principal over a battery with a 3 year warranty but no warranty all at the same time he agreed to arrange either a new battery (OEM) or £45 towards the battery I had to fit.

Suffice to say I took the money and drove into the sunset. I'm only £20 odd down but have a better battery, they disposed of my knackered old one and I can put it to rest [emoji106]

Well done for sticking to your guns.

And todays winner is....Alexiloki

Not perfect but not bad - give the gentleman a cigar.

babbo_umbro said:

Not perfect but not bad - give the gentleman a cigar.

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jackwhoo said:

And todays winner is....Alexiloki

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gar074 said:

Well done for sticking to your guns.

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Thanks guys. I think in the end he was happy to get rid of me! And at least the little Panda isn't a glorified paperweight while I'm waiting for something to be done [emoji106]