Panda 2012+ stripped threads (engine cover)

[adnapTA]

My Twin Air Panda was recalled by Fiat for a fault on the coil. It's not been serviced yet so plastic cover over engine not removed. A local agent changed the coils all well!
I thought.. on checking the oil I noticed 1 bolt holding the cover was missing the bush that prevents squashing the rubber washer. Returned the car.. forgot to replace the bush! when I got home had a look at what they had done and found the other bolt had been stripped.. obviously they had used power tools to tighten the bolts! madness on alloy head. We have owned 3 Pandas in two years and this is not the first time we have had problems with dealers. Taking the car back Tuesday I may sell tickets for the show! any body interested? stay tuned.....

 

[Vic20]

We've just been phoned about this coil pack recall and it goes in the week after next. I'll take some 'before' shots now!!

They also said there were two other items that needed doing on the car, did they do anything else on yours? (without gorillering anything this time!)

Vic

 

[adnapTA]

hi vic.. just the coil pack replaced, let me know if any other parts are done.
thanks mick

 

[babbo_umbro]

How old are your cars? Any idea if this affects all TA pandas?

By the way = why do these arseholes have to use a power tool when there are a couple of perfectly accessible bolts to do/undo? Do they know what a torque spanner is?

 

[varesecrazy]

How old are your cars? Any idea if this affects all TA pandas?

By the way = why do these arseholes have to use a power tool when there are a couple of perfectly accessible bolts to do/undo? Do they know what a torque spanner is?

hi,
AFAIK ,
the recall was on ALL TA coil packs due to overheating failures in Traffic queues,
however I've not had any recalls for my march registered Punto TA,
- could well be a crap dealer / poor aftersales !,
as it took 3.5 months for the breakdown cover paperwork with phone number in case of breakdown..:bang:

they MUST have faith the cars are getting better

Charlie

 

[Shrub]

Having worked in several car dealerships and seen the utter disrespect that some 'behind the scenes' folk show towards customer cars I am not surprised. Please give them hell otherwise things never change (and when they do it happens slowly)...

Make sure you name and shame crap dealers, feedback to Fiat and publicise your experiences on websites such as Honest John. Likewise it is always good to hear about excellent dealers too. As soon as the car is out of warranty find a well respected, experienced independent Fiat specialist who knows how to look after your car without ripping you off at the same time.

 

[varesecrazy]

Having worked in several car dealerships and seen the utter disrespect that some 'behind the scenes' folk show towards customer cars I am not surprised. Please give them hell otherwise things never change (and when they do it happens slowly)...

Correct,
you only have to see how often people are on here in trouble after "the experts",
try and use the "security KEY" to fit / remove wheel bolts using a windy tool,
knackering them,

as stated avoid Dealerships whenever possible,
Warranty work only for me !!,
- EVERYthing else goes to an Indy Fiat / Alfa specialist ...or ME

 

[adnapTA]

11 months old.. not had first service 4k mls

 

[javnas]

The dealers are really boycotting Fiat brand. I understand there should be no reason to believe as such but the way they treat and fix our FIat is just out of control. Fiat needs to act quick in order to avoid chaos with the hard effort they are putting in this brand. I've seen attitudes such as why buy Fiat if I wanted quality and on.... ,Etc. WE need to act now.

 

[babbo_umbro]

The dealers are really boycotting Fiat brand. I understand there should be no reason to believe as such but the way they treat and fix our FIat is just out of control. Fiat needs to act quick in order to avoid chaos with the hard effort they are putting in this brand. I've seen attitudes such as why buy Fiat if I wanted quality and on.... ,Etc. WE need to act now.

"Boycotting" - what do you mean? Sabotaging, perhaps. Either way i think it's nonsense. I quite understand that you've bought a car and now think you've made a mistake - either with the choice of car, or with the support you're not getting from a particular dealer, or both - but I don't understand your call to "act now", or your expectation that other Fiat buyers, who have no complaint, or who understand that from time to time mechanical devices will develop faults, should join you in some fatuous crusade.

 

[babbo_umbro]

11 months old.. not had first service 4k mls

I was just wondering at what stage production TwinAir engines received the updated coils.

 

[doggydoctor]

I was just wondering at what stage production TwinAir engines received the updated coils.

I would like to know the same. I have two twinairs, one build in November 2012 and one in December 2012.
Have not had a call to get the coil packs changed.

 

[javnas]

I can see each one of us having some issues already

 

[babbo_umbro]

I can see each one of us having some issues already

Nonsense - I'm not even hinting that I'm having any issues, I'm just looking for information, don't read something into my posts that simply isn't there.

 

[javnas]

Nonsense, was talking about you or your car, lol

 

[Vic20]

Ours is a March 2012 registered model. We bought it ex-demo from the dealer in December 12. Knowing about the coil pack issues then I wrote to the salesman asking if they had already been changed and, if not, could it be done before I collected the vehicle. Obviously nothing was done.

Seems they have to await instruction from Fiat before they can do anything.

The other work required appears on the system as "Defined INT 5718" The service person was going to ring me back with more info on this...

 

[adnapTA]

I had no problem with Fiat repairing the threads on the head. I decided to take the Panda to a different dealer in Sheffield. They will repair the threads and service the car at the same time.
One of the members is right when he says these so called technicians don't care about your car.
This is not the first problem I've had and it won't be the last.

 

[adnapTA]

hi vic, the other fault your panda has is a software glitch that needs a patch on the management system... mick