Front Brake Discs

Had a New Ulysse since April 03. Had no end of issues with the Nav, oil light, seat belts, I could go on. I have now been advised that the car now needs new front brake pads AND discs. The car is 16 months old and done 16k miles!!! I can almost accept the pads, but discs going after 16k miles, when there is still 20% wear on the pads, strikes me as the dealer trying to stitch me up. Has anyone else had this problem, or heard about it? Does anyone know if the discs are faulty and that may be the reason for the need to replace?

Strangely enough we still actually like the car, despite all the problems we have had - so its not all bad news.

Any response would be appreciated.

Many thanks
Tony

Hello Tony,

Welcome to the Forum

At present, you are the first owner on here to come up with those specific problems. Granted, I have had a few myself, nothing drastic, and all dealt with under warranty [see my thread - service issues].

What was wrong with Nav, seatbelts, etc?

My car going in for first 12month service tomorrow, be interesting to see if brakes are mentioned at all.

One point, how hard do you drive the car? Do you sit with the brakes on at traffic lights, because this can warp the discs due to excessive heat build-up?

Stu

welcome to the forum

the "you need new brake disks" line is a common dealer ripoff thing, they make money out of it because its not covered by warenty.

Hi

Thanks for a quick reply.

My wife drives the car on a day to day basis, and she is a childminder, so its lots of short journeys. However at lights she usually puts the handbrake on, so there shouldn't really be an issue.

The Nav sticks every now and again, and the only way to get round it is by stopping the car and turning it off (reboot of computer in effect). The seat belt clip in the centre middle seat stopped accepting the belt (now resolved).

We have had a continuous beep in the car, which Fiat don't know what it is, but they have had it for 2 weeks while we were on holiday, and touch wood it hasn't happened since.

Other main problem has been the oil indicator light. Usual thing that happens is use it first thing, full oil level. Use it 2 hours later oil level showing zero, use it 2 hours after that 2/3 oil level. It has been in for this about 5 times, and still no joy. Had updates to the software, but all that does is start off something else.

Oh yes, and we've had the lcd screen dim, so you can hardly see it.

Suprising we still like the car isn't it?!

Thanks
Tony

Hi

That's exactly what I was thinking it was.

However, if you see my other posting they've tried this with the wrong owner. We have had so many issues, the car must have been back at least 10 times, even if they do need replacing I will be expecting this Free of Charge, to compensate for all the problems we have had.

Cheers
Tony

Hi again,

My mrs also uses the 'bus' for childminding, although I get to drive it weekends to give it a bit of a blast....

Interesting about the Nav+, I presume you are on the latest software update, 5.41 if I recall correctly. Not heard about the dimming screen either.

The beep is an age old problem, having been plagued by various Ulysse owners - do a search for 'Ulysse beep', or similar, and see what you come up with.

The oil indicator sounds like a dodgy sensor - will look at technical disk later, unless one of the Fiat technicians gets on here first

Stu

I had the LCD screen dim from start (it's brighten up after the car had been on for a bit) but it stopped doing that with RT3 software 5.40, and it's been fine on 5.41 also.

I've never had the 'beep' problem.

I've also had my breaks done, but I've driven 24000 miles in just under a year and done so quite aggressively, and had similar replacement patterns with previous cars, so am not worried about that.

I've had the nav stick a few times on 5.40, but never yet on 5.41.

Mind you, I have blown up an engine :-)

Hi,

I had the bleeping and it drives you mad, I updated to V5.4 and then to V5.41 and had no problems after that. In fact the RT3 unit was bleeping as I stuck the V5.4 software update CD in the slot, it stopped immediately and has never done it again.

On the oil level light, mine often gives different levels if I have just been driving the car. Probably because it takes a while for the oil to flow back down into the sump where it is measured.

On the brakes issue, I have an auto gearbox in our 2003 Ulysse which are normally much harder on the brakes. We have done 12K miles and the pads seem only 25% worn. We had a new Punto in 2002 and when it went for it's first service a year later they claimed the brake pads were more than 50% worn and the car had only done 5K miles. Anyway I said that as the service interval was 12K, how could they ever expect the pads to last long enough to survive between services. They then said it was only an advice comment on the service sheet. Anyway when we had the car serviced this year it had done 12K miles and they didn't mention the brake pads and they were the same ones which they claimed were 50% worn at 5K miles the year before. I just part exchanged the Punto for a Volvo and the dealer at Volvo inspected it and said there was plenty of wear left in the pads.

If I was you, I would look myself before you spend any money.

Good Luck

Andy

A quick check for discs that anyone can do.
Visual check: Is the disc excessively grooved, small undulations are ok. Are there any areas of corrosion on the area swept by the pads.
Feely check: Is there a lip of more than 1mm between the swept area of the disc and the edge. i.e. 1mm deep.
Sound check: Very gently apply the brakes whilst driving, are there any rythmic sounds that would suggest warped discs.

Hope this helps.

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

Did you just have pads replaced, or pads and discs? I've only been back from holiday a few days so I'll have to check the software release number.

I'm sure this pads/discs thing is just a way to get more cash out of me. I'll make the checks advised on other posts and update

Thanks
Tony

Welcome to the forum Tony,

I'll be interested in what the dealer says when you've had a second opinion on the discs/ pads.
Replacing them is a common rip off by dealers.

If you replace a set of discs then the pads should also be replaced.

Shrek

I thought you were only supposed to rely on these oil level sensors from cold (or when the car has had a chance to stand for a while) because of the movement of the oil otherwise, in the same way as you wouldn't use a dipstick on a car when then engine has just been run......

Very good point! I only tend to look at indicator once starting from fresh in the morning, at all other times I don't even look tbh due to fact engine already been running.

Going back to the brake concerns,the car is heavy so to wear the pads at 16000 is possible without doubt but the discs are a different matter,they really should do two sets of pads unless they are damaged, so get the measurment of the discs and get them to check with the spec, BUT the garage may be used to dealing with lease companies>>>> When they have a lease car in( this goes for any dealer of any manufacturer) that they want to fit new discs to the have to get authority to do this so when the lease company asks for the wear measurements the garage will look at the spec of the disc and the recommended wear limit then tell the lease company or owner i.e YOU that they are so&so worn and the garage then gets authority to renew! Easy eh, so my advise is get a second garage to advise you --BUT DO NOT go to a place like a Fast fit as they will try to sell you discs go to a smaller garage they tend to be more truthful

Tony,

The nav locking up is something I have experienced recently, there is a thread about this under my name. Mine always happens at the same geographical location (South Mimms Rondabout). At first I was stopping the car to reboot the system but then i found that ejecting the Nav CD also worked.

From past experience the Electronic Oil Sensor is to be relied on with caution, I have had two previous Fiats which have had similar problems. Check this thread http://www.fiatforum.com/showthread....ghlight=camber.

Regards
Luciano