Hi all, new here.

Just wondered what other people thought. We own a Fiat Doblo 1.3 diesel MPV purchased new in May this year after trading in our Old Doblo Family (again 1.3 diesel).

A few weeks after taking delivery of the car one of the warning lights (along with a message) advised us that the anti pollen filter was blocked, but a few days later the warning went away so we thought it just a glitch. However, a couple of weeks later it happened again so we took it back to the garage (supplier) to have it checked. We were told by the guy on the desk that it may well need the filters cleaning!!!!! Really? It appears that the car required a software up-grade which they did under warranty.

Unfortunately, some weeks later the same warning came back again, then a couple of days later disappeared again. Then last week it showed itself again closely followed by a second warning light and a message saying that an oil change was required. So my wife contacted the garage to get the car checked again this time she was told that it was quite possible that the oil will need changing, oh and at a cost of £67.80. Now am I over reacting here, is it reasonable to expect that a car only 6 months old with 5000 miles on the clock should require an oil change? And I know things are tight what with the recession and all that but previous cars (and motorcycles) I have owned from new the first service (not just oil-change) was provided free of charge by the vehicle supplier.
What does the forum think?

Keano

Well, I can't see how it really needs an oil change, even if the light says so. Obviously the garage will want your money, but how do they know what's going on with the electrics? Sounds like an intermittent electrical glitch to me, but still one that would have me a little concerned.

I'd go with the software fault and hope for the best and that the light stays away for a while. Can't need filters at 5000 miles, surely?

Software update is available if not already done.

If car says it needs a oil change then it needs one. Oil changes are dependent on many factors. what it will mean i come its first service it will probably not need a oil change unless the oil degredation factor is below a certain threshold.

Users of these engines who constantly stop/start (health visitors/taxi drivers for example) require earlier oil changes (not services) due to the style the car is used in.

If first service was free think how much that would cost Fiat every year?

Ulpian, I think the garage might of been refering to DPF filter. Personally i'd ask a tech about this not reception staff of which no offence to them of course but prefer talking to the person who knows/does the job.

I know what you mean. It just seems that 5000 miles is a bit soon for an oil change in our climate, almost regardless of usage. However, if the usage really is perpetual stop-start, then certainly, an oil and filter change might well be needed, and probably a DPF burn out too. These DPFs are a pig though. And you are right about the tech. I never felt content passing my concerns to a receptionist and than walking away. Fiat techs can be good.

Ulpian said:

These DPFs are a pig though.

Click to expand...

Now that's a sweeping statement - would you like to tell us more :bang:

Well, only what you can read on many posts here and relating to other manufacturers. Unless the cars are driven regularly for reasonable distances, say half an hour - but don't quote me - they don't seem to achieve the necessary very high temperatures needed for long enough to burn out the crud. This then builds up and the engine eventually goes into limp mode and has to be 'regenerated' by the dealer.

Where I live the council has bought a large number of VW Polo Blu Motions, and they are having a lot of problems with them when used for only very short local journeys. The AA recommended they didn't buy them but it looked like good eco-publicity to go ahead. Small petrol engined cars would have been a better bet.

The Fiat 1.3 is a good engine, but it can have DPF problems if not used for regular longish journeys. Some people only drive for five or ten minutes at a time, and in the cold the engine never gets properly hot, then it clogs up, and then the garage has to sort it. This can cost money, which rather negates the point of buying Diesel. Honest John in the Daily Telegraph only last Saturday (I think it was) recommended the small Fiat Diesel with this same DPF caveat.

This is not a Fiat problem alone and applies to the Diesel engines of most manufacturers using DPFs, which they must now do to meet the latest particulate regulations.

When Fiat applies Multiar technology to the Diesels they will run cleaner anyway, and the problem should be solved. But not yet it seems, quite. I expect a car driven hard and often would give no problems, but one nursed along gently and used on only shortish journeys will probably give trouble.

Phew. There!

Thanks Ulpian for the lengthy response. I think you have 'hit the nail' with the problem of DPF's i.e. lack of use in terms of distance driven causes a clog which then has to be removed by techies in garages.

In these cases are Fiat and the others guilty of failing to tell the world about the issue before we buy? Seems daft to me that we buy a diesel for economy and then have to drive it twice as far to avoid the DPF clogging problem :bang: - as you indicate petrol engines would be the better choice in such cases.