Technical Fiat dealer hasn't reset Oil Change Counter, but which Fiat Dealer?

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Technical Fiat dealer hasn't reset Oil Change Counter, but which Fiat Dealer?

newfiatuser

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My mum's got a September 2009 Doblo 1.3 multijet that's done about 25,000 miles.

It was serviced by the Fiat dealer who she bought it off (let us say "Dealer A") in late June 2011, the service being done in early June 2011 (at about 22,000) before she bought it, and by a different Fiat dealer ("Dealer B") at the end of July 2011 (at about 22,500 miles). Both dealers recorded that they changed the oil and filter. The reason it was serviced twice so close is because mum was unaware that the supplying garage had just done a service as the service book was missing, however they have since sent a replacment service book, where they have stamped for the June 2011 service and also stamped retrospectively and on behalf of yet another Fiat dealer ("Dealer C") who did a service at around 12,000 miles in July 2010.

A couple of weeks ago (in June 2012), the oil degradation warning light came on. Mum was just a mile from home and besides it was Saturday night so she went home. Incidentally, the nearest Fiat dealer (who is Dealer B) is about 50 miles away, and there is another slightly further one, let us say "Dealer D" (!). She hasn't used the car since, we have been using my car since I am staying with her, and as I began to fear that something was not quite right. I did not just want to have especially Dealer B, but really any garage, deal with the issue without further investigation and knowledge gathering on my part so I ordered an ELM interface and downloaded FiatECUScan software, and started reading these forums!

Using the above tools I confirmed that the "Distance to next Oil change" is reading "0.0km", and the "Oil degradation level" is reading "0.000%" (I believe this means the car believes the oil to be totally degraded.)

I did also find that the "oil change counter" value reads only "1". Also I read that "Odometer at last Oil change" gave a figure near 12,000 miles, but that this figure was about 500 miles adrift of the recorded mileage at the first service of the car with Dealer C. I have read on either here or the fiatscan forums the "Odometer at last oil change" reading is to be ignored as it is not correct with FiatECUScan software. However despite the discrepancy of 500 miles it would make most sense if the last time it had been reset was at the first service the car had, with Dealer C. If I cannot trust this figure then it seems I don't know who out of Dealer A, B, or C has not
reset the oil change counter while at the same time asserting that they changed the oil, but at least two have not (although if Dealer C had not then someone had been driving around for a few thousand miles with the oil light on until it was serviced by dealer A at 22000 miles, as surely it would have come on at 20,000 miles?? So I don't definitely know whether the car thinks the oil is degraded after 13,000 miles or 3000 miles of use, but I suspect the former.


Further background information that might be relevant here:

-Around Dec 2011 I reminded my mum to check the oil level in the car. She checked it and thought the level was OK but I also said that if it did ever need topping up it would be best to use the same kind of oil Dealer B had used when doing the oil change. She phoned up Dealer B and they said they had used Texaco. She tried to get some Texaco oil but they didn't have any in two garages she tried. She phoned back Dealer B and they said "you can't get Texaco oil in Scotland" (Dealer B is in Scotland BTW just to make it clear!). Mum asked what she should do if she needed to top up and Dealer B said she could take it to any Fiat Dealer and they would check for her and top up if necessary.

- Around January 2012 mum came down to England (where I live) and I checked the oil level. I thought the level was OK (perhaps if anything overfull, but hard to tell as usual with dipsticks, when it is over), I did comment that I thought the oil was surprisingly dirty considering it was supposed to have been changed in July (granted I don't have much experience with diesel engines).

-While in England before mum set off for Scotland we went to yet another Fiat dealer (Dealer E!) to get some oil just to keep in the car in case it did need topping up, and I went into the parts department and the guy brought out some Selenia after I gave him the reg no and I said, "will this be OK to mix with Texaco?" (I couldn't be any more speific as "Texaco" is all mum had got from them) as that's what Dealer B had put in, and then he was like "no you shouldn't mix them", so we didn't get any oil to keep in car. He also said that Dealer B should have used Selenia oil.

-After phoning up Dealer B to mention that Dealer E had said that they wouldn't advise mixing oils so we couldn't have a Fiat Dealer top up the car as they had previously suggested (mum didn't mention that Dealer E had said that Dealer B should have used Selenia), because dealer E had said the oils shouldn't be mixed, Dealer B said "Which garage said that? That's rubbish oils can be mixed".

-On the Fiat service sheet of Dealer B the car is down as a 1.4 petrol, and I notice that box ticking has been done that suggests that DPF filter is not applicable, even though the car has a DPF. Specifically on the section where it says "Every 12,000 miles "Replace engine and oil and oil filter (versions without DPF (+)", has been ticked, whereas an "NA" had been put next to "Replace Engine oil and oil filter (Multijet versions with DPF (**) (or every 24 months)".

-The printout from the service database of Dealer C (obtained for mum by Dealer A via email communications with Dealer C), indicates that semi-synthetic oil was used (no further level of detail about the oil).

-When I used FiatECUScan I noted that the DPF was 89% clogged and the "Odometer at last DPF replacment" (Which I understand should read "Odometer at last DPF regeneration") read about 25,000 miles. Also both "Odometer at last spontaneous regeneration" and "Odometer at last forced regeneration" read about 120 miles.

-Roughly 3000 miles have been covered in almost a year since the last service. However while one may think this is classic high demands on oil/DPF with low mileage scenario, in fact the use has been regular once a week on rural roads at national speed limit with no traffic lights and very little traffic (so no idling at standstill etc) for about 12 miles just to get into town, and then back (and knowing about DPF issues I have instructed mum that she needs to open up the car on these trips as well!). On top of this there have been a few long motorway journeys to get out of the area, with perhaps some town driving on these trips.

-Looking at how dirty the oil is currently (and it smells of soot and diesel), I thought it might be best to get the oil changed even if all that has happened is that Dealer B and A have just not managed to reset the oil change counter (having seen the state of the oil in Jan though I suspect this is not all that has happened, I suspect at least the last dealer didn't change the oil or filter, or at least used wildly inappropriate oil). Mum phoned up Dealer D to ask them what kind of oil they use in an oil change - they said Shell!

-I note that the oil recommended for this model of Doblo in the manual is Selenia WR. I also note that the Selenia site now recommends Selenia W.R. PE, which is actually a different viscosity to that receommended in the manual being 5w-30 instead of 5w-40. The manual seems to make no reference to the DPF either in terms of precautions when choosing oil or in terms of driving and allowing full regeneration cylces. The logic of using a low-mid ash oil C1, C2 or C3 seems to me to make sense for a car with a DPF. From the experiences above it is clear to me that asking a Fiat dealer about this issue is not necessarily going to yield a satisfactory answer. I think it highly likely that the dealers have just put in whatever oil was at hand. However even Fiat have not in my opinion given clear enough guidance as to what kind of oil should be used in relation to cars with DPFs.

-Yesterday mum phoned up Fiat customer services to explain that this warning light came on. She also mentioned the car had been serviced at a Fiat dealer at the end of July 2012 and that she didn't think this should be happening. She also mentioned that the oil was dirty and smelled of diesel. Fiat explained that the warranty was now with the dealer. They agreed she shouldn't drive the car and said that she would have to arrange for a recovery company to pick up the car and take it to the nearest dealer (they indicated Dealer B). When mum explained that this was the dealer that had done the last service and she didn't have confidence in them, Fiat CS gave her the details of Dealer D (of course we already knew these, but I suppose it did just confirm that Fiat are still recommending them as dealers, and mum was too polite to shut the CS rep up!).

-Also mum phoned up Dealer A on my recommendation to check that the 3rd year warranty had in fact been transferred. Fortunately it seems to have been although we await the documentation. She also mentioned this oil light issue and they said "oh they've probably just forgotten to reset the oil change light". (No mention of how this might be a serious issue as some on this forum seem to think it is.) (Obviously I suspect that neither Dealer A nor Dealer B in fact reset the oil change counter.)


I would be interested to hear people's opinions on the service we have received from Fiat and their network of dealers. I do notice that people often come on here saying, "get this done properly, go to Fiat, don't cut corners for the sake of a few quid, it is essential ECU counter be reset when changing oil" etc etc. I present this story to show that you can try and do "the right thing" and still end up totally confused and in reality your car not be serviced to spec. Also this is not just one dealer!


Going forward, do people agree that it would be unwise to drive the car with the DPF clogging at 89% and the oil change light on, and the oil actually in bad condition (my opinion)? Either way, whether we have to pay for them to come out or whether we risk driving I am thinking of paying for a diagnostic test and printout (probably by Dealer D) at least to prove that the oil change counter has not been reset by at least two of the three dealers that have done an oil change (hopefully using Fiat software the odometer reading at last reset can be recorded reliably too, so we know which two of the three it was). I just want this in case there is a subsequent DPF problem or other problem relating to the oil change counter not being reset. Assuming we could prove that it had not been reset since the first service it would also provide an argument against driving style being the reason the oil is bad and the DPF is clogged, because the car would have assumed that 13,000 miles had passed and that is not too bad a figure. (? not entirely sure about this logic though.)

Proving the poor condition of the oil is as a result of either the wrong type of oil being used or even the oil or filter not having been changed at the last service, might prove to be more difficult, is there a test that I could ask Dealer D to perform (would they have to really know their S**T??)? However, if the type of oil used could be identified as well this might well give support if we later have a DPF issue as well as an engine issue, as the wrong type of oil can affect the DPF?

Having said the above, if you do not drive with the oil change warning light on, I assume that there should not be any damage to the DPF caused by the oil warning light not having been reset (e.g. it doesn't reduce the frequency of DPF regenerations as the oil quality approaches zero).

Anyway, back covering aside, I suspect what needs doing to get the car driveable again is the oil counter to be reset, and also an oil change would be prudent given the actual condition of the oil. But if I get Dealer D to do that they use Shell instead of Selenia, and anyway I'm not clear on which Selenia would be best . .. although I think a ACEA C2 or C3, or even better C1, oil would be best, regardless of fiat spec (and it doesn't sound like dealer D pay that much attention to detail).


Had there not been some warranty and evidential issues I would have just changed the oil and filter myself and reset the light and taken the car for a good blast hoping that the DPF would clear, and that not too much damage had been done to the engine by oil in bad condition (probably all would have been OK!) Instead hours fighting with garages and customer service lay ahead I suspect, because we decided we should "do it right!", just in case there are further problems.

(Apart from above, I've driven the car and it's an amazingly good drive for a 1.3 with such big body!)
 
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Thanks, I am used to it looking nice on petrol engines for sometime! we had been told that actually by someone else which is why we did not pursue it that much when I noticed in Jan, always good to have more opinions, but I did have my suspicions, which have now just got a bit less again!

Hopefully all that is needed is the reset light but will still probably be having the oil changed as well.
 
T14086, you don't want to know how many times I fell asleep writing it.

But funnily enough one of the inspirations for alot of it was your comment on the Doblo oil change guide:
If your doblo has a DPF filter then the ECU counter must be reset by dealer, this is of vital importance.
Someone did ask you for an explanation of why it was of vital importance but that does not seem to have been added to the guide.

However from looking at other threads I think the reason it is of vital importance is because otherwise you get the oil change light, and then shortly after (unkown time) the DPF stops doing regens . . . (as said above I wonder if it has any effect before this, e.g. does the regen frequency tend to decline as the oil quality approches zero, aside from it stopping after it reaches it).

I don't know if there is any other reason it is of vital importance?
 
Hoping just the latter as yes apart from light coming on just now the driving experience has been fine. (But on a new car abuse can have a toll that only tells sometime down the line unfortunately.)

I thought the oil was very dirty but that might be just my lack of knowledge about diesels.

But, if you stand by your statement "it's of vital importance", is it ever just a case of "just needs oil light reset"??

I guess, if the user is aware that regens will not take place when the light comes on no harm will be done? (But you see as we are stuck 50 miles from dealer now this becomes a problem.)

DPF clogging is at 89% according to FiatECUScan . . .
 
I don't know who said DPF wouldn't regen if oil warning light was on, but I do remember reading somewhere that sometime after the oil warning light comes on the car would fail to DPF regen. Obviously don't believe everything you read on forums but in seemed to make sense, especially read alongside your "vital importance" statement.

If not the above though, why is it of vital importance that if your car has a DPF the ECU counter be reset by dealer then? Like the poster on the oil change guide I'm ready to soak up knowledge (and anyway it would be good to add this explanation to the guide)!

Anyway, given above, am wary about driving the car to dealers which is 50 miles away, so light has not been reset but will be next week, just undecided about how to go about it (pay someone to come out or take risk and drive in). Fiat customer services have advised not to drive car!
 
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Sorry I’ve not been updating. Hope you’ve been sleeping OK despite my lack of activity T14086! Most of my spare time has been taken up with this damn issue, Fiat CS (or should that be CD) have been worse than useless, and it’s becoming stressful now. The car is still sitting there in the garden.

(Battery is next I bet, does anyone happen to know if you have to take any special precautions to take out the battery for charging – security codes etc - or can you just disconnect and reconnect?)

I think the previous Fiat CS who said not to drive the car was maybe just agreeing with my mum’s concerns in totally ruling out driving the car, but no they said she had to use her own recovery membership, if she had any. Since then I have had many exchanges personally with Fiat CS and their official line seems to be “we haven’t got a clue on technical issues, and we are unable to put you through to someone who does, please speak to a dealer”. (However when it comes to a point which might be to our disadvantage they seem to be a bit sharper on these matters e.g. “more regular oil changes for low mile vehicles,” they tried that on! Ah, typical customer service! But it still says in the book for e.g 6000 miles it should be every year, so they were technically wrong.)

I should make it clear that I haven’t told Fiat CS or any Fiat dealers that I have used the ELM interface and FiatECUScan software and therefore from their point of view it is just my hunch that the oil light hasn’t been reset by Dealer B. I am fearful of disclosing the fact I used an OBD reader because having experienced the attitude of Fiat CS and dealers it may be just another thing they can try and use against us.

However I think that in this situation where we have done everything asked of us by Fiat and this light has come on, they ought to give us the benefit of the doubt even if they do not know for sure what has gone wrong. A car of this age that has been serviced at correct intervals and at Fiat dealers ought not to have this problem.

Anyway, the end result is Fiat CS were unwilling to do almost anything positive. The one positive thing they did was phone Dealer B and Dealer D. Dealer B apparently said that the light has come on because the car does low miles, Dealer D apparently said it was probably regeneration issues (again I presume because of the low miles) or it might be the light.

So I phoned Dealer D ready to take the risk and drive the car into them for diagnostics, I would have paid for them to come out but they would not come out. Before finalising I explained my suspicions to them about dealer B (again did not mention my own reading of the data) and asked if there was any way they could tell how many times the oil counter had been reset and also when it was last reset. They replied that there was no way to tell (and this was after consultation with the mechanics I was led to believe), in fact they went on to say that there was a service counter but there wasn’t an oil counter and that the oil quality was determined by a sensor, I think also something was said about it “measuring the thickness of the oil”. Of course I cancelled the appointment because this information was counter to everything I have come to believe about how the car works in this area and I lost my trust in Dealer D as well now. (I perhaps should make it clear that all of the dealers I have referred to are different companies, they are not all part of one chain, they are only bound together by Fiat, and perhaps “professional courtesy”.) (I might also mention that this conversation was after Fiat had phoned them. I had spoken to Dealer D before Fiat had phoned them and I can’t be certain because I didn’t make a note of that bit but I do seem to remember the same person there knowing about the oil counter – in other words it may be that Fiat leaned on them not to help us but to cover up Dealer B’s mistake!)

Immediately after I phoned Dealer E and they confirmed that it was possible to tell how many times the oil counter had been reset, using Fiat Examiner (which I didn’t bring up but they mentioned). They are back in England, to be honest I was ready to drive it the hundred of miles to Dealer E and have them deal with it, but they recommend not to drive that far.

I phoned Fiat CS to tell them about the contradictory information from Dealer D and E and basically to say, whether Fiat can clear up the inconsistency and also what can I do now? Also I wanted to suggest “Hell, can’t you arrange for a competent dealer to come out and if the fault is our fault I’ll pay for the visit myself”. I got through to someone (say CSR 2) but as we now have a specific person assigned to the case (say, CSR 1, who is never in when I’m available!!), I was told that I would have to wait till Monday morning (this was Friday afternoon) and there was nothing CSR2 could do. I did explain the inconsistent info from Dealer D and E, and also suggest the deal about a dealer coming out. CSR 2 again at times seemed to be technically dumb but also seemed to be very interested in the identity of Dealer E and also who I spoke to. I did tell her the identity but didn’t release the name of the person I spoke to (just in case they had given me more information than was “Fiat policy”). On Monday afternoon I got a call, not from CSR1, who’s absence caused the excuse for lack of action on Fri afternoon, but from CSR2. It was a message, and I was told simply, “to take the car into any Fiat dealer and they would be able to advise me”. Talk about begging the question . . .

Anyway, on reflection now I don’t even know if I’d trust a dealer sent by Fiat CS arrangement as they might be pressured to make the wrong findings (yes after having dealt with Fiat CS I really am that suspicious of them!) Instead, I will try and deal with Fiat CS retrospectively.

So, I phoned up yet another dealer. (Yes, OMG, Dealer F!) who are yet that bit further away (80 rather than 50 miles). I explained the situation to them and asked them whether they could tell how many times the oil counter had been reset and when it was last reset and they said they could. However when I asked if they could print out the information they said it was downloaded to a memory stick and they had no facility for printing, nor could I have a copy because there was other data on there (yeah, I didn’t ask for the whole contents!). Anyway, they said if they find it hasn’t been reset they would help me with Fiat, but it still sounds a little iffy that they aren’t prepared to give me a printout.

So, I’m just about ready to take it in to them, I haven’t asked if they will come out but it would be a big expense and if they are not upfront with me then I won’t be able to claim that back either, even if they are there’s a chance I might not be able to get it back (I can see Fiat arguing that although the oil counter was not reset still the reason the light came on was due to low miles). . . could maybe see if AA will take it in but there are risks associated with transporting cars too.

So still a bit unsure what to do . . .

If anyone on here knows what exactly are risks of driving with oil light on???? T14086, I’d love you to explain your “vital importance” comment on the oil change thread still!
 
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OK well just got off the phone to Dealer F. I wanted to know what course of action they would recommend if indeed it was found that the oil counter had not been reset at the last service. I.e. whether we should have an oil change anyway or whether it would be sufficient to reset the light (indeed would they be willing to do this?).

I was told that they couldn't say until the car was brought in really until they do diagnostics beause they can do all kinds of things like check the oil quality through that (they weren't referring to a physcial test) - really I felt the way this was put across was in a trying to blind me with their "competence" type of way. They also said they were sure it'd be brought in and they'd find that the oil "really did need changing" - ie my hunch was wrong. I also said how can they tell the actual oil quality is there a sensor and they said yes. Admittedly I was speaking to a service manager or rep not a mechanic! In fairness they did know about the DPF injecting fuel into the oil (correction, DPF regen causing fuel to be injected into engine which ends up in oil?), so it seems they kind of half understand what the car does.

Anyway I tried to explain best I could that I believed it doesn't work like that. That we already know the diagnostics are going to say the oil is degraded because that's why the light is coming on, and that the oil quality is worked out by the ECU from taking into account things like when the oil counter was last reset and (like they had already mentioned) the number of times fuel is dumped into the oil because of DPF regens. To be fair they did finally say they weren't sure about the sensor and they'd check with a mechanic and get back to me tomorrow, but "I wouldnt' necessarily get the answer I wanted to hear"! Hey, all I want is the truth and some consistency!

Does anyone know, maybe there is an oil sensor? (I think it makes sense that the other things, time oil counter last reset, DPF regens, are taken into consideration, but maybe there is an oil quality sensor as well, at least two Fiat Dealers have said there is??)
 
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LOL! I wonder what the dealer explanations would have been if I said I did the last service myself and didn't reset the oil light . . . or just I suspected an independent of not resetting it . ..
 
I would,

Check the dipstick, is the oil level healthy and does it feel slippery? if so
book it into a dealer for an oil change and don't worry about driving it there as long as its got oil that's the main thing. The advice not to drive it was probably someone thinking it was the oil pressure light on which is a lot more serious.
Charge battery if necessary, I dont bother disconnecting as long as its a low rate say less than 10amps, but its up to you should be ok either way.
Try not to stress or to overthink things, its human nature that dealerships might clam up when questioned a lot.
Its best to avoild mixing oils but its not a disaster and the main thing is that there is a healthy oil level. Most engines would far rather have mixed oils than have none.

Good luck, forget past and move on.

Edited, It should say what doblo it is on by the drivers door striker plate.
 
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John thanks for the advice but you are wrong. (Well I mean not totally wrong but in a way!) We are dealing with pervasive poor service bordering on dishonesty from a system that is meant to be the best way to service your Fiat.

Yeah I could've dealt with this myself in about an hour. Changed the oil and filter and bought the paid version of FiatECUScan and reset the light myself. I still think that would have been the best option for the car itself going forward. But do you think, if subsequent problems arose, that Fiat would have been as forgiving in their approach as you suggest I should be ?

Or, alternatively we could have taken it into Dealer B and there is little doubt in my mind that they would have changed the oil, put it down to low miles/DPF issues, and profited from their past incompetence, rather than reveal it. That would probably have been teh easier option for us (assuming no further problems arose due to having been driving around without the oil counter being reset at the last service) . ..

Furthermore, really we want to sell the car as it is no longer required, not because of this issue, shame we didn't sell it before! I would expect a future buyer, quite rightly, to be concerned about the fact the oil has been changed more frequently than expected. Combined with the low miles the car has done that might point to potential DPF issues. However we have never had a DPF light come on and as I say DPF clogging is at 89% which perhaps is not so bad. The reason for the oil change is of crucial importance here. If it's due to oil counter not being reset that means the car has not been operating under as adverse conditions due to the DPF as might be suspected (prejudicially) due to low miles. (In fact as I said above it has had regular weekly outings on national speed limit roads with little traffic and no traffic lights, and some long trips as well.)

Yeah I did think that about the battery as it'd only be a 4 amp charger but as you can see I definitely don't want to upset the ECU in any way, or give Fiat any reason to question its integrity!

I know what type of Doblo it is, Dealer B didn't appear to on their service sheet even though the reg is right.

Thanks for the tip about the oil feeling slippery I may have a feel but really I wouldn't feel qualified and those kind of "feel" things can only be got by experience I think!

I am aware that it is better to have mixed oils than no oils, the point was made to show why I began to lose confidence in Dealer B. They said "we could go to any Fiat garage and have the oil topped up". When I went to another Fiat garage to get oil mum could keep in the car they said they wouldn't recommend mixing oils and Dealer B should have used Selenia. (Varying advice from different dealers! Whether a Fiat dealer should or should not use Selenia I don't know, but the advice should not be conflicting.)

You might be right about the misinterpretation of the oil light as teh oil pressure light however I have heard that there can be serious consequences of driving around with the oil degraded light on too.
 
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OK well good luck, I thought you wanted to get motoring again and didn't realise you had a point to prove.

Yes I wouldn't recommend driving around with the oil degraded light on for long, however a trip to the garage for an immediate oil change should be possible I would hope, I can't imagine the oil is that much different 30 miles after the light than 30 miles before. I guess if Fiat CSA have advised not to drive it, you can't regardless.
Hopefully to most buyers frequent oil changes should be a bonus rather than a negative.
 
OK latest update in a nutshel, I'll do my bestl!:)

Now service manager at Dealer F also saying that there is no oil change counter tally, or odometer reading when it was last reset. They can only tell if and when service counter last reset. I've confronted the guy on this while at the same time saying I'd like to use them if possible but I can't if that's what they believe and he has promised to consult further (he already did ask mechanic) and reevaluate position.

Whatever happens about proof of why oil light has come on no-one will come out so that we don't have to drive or have it transported in.

Not sure whether I should now just disclose to Fiat my findings on FiatECUScan.

Thinking of changing oil myself but not resetting counter. At least then I know oil when driving there to get counter issue sorted the oil is sound. But it could be held against us (or who buys car) in future by whoever administers Dealer Warranty, or Fiat/DealerB if there are any more claims that could be linked to Dealer Bs not resetting oil change counter.
 
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Actually, let me see if I can improve on that, in a nutshell: Fiat F*****S. :bang:
 
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