36'000 mile service, should i let fiat do it?

[supermcc_afc]

Hi guys & gals how ya doing? Rite my 02 sporting punto is due it 36'000 mile service and I was wondering should I take it to a "offical" fiat garage or another garage where the service would be a lot cheaper? The thing is in the past I've always taken my baby to fiat for its service in order to maintain its warrenty but now its 3yrs old and the warrenty has expired so now I dont have to. I'm thinking take it to fiat coz well their fiat and they deal with fiats but on the other hand it will be expensive and I'm thinking take it to an independant garage as it will be cheaper. What to do aye? any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Helz]

Since my first (bad) experience with a Fiat garage, I've taken mine to a local independent garage where it gets far better treatment. I think you have to be lucky though - there are a lot of idiots and rip-off types out there. When phoning round I asked the price, what was included and also a 'test' question to see if the person knew their stuff (which as it happened was quite important for the service anyway). In my case, if they knew what a wobbly bolt was they got my business!

 

[Nino_1975]

I have never used Fiat dealers, reason:- There not mechanics anymore, plug a computer in and it tells them what to do. + there expensive.

Look for Fiat experts. I ask Fiat dealers for advice and they look at me blank.

 

[hmallett]

In a word, No.
Instead, find a reputable and trusted specialist, and use them. You live in The South, so try PowerFiat.
H

 

[T14086]

Its up to you as your paying for it but spend a few minutes phoning alot of garages in your area first.However Fiat trained technicians are more knowledgeable to a particular models faults & more likely to spot them.


"I have never used Fiat dealers, reason:- There not mechanics anymore, plug a computer in and it tells them what to do. + there expensive"
Thats your opinion but I haven't touched examiner for 3 working days now while doing brakes/clutches etc...examiner can't tell you to change these can it? Also examiner is a 'diagnostic tool' and nothing more! Only in a few cases can it actually identify a fault (airbag module internal fault-renew module for example) otherwise it can only tell you what it 'sees',after all it might detect a sensor isn't sending a signal but it does not mean to change the sensor as wiring could be faulty.If used correctly it is a excellent diagnostic tool but only in the right hands.
As for expensive,yes I agree but you are paying for expertise,techs have to attend endless training courses (wether they want to or not) and exams plus frequent testing,attend 'technical clinics' to solve past & possible future problem areas which is good for swopping vital information/ideas between technicians,its not all roadtesting & tea breaks you know

 

[Nino_1975]

If my local Fiat dealer was as good as you said I would love them to touch my beloved Barchetta. I think it's down to past experiences.

Go with what you trust. Our local Fiat dealer has a bad rep.

 

[T14086]

Thats your choice and aslong as your happy with your local garage great
Garage where I spend most of my time are actually quite honest & will tell customers of any accidental damage & even book it in to be repaired on the spot/arrange a courtesy car after all these things happen in any business or trade...often out of the techs wages though if he was careless!

 

[RobW]

Italian car specialist any day - have a chat with local branch of owners club and see who's good. Fiats need empathy and know if the mechanic really loves them or not.
After a good service the car should feel alive again.

If you can find a local Italian car specialist that is a true enthusiast you will be laughing! Sadly most Fiat dealerships do not fall into that category, there are exceptions.

I'd love to service your baby if you fancy a run over to glos one weekend.
pm me if you're interested

 

[sammiboo]

In a word, No.
Instead, find a reputable and trusted specialist, and use them. You live in The South, so try PowerFiat.
H

totally agree with you on that

 

[supermcc_afc]

Just to follow up I took my baby gal to the local fiat dealership for its 36000 mile service. They did the service, front pads & two new front tyres for me. And boy was I pissed when I picked it up. To be honest I dont care about the money its the quality of service that i think about when i take my car to a garage as my car is my pride & joy and i treat it as such & i want them to do the same!

Well below is a pic of how my rims used to look! now there propper fooked! Chips every where, suffs on the edges, dents in the alloy where they've taken the bolts out! My local fiat boys have done a number on my rims. Total shock horror!

The garage was just closing when I picked it up & when I pulled them up about it I obviously werent happy & they just said dont worry bring it back in the morning and we'll have em fixed up for ya or we'll buy you a new set.
well its going back tomorrow and we'll see but I will NEVER take my car there again! Souls MG/FIAT milton keynes, NEVER AGAIN!

 

[Nino_1975]

Shame matey, I feel for you. 2 weeks ago I took my car for it's 1st MOT, at lunch time the F-Ing chap at the garage decided to pose and took it for a test drive. Crashed the dam car and cost 2.5K to fix. F-ing kids!!!!

Well I should get it back soon.

Why do garages do this. like you said "my pride and joy" treat it with care.

 

[Moriarty the mundane]

Hi all
IN ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM SEE IF THIS HELPS YOU TO DECIDE!

Have any of you had call to talk to the Fiat Customer service line? I have never been so dissapointed and angry with such a crap service as this. Not only could they not get me an answer to my query they could not tell me the correct procedures as laid down by Fiat.
My problem...it would take toooo long to tell and my typing is even slower suffice to say: i needed two replacement Fiat supplied parts that had been replaced by a Fiat dealer and a third party garage checking and replacing under Fiat parts guarantee.
The gist is if a dealer fits the part you are covered for fitting costs. If a 3rd party fits it you pay for fitting. However, they thought and said that all costs incurred at either garage are covered. However, only by the garage that fits it!
To put it in a scenario...

If you have for example a breakdown in Bilston west mids, a nice
blackcountry Fiat guy will repair your car for you. You pay your bill
and off you go. Forget the Fiat three year deal I am talking out of
warranty now. You then drive back home, to wherever, lets say two
hundred miles away and the part fails again. You take it to your local
Fiat dealer and they will replace the part but charge you fitting!
However, if you get the car trailered back to Bilston, they will fit the
part and replace it for you under warranty for free!

Now have exactly the same scenario but work is originally done at a none
Fiat dealer and they wont pay fitting costs, and if the part cannot be
returned as the driver delivers the new part, they will charge the
garage for it! Who will subsequently have to make a claim to get there
money back.
I know because it happened to me yesterday and I have had to buy my own
Maf sensor to have fitted today at a Fiat dealer as the independent
quite rightly wasnt to happy about paying twice and possibly not getting his
money back!!
Incredible, I know, but I have had to go along with it to get my car
back on the road. Hopefully, but I am not conviced, it will be done today.

Finally, just to tell you something to be warned about.
Fiat have told me even when they know a part is faulty, if the warranty
work is not finished and invoiced by the time the warranty expires, they
just will not pay up as it is deemed out of warranty!
So... moral of this story?

Get your warranty work done in good time...use a Fiat dealer local to
where you live for all work and next time you change your car...don't
buy a Fiat!

Moriarty the mundane....fighting for the consumers rights!

 

[HornetUK]

supermcc_afc I used them for my last service and they were fine, but now I'm tempted to try Pinneys in Luton next time.

What about there actual service...any good or were there more issues than the wheels?

Let me know if they sort it out for you.

 

[satty]

I never use fiat because lets face it unless its under warrenty there useless anyway. I've always used my local AA Service centre... goood honest people and they give a 12 month guarantee on all work done. Its only £100 for full service and they alert you to possible problems in the future.

They were voted best service garage 2 years running now. Also you get a discount for most things.

 

[T14086]

'Get your warranty work done in good time...use a Fiat dealer local to
where you live for all work and next time you change your car...don't
buy a Fiat!'

And other car makers are different? (except Mercedes who like to hush up any problems they have) I think you will find similar posts on Ford,Vauxhall,Citroen etc forums Fiat are no different.
The reason someone buys a Fiat is because they like it simple as that.
The details of the service/warranty plan are clearly detailed in the service schedule book & by the salesman......errr well forget about the salesman bit
Why should Fiat (or any other manufacturer) pay out because a customer doesn't get his/her car serviced in time....everyday day I hear customers screaming that they want work done under warranty yet have not kept up the service schedule.....tough!

 

[satty]

I understand what your saying, and your right, but as soon as your warrenty period ends theres no advantage of paying over the odds for a crappy job, you can still keep your full service history and take it to a garage you trust will do a good job.

 

[T14086]

Yes agree with you there but there are a few points to remember.
A well established Fiat dealer is likely to have some very experienced technicians there who have come across just about every known Fiat fault,thus diagnosis is made faster & more effectively.
Quite often local independant garages often send the customers car to the dealer for repair (which they get a discount on & often get very good rates as there are friendly with each another) & add a bit extra on the bill to the customer when they collect the car.However this can still be equal to or lower than the dealer repair price so would work out as a more cost efficent method.
This is in no way a slur on independant garages (most were working at dealers before they started up their own garage anyway) but is it not better to have someone work on your car who is trained & works exclusively on that particular make daily? On the other hand dealers have high running costs which must be covered by the customer.I will say that many independant garage workers though are very experienced and do actively try to keep up with dealer methods etc... I guess its as you say finding someone you can trust,after all if you gain their trust you will return.

 

[supermcc_afc]

supermcc_afc I used them for my last service and they were fine, but now I'm tempted to try Pinneys in Luton next time.

What about there actual service...any good or were there more issues than the wheels?

Let me know if they sort it out for you.

I've been in to see them (Souls Milton Keynes) today & I must say if the do follow threw with their promise big respect to them! Because the damaged was done by B&T Tyres which is the company that they sub work out to when they need tyres done, like mine did and it was atually those boys who done the damage. Souls have promised to replace the rims for me, so if they do I cant knock em.

Their service was atually very good and I've used them a few times before & always been happy with them. I was obviously absolutly fuming when i picked my car up after its service but if they follow threw with there promise all will be forgiven & i will happily use them again & have total faith in them! I'll let ya know if they do...

 

[HornetUK]

Thats sounds good, so what are they actually waiting for to carry out the replacement...not the subbie to admit they did it? As thats not your problem its Souls's!

 

[Hellcat]

I wouldn't let them touch my diesel Tipo - never mind if I owned something special. The only reason I'd go to my local Fiat garages would be to buy a part you can't get from motor factor shops or online. Brake heat shields for example.

Best place for servicing is a genuine Italian car repair shop. We have a place called Walkers up here in the North. They mostly deal in Lancias but know enough about Italian engines to realise that my Father in-law's Sedi had its timing belt 1 tooth advanced and a balancer shaft 90 degrees out of alignment! So choose your garage carefully or you'll have a pile of useless cast iron and bent valves!