Benn1 said:

Called Fiat to let them know my concerns, as I'm still waiting for a new drain tube after ordering it more than 2 weeks ago. They said they couldn't do anything about the alternator as the work wasn't done by a Fiat dealer & they would look into why the part hadn't been delivered by now.Thank's for your help & I'll let you know what happens.

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Thanks for the update. Seems strange that they can't reimburse you a certain amount for the alternator, regardless of where it was fixed. My suspension springs were repaired by a non-Fiat garage and Fiat still sent me vouchers to cover the cost of repair. Maybe i was just very fortunate. However, i did send them the query by email following my initial phone call - i do think alot of this depends on who hears about certain problems (ie mine somehow ended up with the Customer Relations Manager).

With regard to the drain tube, see if Fiat come back to you in the next couple of days, but if not i'd just get one from another dealer (assuming it's not a nationwide shortage) & when the other dealer phones to say it's arrived (assuming they ever do) just tell them you've got it elsewhere as you were sick of waiting. They'll have use for it i'm sure, judging by how many Puntos seem to be suffering this problem.

Best of luck.

I've emailed the service dept at the dealers I got my car from about this (Stockport Lookers Italia) and had an email this morning saying somebody from Service will get in touch with me shortly.

Will let you know if anything out of the ordinary is said. I didn't even know about this so glad I read it!!

AC Aberdeen booked mine in a few minutes ago with no hassle.

So the dealer got back to me and said it'd be £28ish to have it sorted and I could ring customer service to attempt to get Fiat to cough up for it if I wanted...

Got my replacement pipe from T J Vickers today (about 3 weeks after i first went in) just hope i fitted it the right way round cost about 7 quid

bjones371 said:

So the dealer got back to me and said it'd be £28ish to have it sorted and I could ring customer service to attempt to get Fiat to cough up for it if I wanted...

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Including labour for fitting it, that sounds about right. Assuming the car is over 2 years old? If it's still under the 2 year warranty it should be done for free.

Always worth phoning Fiat UK & asking them to cough up. They should've coughed up for everyone as it's a design fault but they decided to be stingy. However, if they have to pick between giving you £28 or potentially losing a repeat customer i'd think they'd be mad not to pay if you ask the question.

raphjd said:

AC Aberdeen booked mine in a few minutes ago with no hassle.

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GymJunkie said:

Got my replacement pipe from T J Vickers today (about 3 weeks after i first went in) just hope i fitted it the right way round cost about 7 quid

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Good to see this.

Sounds like the dealers are now more aware of the problem & how to go about getting it rectified.

Cheers for all the updates (all 3 of you).

JTD_Liam said:

Including labour for fitting it, that sounds about right. Assuming the car is over 2 years old? If it's still under the 2 year warranty it should be done for free.

Always worth phoning Fiat UK & asking them to cough up. They should've coughed up for everyone as it's a design fault but they decided to be stingy. However, if they have to pick between giving you £28 or potentially losing a repeat customer i'd think they'd be mad not to pay if you ask the question.

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Yep it's a 2006 so out of warranty now unfortunately - but £28 isn't too bad. What's the best way to go about persuading them to pay do you think? (I work in tech support so usually people ring trying to persuade me to help rather than the other way round )

I'd phone them on 00800 3428 0000. They may ask you to email after, but either way just say you've had to have your windscreen drain tube replaced as per Service News 7002.10 & that you've been advised online that Fiat UK Customer Relations have said they may offer reimbursement as a goodwill gesture to those who's vehicles are no longer under warranty, as the problem is due to a design fault.

It would probably help if you've owned a Fiat/Alfa before, or intend to own another, so make a point of mentioning that in your call/email. I got the impression that the good service i received was because this is my third Fiat & they knew i intended to buy another.

End of the day it's only £28 so whilst it's not end of the World if they say no, it should be pretty easy for them to say yes. It's not worth upsetting a customer for the sake of £28.

Got through all the process yesterday and a Customer Relations Exec phoned me and said they won't pay because the car's too far out of warranty (5 years old almost) and because it's not been getting its service inside the Fiat Dealer network...

Worth a shot

Dropped my car off at 7:30 this morning and have it back already.

They fixed the problem and did a full detail and we didn't have to pay a penny.

bjones371 said:

Got through all the process yesterday and a Customer Relations Exec phoned me and said they won't pay because the car's too far out of warranty (5 years old almost) and because it's not been getting its service inside the Fiat Dealer network...

Worth a shot

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Pi*s poor in my opinion. Servicing it outside of the dealer network & the fact it's nearly 5 years old doesn't remove the fact the wrong drain tube was fitted when it was made. How they get away with stuff like this is beyond me.

Glad you're not too fussed about it anyway! It is more about principal than money.

raphjd said:

Dropped my car off at 7:30 this morning and have it back already.

They fixed the problem and did a full detail and we didn't have to pay a penny.

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That's better news. Maybe there is a bonus to having a Fiat in warranty afterall!

JTD_Liam said:

Pi*s poor in my opinion. Servicing it outside of the dealer network & the fact it's nearly 5 years old doesn't remove the fact the wrong drain tube was fitted when it was made. How they get away with stuff like this is beyond me.

Glad you're not too fussed about it anyway! It is more about principal than money.

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No that was my initial argument, the car could be 5 years old or 55 years old, the problem would still have existed from the moment it left the factory. They weren't having any of it though so I'm undecided whether to pay for it or just leave it as I may be selling in 6 months or so...

bjones371 said:

No that was my initial argument, the car could be 5 years old or 55 years old, the problem would still have existed from the moment it left the factory. They weren't having any of it though so I'm undecided whether to pay for it or just leave it as I may be selling in 6 months or so...

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Did you buy the car new? Again it shouldn't make any difference but it may help.

If you want, i can let you have the details of someone at Fiat who might be able to help. Just let me know.

Hi, I finally got a drain tube from the dealer last week, I have to say I was most impressed with the speed & service I got from both Richard Hardie & Fiat ..NOT.... It's only taken them nearly 2 months & many phone calls to deliver a tiny plastic part. Neither Richard Hardie or Fiat are interested in dealling with the issue or that it has cost alot of people money & time due to a tech problem they both knew about .I have now found that the car has water coming into the drivers footwell area under the cleverly designed carpet with plastic backing so it doesn't show :bang:.
I have to say I like the car but both the finish & customer service is second rate to say the least which means I'll not be replacing it with a new Fiat next year. Do Lada still make cars...?

I had the frozen alternator, smoke filled car, belt snap in December 2009.

At the time the dealer seemed mystified, but replaced the belt and the tensioner (as a precaution) under warranty.

The alternator has had no problems since ( i expect it will fail one day out of warranty).

Got the mod drain tube fitted this week £5.65 part and £15.75+vat to push it on

John

Since Winter is fast approaching thing this needs fetching to the attention to those who have bought a Gp over the past year be it old or new......

Do I really have to read through all that to find out the problem, cause and prevention/fix? Defects the point of a sticky really.

rodduz said:

Do I really have to read through all that to find out the problem, cause and prevention/fix? Defects the point of a sticky really.

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Problem is in the title......


Cause is Freezing weather and water.....


Prevention / fix is in posts 3, 4, 11

Cheers ;-) Would my '09 plate already have the 'workaround' on it?