Technical Our 5.5 hour ordeal with two month old GP Dualogic

[luvduvs]

Today my girlfriend and I went on a trip from Sydney to Wollongong, a 1.5 hour drive down south. Here's what happened:

10:00am - Left Sydney.
11:45am - 3~4kms from destination, the car beeped, and the transmission symbol on dash started flashing (with error message 'Check transmission handbook') whilst we were on the highway. So we pulled over, stopped the car. Couldn't start it again - beeping sound and flashing symbol continued.
11:50am - Still beeping sound and flashing symbol. Called Fiat Care, who said they'll send a mechanic to take a look at it.
01:30pm - Shonky-looking 'mechanic' arrived, looked absolutely clueless at the Fiat and didn't know what the hell was wrong with it. Tried disconnecting the battery for two minutes, reconnected, still beeping and flashing. Called Fiat Care again, this time they said they'll send a tow truck to tow the car to Wollongong. They refused to have it towed back to Sydney because they had to tow it to the nearest Fiat dealer, which was bloody closed today.
02:40pm - Tow truck arrived. Dropped us off at a nearby train station. Then continued to have the car dropped off at a holding area to be sent to the local dealer on Tuesday morning (four freaking days from now).
03:20pm - Hopped onto train heading for Sydney.
05:20pm - Arrived in Sydney.

Whilst waiting for the tow truck we managed to get the car started, but the beeping and flashing symbol would not go away. This happened once already after two weeks of having the car, and the dealer back then dismissed us because he couldn't replicate the problem when we got the car to him. Its most likely a faulty signal being picked up and we could have continued driving the car, but I seriously did not want to risk doing any damage to the bloody thing, in which I would have voided the warranty (knowingly driving it when there was clearly an error message).

Further to this the dealer I bought the car from said they did not have the Dualogic handbook, which might have helped in this case. What's worst is that the gearbox was supposedly recalibrated yesterday at the dealer, which was supposedly tested and given the green light.

Trust me, sitting in a car on a highway in the famous egg frying Australian sun for almost three hours has made us extremely pissed off with this farking Dualogic.. What's pissed us off most is that its completely spoiled our trip, wasted our time and we had to get home at our own expense. What's even worst is I'll have to make time to go down there (at my own expense again) to pick up the car myself!! WTF?!?!

Fiat Australia will be hearing from an angry me very farking soon

 

[T14086]

Oh mate bad news

When you say it wouldnt start...was the padlock (immobiliser) light on?

 

[luvduvs]

If my memory serves me right, no it wasn't. But I guess that's not the main concern because eventually I managed to start it; the key issue was the fact that the beeping would not stop and the transmission symbol would not stop flashing. From reading other threads in this forum, and from my gut feeling, its very likely its just a faulty signal and that there's nothing actually wrong with the transmission. Apparently all it takes is for the system to be rebooted using a Fiat kit/tool (whatever its called).

The key question I want answered by the dealer/Fiat AU is: how can I be assured this would not happen again?

 

[T14086]

Just trying to get as much info as possible as suspect a CAN problem (hence immobiliser light on),more than likely loose/poor connection somewhere in which case I have a suspicion where the problem could lie,but I would first check every module in the car with examiner especially using the 'info on CAN network' function and monitor sensor/switch 'parameters'.
When are you hoping to hear some news about your car? (your 12 hours infront/behind?)

 

[luvduvs]

Cheers mate Sorry to sound ignorant, but what's the CAN problem?

The very earliest I would hear something would be Tuesday morning (Monday being a public holiday). They basically have a week to sort all this out as I will be collecting my car next Saturday regardless (I'm not prepare to use my annual leave because Fiat can't make their cars properly)..

AU is about 12 hours ahead.

 

[Andy Monty]

"sitting in a car on a highway in the famous egg frying Australian sun"

I'll do you a swap you can drive my GP around a cold wet and dark Yorkshire for a few hours if I can sit on the highway verge and bask in some sun



Suppose the fact its sunny and warm voids my idea about damp and electronics

 

[T14086]

Suppose the fact its sunny and warm voids my idea about damp and electronics

He forgot to tell you he went through a hurricane 5 minutes earlier


Luvduvs...CAN is controller area network,basically the way modules 'talk' to each another...binary.

 

[luvduvs]

Ok thanks.. I'll get the dealer to have it checked. Is there anything else I should be asking the dealer to check?

 

[T14086]

I'm concerned about the non-start thing to be honest,got to start at the basics & check that brake switch first.

 

[luvduvs]

The thing is, I reckon it was able to be started all along; I just didn't realise I had to hold the turned-key for longer than normal... the real concern I have is the flashing symbol that doesn't go away..

 

[Turbodiesel]

That sounds like a complete pain in the butt mate. I'm from NSW as well and have been reading these forums for a while to see if there are any aussie owners in here.

Continuously reading about peoples problems with this car is starting to turn me off purchasing one...

Besides this latest issue, what has your 2 months of FIAT ownership been like?

 

[luvduvs]

That sounds like a complete pain in the butt mate. I'm from NSW as well and have been reading these forums for a while to see if there are any aussie owners in here.

Continuously reading about peoples problems with this car is starting to turn me off purchasing one...

Besides this latest issue, what has your 2 months of FIAT ownership been like?

Well apart from a few minor issues (e.g top demister not sitting properly, steering wheel makes clicking noise because of loose nut etc), I'm generally happy with the car and the 'What the hell is he driving?' looks from onlookers. However this incident is the turning point where I've started to become quite unhappy with it. Believe me, once I have it resolved and have all the facts ready, I'm going to have a real blast at Fiat AU for all this inconvenience.

Having said all that, and taking into consideration all the horror threads about Fiat reliability, quality etc on this forum, I still believe every manufacturer has its own problems (e.g. Ford Falcons and their squeaky brakes, Holden and their numerous recalls etc). Since Fiat has been away from AU for so long, they do lack the experience/expertise that many of their counterparts have. The key question I want answer now is how they're going to prevent a repeat of this incident, and how they will compensate for the inconvenience caused (i.e. own expenses to get home, time wasted etc).

 

[Turbodiesel]

Well said. Maybe in time all these issues will eventually fade away, as with any other new product on the market. That's why I think I'll be waiting a while before making any decisions.

You have every right to complain though, especially in your case so I don't blame you. I'm interested to see how it all pans out, keep us updated

 

[luvduvs]

Here's an update on this. Got a call from the dealer where my car ended up and he said when the car was started this morning by the tow truck driver (when delivering), there was no flashing transmission symbol or any other warning lights/sounds :bang:

After it had been checked, I was told that the flashing transmission symbol was caused by a faulty brake (light) switch that was sending the wrong signal (implying that there isn't anything wrong with the transmission). So looks like T14086 was spot on

It will take until Thursday to have this replaced, and should be ready for collection on the weekend... so will just have to wait and see I guess..

 

[alexGS]

Well, I just found your thread... four minutes after your latest news - that's timing for you.

Sorry I can't be of any help but it is indeed a great shame that FIAT kicks off in Australia with issues like this, though I can't help but think that it's the care and attention of dealers that will make or break this, not just the product. Remember that FIAT have been selling plenty of cars in the last 20 years; just not in Australia. I hope they don't ruin their reputation (again).

My three-year-old Selespeed Stilo is going fine, but I've heard of one locally that needed the brake light switch adjusted/replaced. T14086 did well to identify that. Just a shame that no-one closer to you could do so on the first time the warning appeared? Though being a public holiday was appalling timing for trying to get it fixed, don't you think? I think next time this happens, keep driving regardless... I don't think that would void the warranty - maybe check this point with your dealer?

At least you won't have the old problems of bodywork corrosion...

Do you have Sat-Nav maps for Australia?

Thanks,
-Alex

 

[luvduvs]

Well, I just found your thread... four minutes after your latest news - that's timing for you.

Sorry I can't be of any help but it is indeed a great shame that FIAT kicks off in Australia with issues like this, though I can't help but think that it's the care and attention of dealers that will make or break this, not just the product. Remember that FIAT have been selling plenty of cars in the last 20 years; just not in Australia. I hope they don't ruin their reputation (again).

My three-year-old Selespeed Stilo is going fine, but I've heard of one locally that needed the brake light switch adjusted/replaced. T14086 did well to identify that. Just a shame that no-one closer to you could do so on the first time the warning appeared? Though being a public holiday was appalling timing for trying to get it fixed, don't you think? I think next time this happens, keep driving regardless... I don't think that would void the warranty - maybe check this point with your dealer?

At least you won't have the old problems of bodywork corrosion...

Do you have Sat-Nav maps for Australia?

Thanks,
-Alex

Cheers mate for your comments. You're quite right; there are several factors that contributed to this situation:

• It was the weekend before the new year and almost impossible to get any services anywhere.
• It happened at a location that was so far from home. If it was just a few km then sure I would have risked driving it to the local dealer.
• I didn't want to risk driving it any further in case there was something wrong with it. If I did drive it then sure it would have been less inconvenient, but me being a conservative non-gambler, I took the long way
• If by chance my local dealer had been able to diagnose/fix this the first time it happened, obviously it would not have happened the second time.
• If I had the Dualogic manual with me (which the dealer told me didn't exist), this might have somehow helped.
• And obviously because of the faulty part.

So I guess in a nutshell, a wide range of factors that were, really, beyond my control. My top priority now is of course get my car back and fixed

(Yep we have sat nav here, though you'll have to buy it as a separate unit, which is quite expensive...)

 

[Turbodiesel]

Here's an update on this. Got a call from the dealer where my car ended up and he said when the car was started this morning by the tow truck driver (when delivering), there was no flashing transmission symbol or any other warning lights/sounds :bang:

Isn't that always the case? Well at least they called you back.

Just out of curiosity, what colour/model GP do you own? I've only seen one
on the road and that was on my way to work near Wollongong.

 

[luvduvs]

Isn't that always the case? Well at least they called you back.

Just out of curiosity, what colour/model GP do you own? I've only seen one
on the road and that was on my way to work near Wollongong.

Good old Murphy's Law.. :bang:

To be honest I have been quite satisfied with the level of service I've been getting from both the local and Wollongong dealers. They've been friendly and fairly efficient in getting back to me - got to give credit where its due!

Doubt that was me.. mine's a Dynamic 1.4 petrol in New Orleans blue..

 

[T14086]

Take it car is now ok mate?

 

[luvduvs]

Just got the car back. No beeping sounds, no flashing lights :woot:

This dealer is excellent - he said they had downloaded some software updates for the transmission which will help ease the problem - all without having me to ask him. Also washed and vacuumed my baby for me. Shame I couldn't meet with him face to face today, so left him a box of chocolate as a small token of appreciation