Do fiat Dealers keep less spare parts in stock than other car makes ?

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Do fiat Dealers keep less spare parts in stock than other car makes ?

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Jun 4, 2006
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Thought I'd pose the question, my experience seems to be, get fault, take car in, ALWAYS has to order part, as they never have any spares in stock, even simple parts like windscreen washer jets, I dont remember it being like that in the 80,s and 90,s when I used to drive english and french cars, but it might be that all dealers not just fiat have tightened up on inventory stock, to save costs, which means the customer has to wait longer for a spare part, which is all well and good as long as the car is driveable, but then you are having to drive backwards and forwards to the dealers, which is a pain, when you live in small town without a fiat dealer. I know fiats are generally cheaper than some of the other makes, but it might make me switch makes, due to service and warranty repair issues.
 
common parts such as o-rings tend to be in stock as most of the range use them, obviously if they had 10 in stock and sell 10 that day (unusual I would guess for washer jets) then of course your gonna be stuck going as #11.

I always do mine by enquiring over the phone and reserving before taking the 30 minute drive, I've done it before and they're happy to let me do that as they know I go straight after the phone call. Not sure what other dealers would be like though!
 
It was better in the late 90s, they did hold a lot more stock but as long as it comes within a couple of days thats fine.

The annoying thing is how quickly they delete things from older cars... I had an MR2 Mk2 which was discontinued in 1999, and was able to buy brand new, not old stock but new from Toyota in 2007... you try getting Fiat to make new mudflaps for a Coupe!

Also had a 1978 Suzuki bike and just 3 years back I was able to get a brand new mudguard and exhaust system from them.

I guess Fiat dont think the cars will last more than 10 years:)
 
realistically theres very little need for dealers to hold a lot of stock.
stock is just dead money till its sold
most stuff can be at the dealers next day
something like a washer jet isnt really a part in great demand unless theres a common known fault

Some dealers don't bother keeping them in stock even when it is a common known fault. Tried to get a camshaft position sensor from local Nissan dealer and didn't have any. They don't keep them in but it is indeed a common known fault.

Although our local Fiat dealer does keep a ready supply of Stilo coils.......
 
I've never experienced a main dealer that had a part I needed in stock. Its very annoying means any fault requires two trips one to diagnose one to fix. Yet when I used to use back street garages you took it in the morning they said right we'll get the part in from where ever on the van and it was back and done same day at about half the price.
 
stevenr, thats exactly what I'm talking about, its having to go back twice, and I do think Fiats dealer coverage leaves alot to be desired, I live in Goole, we have ford, vauxhall, citroen, puegeot, nissan, renault, proton, but sadly no fiat dealer, so its at least a 50 mile round trip to a dealer.
 
my local fiat garage is a joke for getting parts for my uno turbo, they can hardly get anything anymore and the few bits that they can get you would expect them to be made of gold the amount they charge,

i recently asked about a thermostat and they cant get them i mean what the **** is that all about? i'm expecting them to tell me they cant get me an oil filter if i ask
 
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We were talking about this the other night in the pub, when I had a coupe I couldnt get an original exhaust for love nor money. My local fiat dealer (Dixon Fiat at the time) said it was special order from Italy, and then when they looked at it couldnt give me a price or a delivery date!?!

A friend of mine seemed to think it was law that they had to make parts for 10 years after the last production. Is this true?

Dan
 
I agree about coupe parts, they don't even sell the main shell bearings for a 16vt anymore (they do the big ends still though)
 
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