My Stilo is now on its 3rd year dealer warranty, having been transferred over when I bought the car

Took it to work today, filled up, and as I left the village EOBD light going crazy and Computer System Failure Light on display! Bl**dy great, and the car felt it was mis-firing as well

Limped home with it, and decided to phone the AA at 8am [other choice being to drag it down to the local dealer at 8.30] - dug out warranty card and phoned; they arrived within about 25 minutes

First thing to note was they connected up their diagnostics, and the Stilo wasn't even recognised as a model on their system - he was using Scudo until I pointed out it was a Stilo, lol - in the end, we communicated using the Bravo module!!! Ended up being the 4th ignition coil that was broken.

Phonecall to local dealer [I am on first name terms with them, lol] - confirmed part is a warranty part and tried to order it for the AA man to fit - NOT IN STOCK, and no luck at two other local dealers [nearest stocked was Aylesbury and Croydon - not options].

AA then said I was allowed a courtesy car! Result, because I needed to get to work - dug out my driving licence and credit card for fuel deposit and then the BAD NEWS - Apparentely FIAT, unlike other manufacturers, have told AA not to give out cars if the patrol had come to the house to fix the car - the fact I had limped home to make the call, albeit on a mobile, was not an issue!! I was carless

I now have to phone the AA in the morning, for them to come out, take me and/or the car to the dealership, pick up the part and let them re-fit it. I was instructed NOT to fit it myself, even though a five minute job. More hassle....

Moral of the story - if you break down within a spitting distance of the house, leave it there and get a free courtesy car

Ah balls, that's not good Stu... I'd say you're not a happy man.

Well, I am just glad it happened on a Friday, otherwise more time away from work...

As long as it gets sorted tomorrow, I don't mind - here's hoping - it is being taken away next Thursday for a CDA and 30mm lowering - yay

Bad luck Stu . Hope the car is OK and evil evil people for not giving you a car.

Hi,

That's a pain, but I am glad you told me. I checked the warranty on our Ulysse and the AA bit says you can't have the relay plus car hire if your within 1/4 mile of home.

I also checked our Volvo assistance (RAC) and this gives you car hire even if your outside your house. They will take your car to the dealer, drop of a hire car and then collect your car following repair and deliver it back to you if you can't collect it yourself. Seems a much better set up to me.

Hope you get it sorted tomorrow.

Andy

Cheers Andy - so do I! This was main reason I posted, to let everyone know this.

The funny thing is, I broke down over a 1/4 mile away - but decided to limp home, phone up and grab a coffee whilst I waited a few hours. I was shocked when I was given a 40 minute waiting time, with arrival in 25 mins.

From what the AA said, only the FIAT package disallows this. I think I have Green Flag rescue with my Barclays Additions account, so may check that out too.

Hi,

Our accountant came by today and he has just got an Aston Martin DB7. They say that England doesn't build decent cars anymore, but the quality was amazing.

I am thinking of selling the Fiat, Volvo, boat and wife to get one now. It's not that they cost a huge amount second hand, but it's like buying a new one everytime you service it.

Andy

How much you selling the wife for? :devil:

Hi,

There is a no returns policy though !!!.

Andy

Damn!

Extended warranty? Will it cover second-hand goods?!

Sloppy seconds for Stu!

The AA are sticklers for the 1/4 mile rule. The battery on my spacewagon failed last year. I limped several miles home with the lights dimming and the wipers getting slower. Less than 1/4 mile from home it gave up the ghost.

I called the AA and explained that I had my wife and 4 young kids in the car and I am unable to walk that distance home due to my disabilities. The AA operator said the only way to get a patrol man out to us was to pay an extra £40 for home cover and £75 for a new battery by credit card. Not having my card with me they refused to come out to us.

My wife and kids had to walk home in the dark and rain to summon a friend to tow me home. I had a battery fitted the next day for £30.

I wrote a letter of complaint and the response was they had followed normal procedures. Thanks AA!
Shrek

But what I don't understand is that the AA man suggested to me whilst on my driveway that a courtesy car could be arranged!! It was only when we tried to book it that the comment was made 'Oh, you are with FIAT warranty, they are on the OLD system and no car can be issued if on driveway!'

Looks like another FIAT cost-saving exercise with the AA

Cheers for that, will remember that if the unfortunate happens!

Unlucky with the hire car. I must have broke down less than 1/4mile away from home so I walked back, took my dads car to refit the old airfilter, drove back home phoned the AA, ran back and the van arrived about 5 mins after. Anyway I was towed to the dealer and was allowed a hire car

Oh well, at least car all sorted today - AA came out within 20 mins of phoning them, they picked up the part from the local dealer, fitted it, and waited whilst I took it for a quick blat round the lanes.....

I am smiling again now

Now just need to get the passenger airbag sensor fixed [part now in stock], plus my headlight leveller unit on the n/s is making some noise, and there is condensation in that front light as well, lol

But hey Stu at least it's running . Good news (in the end!)