Technical Low oil pressure causing loads of errors

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Technical Low oil pressure causing loads of errors

The car has done a very easy 4.4k miles and is only 11 months old. Should never have bought a Fiat?
 
Hi,
I don't think that your car has had low oil pressure or any engine problem. It's had a electrical problem of some sort that has caused multiple errors on the digital communications (CAN bus) between various modules on the car. This could have been a bad battery connection, voltage surge, loose plug, or even something external to the car like a high power radio transmitter (this is unlikely though). The oil pressure warning was a symptom of the electrical issue. You neeed to wait and see what happens. I suggest you take it back to the garage in a week or two and get them to read the error codes again to see if any have come back.
The oil consuption seems a hit high but not excessive. Low milage can do this as it can take a while for modern engines to settle down.

Robert G8RPI.
 
Hi.
Engines last longer when used in different conditions. Low loads and low revs cause the bores to glaze which can increase oil consumption and higher crankcase pressure due to poor ring sealing.
The old age "Italian tune up" is quite correct, a good booting works wonders.
 
With all those fault codes, I strongly suspect your battery is FUBAR.

Why do you think that?

Years of fiat group products!

Xmas tree dashboard usually equals a knackered battery.

Get it checked.

I'd second the battery. The dealer was probably right to top-up the oil, and obviously clearing the codes is good, but there's no way that there's that much wrong with the car - if a car fires off that many warnings then it's just saying it's been unable to complete the checks of the various on-board systems - the most usual reason an Italian car says it can't complete the checks of the onboard systems is there isn't sufficient electrical voltage to do so. That's usually down to the battery. Fiat's do occasionally have duff batteries from the factory, which only last a few months before giving up. My Parents Nissan Juke had the same problem with battery, though it only fired a couple of warnings.

If the same thing happens again I'd tell the dealer to change the battery. I'd have thought most Fiat dealers would know this is the most likely cause to be honest! (n)
 
UPDATE. Car towed back to dealer again with exactly the same faults. Been at main dealer (Threeways) for 10 days but they only looked at it yesterday. Battery reported as OK.
 
If all they've done is to clear the error codes and put a cupful of oil in, then sadly I'd bet money you'll be back at the dealer before very long.

UPDATE. Car towed back to dealer again with exactly the same faults. Been at main dealer (Threeways) for 10 days but they only looked at it yesterday. Battery reported as OK.

This is not good news; condolences. Clearly there is a fault with your car and I'd insist on it being properly diagnosed and repaired before accepting it back.

By any reasonable measure of customer service, not even looking at it for 9 days is beyond appaling. If you haven't already filed a complaint with Fiat CS, I'd suggest you do that now.

If they say again they've reset the error codes and all is now well, but aren't able to give a credible explanation for its behavour, then I'd refuse to take it away.

Have they given you a courtesy car for the duration?
 
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This is not good news; condolences. Clearly there is a fault with your car and I'd insist on it being properly diagnosed and repaired before accepting it back.

By any reasonable measure of customer service, not even looking at it for 9 days is beyond appaling. If you haven't already filed a complaint with Fiat CS, I'd suggest you do that now.

If they say again they've reset the error codes and all is now well, but aren't able to give a credible explanation for its behavour, then I'd refuse to take it away.

Have they given you a courtesy car for the duration?
Hi,
I had to hire my own courtesy car locally as I was due to go on holiday the following day. Fiat CS say they will refund the hire. That car has now been returned and I now have a hire car provided by Fiat - though it took them 4 days to source one!
Sad thing is, I have now lost confidence in the car and it has marred the enjoyment of what should be a fun vehicle. I have zero confidence in the dealer, which is a 140-mile round trip from my home, but will not accept any BS from them this time.
 
Hi,
I had to hire my own courtesy car locally as I was due to go on holiday the following day. Fiat CS say they will refund the hire. That car has now been returned and I now have a hire car provided by Fiat - though it took them 4 days to source one!
Sad thing is, I have now lost confidence in the car and it has marred the enjoyment of what should be a fun vehicle. I have zero confidence in the dealer, which is a 140-mile round trip from my home, but will not accept any BS from them this time.

May be time to consider your options to return the car for a full refund. Ask dealer first then take advice. Your insurer or breakdown company may provide legal advice as part of you cover. If you paid any part of the car (over £100), even just the deposit with a credit card, you should be covered for the full amount by the credit card company. If so get in touch with them. In my view this is a significant (safety) issue so you have the right to return the car.
Top tip: if buying a car always pay a deposit of at least £100 with a credit card.


Robert G8RPI
 
Agree with post about returning your car. Can I ask what hire car you got. If it's a Fiat Panda or 500 that's relatively new with a number plate starting R or W I'd guess it's Fiat's own car. I'd negotiate a swap if on finance with FCA and keep payments the same (or less). I'd make sure you get the hire charges refunded as soon as. Some dealers and manufacturers honestly cannot fix one of their own cars. This doesn't mean you should avoid Fiat. I've had 7 (6 of them Pandas and they've been fantastic).
 
Hi, the hire car is a Renault Captur, brand new, from Hertz. I live in a rural area, so the job was outsourced to Proximo. There's no finance involved - paid for car outright.
 
There's no finance involved - paid for car outright.

That at least puts you in the driving seat if you do decide to reject the car.

Don't underestimate the hassle and frustration of going down this route, though - treat it very much as a last resort if you can't get any kind of satisfactory resolution through Fiat CS.
 
Further update. Fiat dealer Threeways of Abergele have now had my car for THREE weeks. Mind you, they sat on it for a whole week at the beginning citing lack of technicians etc. and the usual cr*p of a heavy workload. 10 days ago I was told it had an oil leak that they couldn't track down and that the other errors had been tracked to a loose connection at the ECU. Was anticipating collection last Monday but they rang to say that the old faults (hill holder not possible, etc etc) had reappeared on a test run. So much for the loose connection! Today, Fiat Italy called to day that Fiat Technical were now involved and had suggested changing the spark plugs. Bear in mind that this is a car that has not yet covered 5K miles, how feasible do you guys think that the plugs could be causing these dash warnings and intermittent faults? I've now reached the stage where I have zero confidence in Threeways as I have been fobbed off once
too often. Next stop? The Court System methinks.
 
Today, Fiat Italy called to day that Fiat Technical were now involved and had suggested changing the spark plugs. Bear in mind that this is a car that has not yet covered 5K miles, how feasible do you guys think that the plugs could be causing these dash warnings and intermittent faults?

Pretty much none at all.

The TA uses platinum tipped plugs which are good for 20k at least; the chances of them causing the symptoms you've described to us here are basically nil.

I'd say you've been hugely unfortunate and have got a lemon car.
 
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