mjt said:

Had a phone call from Fiat UK and I felt totally fobbed off. They kept saying that they know what the problem is and were just waiting on an advisory to come out of Turin on how to fix it. My dealer is adamant that they do not know what the problem is which is why Turin took ownership of the problem in the first place.

Apparently the car has been through about 6 litres of oil in the first 1000 miles the car has been driven which horrified me. I knew they had been filling it up each time the car went in recently, but didn't realise it was that bad.

I've told the dealer and Fiat UK that if a fix isn't forthcoming, and soon, along with a guarantee that the future trade-in value won't be compromised because of this issue, I am rejecting the car.

The head of Fiat UK's customer services department is calling the dealer tomorrow and they'll be calling me after.

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Hmm, when I started reading your thread I thought to myself that the only time petrol engines blow out smoke is when they are burning oil - but you said in your first post that the oil levels were ok.

I was also a bit worried when you said the dealer told you it was using a cupfull of petrol on start up because of a blocked tube, this doesn't sound right to me - more likely it was dumping unburnt fuel through the exhaust system which is not good for the cat

Now it appears it has used 6 litres of oil in 1000 miles which raises my first question - is it burning oil on start-up? Maybe a bad oil seal or a piston slightly below tolerance? Both of which would require an engine stripdown which obviously the dealer won't due without permission from FIAT - did the dealer tell you they had topped up the oil so much or have they kept you in the dark?

radriderx said:

Hmm, when I started reading your thread I thought to myself that the only time petrol engines blow out smoke is when they are burning oil - but you said in your first post that the oil levels were ok.

I was also a bit worried when you said the dealer told you it was using a cupfull of petrol on start up because of a blocked tube, this doesn't sound right to me - more likely it was dumping unburnt fuel through the exhaust system which is not good for the cat

Now it appears it has used 6 litres of oil in 1000 miles which raises my first question - is it burning oil on start-up? Maybe a bad oil seal or a piston slightly below tolerance? Both of which would require an engine stripdown which obviously the dealer won't due without permission from FIAT - did the dealer tell you they had topped up the oil so much or have they kept you in the dark?

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Having had a discussion with the dealer at the weekend, it seems that the problem that's being investigated it oil-related. Since the 'fix' was done a couple weeks ago, the fuel efficiency has improved massively but I am still waiting on what the problem acutally is.

I was initially unaware of the oil situation as the dealer did not inform me they had begun topping the car up each time I sent to them but on the second or third visit they mentioned it. I had obviously been checking the oil between visits but because they had filled it up it was OK at that point. I was told the exact figure end of last week bu the dealer.

The past couple days have been OK with no smoke coming out, but there is currently no word from Turin on what's going to happen. Fiat UK have said that I will be fully compensated once the issue has been resolved and they say it will be resolved. All I can do is wait with the apparent reassurance that the vehicle engine is not being damaged by using it in the meantime.

Good luck with the car! Looks like you picked the wrong time to have a problem with all the Italians on holiday for the month

Any update? Just out of interest, what engine is it?

From your first post i could tell it is oil that is being burnt and not fuel (petrol burns with black smoke, Oil burns with blue smoke).

I would suspect a poor seal somewhere on the upper end of the engine, perhaps an individually leaking multiair component. If mechanics were any good these days they would have stripped back the cylinder head and found this out by now.

Ransoman said:

Any update? Just out of interest, what engine is it?

From your first post i could tell it is oil that is being burnt and not fuel (petrol burns with black smoke, Oil burns with blue smoke).

I would suspect a poor seal somewhere on the upper end of the engine, perhaps an individually leaking multiair component. If mechanics were any good these days they would have stripped back the cylinder head and found this out by now.

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I was going to post on here over the next day or so, but your question gave me a gentle nudge! I had a phone call from the dealer to say that Turin have asked them to get the car in for a week for them to go over some things. To be honest, I can't really recall exactly what he said they needed to look at but I am sure one of them was piston rings. I'm no guru when it comes to car mechanics so I may be wrong.

The car is still smoking and on some days there is a very (VERY) strong smell of burning oil, so bad if fact, it stinks the car out for a while after driving off. I've told the dealer so hope that they'll identify what the heck is happening and get it fixed for me as I am still concerned that there could be damage being done to the engine in the mean time.

The car is being dropped off at the dealer on Friday 1 October so it's there ready for them first thing on the Monday morning. Here's hoping.

Apparently the Dealer themselves have been getting less than stellar help out of Fiat UK when they have had dealings with them which is good to hear (not)

Anyway, engine details in my signature, but it's the 1.4 16v Multiair.

In my honest opinion, file a list of every thing you've mentioned, detailing what, when, where how etc.

And throw the car back.

Demand a replacement. A week in the garage for a car which is 3months old, with a problem which they cant diagnose?

Contact the customer services, ask for whomever.

State you wish to invoke the Sale of Goods Act 1979 Part II Section 14 and The Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002.

as the car is under 6months :
The consumer returns the goods in the first six months from the date of sale and requests a repair or replacement or a partial refund. In that case, the consumer does not have to prove the goods were faulty at the time of sale. It is assumed that they were. If the retailer does not agree, it is for the retailer to prove that the goods were satisfactory at the time of sale. This comes from Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002, derived from EU Directive 1999/44/EU which became Clauses 48A to 48F inclusive of the Sale of Goods act in April 2003

You are very much entitled to throw the car back as they have unsatisfactorily fixed the vehicle. Reject the current offer of a week to "look" at the car.

Get it replaced.
It costs the company far less than it would if they try to play it off you, as in court you will win, and it will cost them £xxxxxx, due to the court costs and lawyer costs.

That is all my opinion, but i hope you read the 2 acts i have mentioned above.

Tom.

Ps im in no means a law guru, i suggest contacting qualified advice before taking things furthur than you feel comfortable. But its fairly simple to get the car replaced.

tom555tom said:

In my honest opinion, file a list of every thing you've mentioned, detailing what, when, where how etc.

And throw the car back.

Demand a replacement. A week in the garage for a car which is 3months old, with a problem which they cant diagnose?

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I quite agree. Why should you be jumping through hoops taking the car back and forth to the garage while Fiat UK do jack all & Turin try & figure out why it's behaving like a 200k old banger that's been hammered to hell & back.

Turin wanting tests to be done is promising, as faults very often seem to just re-occur for years, like with 1.2 Punto head gaskets, 1.6 Stilo gearboxes & Panda & Punto steering motors, but even so it's not up to you to live with courtesy cars when youve paid for a brand new car of your own.

It's not a minor niggle. The engine is fu*ked. Or if it isn't, it probably will be soon.

If Fiat have the car back and give you another, they can still fix it/bodge it/do whatever and sell the car to someone who has no idea about its past. It won't cost them much at all. And it gives you peace of mind. They'd be off their heads to reject your request of a replacement.

mjt said:

I was going to post on here over the next day or so, but your question gave me a gentle nudge! I had a phone call from the dealer to say that Turin have asked them to get the car in for a week for them to go over some things. To be honest, I can't really recall exactly what he said they needed to look at but I am sure one of them was piston rings. I'm no guru when it comes to car mechanics so I may be wrong.

The car is still smoking and on some days there is a very (VERY) strong smell of burning oil, so bad if fact, it stinks the car out for a while after driving off. I've told the dealer so hope that they'll identify what the heck is happening and get it fixed for me as I am still concerned that there could be damage being done to the engine in the mean time.

The car is being dropped off at the dealer on Friday 1 October so it's there ready for them first thing on the Monday morning. Here's hoping.

Apparently the Dealer themselves have been getting less than stellar help out of Fiat UK when they have had dealings with them which is good to hear (not)

Anyway, engine details in my signature, but it's the 1.4 16v Multiair.

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Piston rings would certainly cause the engine to burn oil.

Hi all, im a newbie but been reading posts for a few weeks as i ordered a punto evo gp 1.4 8v few weeks ago.

basically i was due to pick my car up yesterday, as i was on my way they told me that there is a fault on my car (engine not running right) and it needs a new gasket and manifold.

im not a mechanic but both of them seem like major parts, i am very worried now that im not going to know if it still broke on pick up and if i will be going back to the dealer every week

i dont supose anybody knows of a comon fault (with them two parts on this engine) or wht it could possibly be ?

Having given it some careful consideration, and after talking it through with my Dealer yesterday evening, I have formally rejected the vehicle. I am now in limbo as the Dealer wasn't sure exactly of the process now, so I await a response. It was quite reassuring to hear that they didn't know what to do as this is obviously not a regular occurrence.

I braced myself to explain to the Dealer why I was rejecting the vehicle (Sale of Goods Act etc) but I didn't need to. The Sales guy was aware of the problems I've had and his quote of 'It'd been drinking oil as if it were petrol' and 'you've been more than patient' surprised me initially.

It's a strange situation I now find myself in. I've bought the car on a Fiat finance deal, so I am assuming they car will be taken off of me and the agreement terminated. Not sure what happens about a car in the mean time or the fact that this one came with 3 years servicing which is no longer offered I believe. I'll not be letting go of the servicing agreement, that's for certain.

Wait and see....

andrelowe said:

Hi all, im a newbie but been reading posts for a few weeks as i ordered a punto evo gp 1.4 8v few weeks ago.

basically i was due to pick my car up yesterday, as i was on my way they told me that there is a fault on my car (engine not running right) and it needs a new gasket and manifold.

im not a mechanic but both of them seem like major parts, i am very worried now that im not going to know if it still broke on pick up and if i will be going back to the dealer every week

i dont supose anybody knows of a comon fault (with them two parts on this engine) or wht it could possibly be ?

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Not sure if what I had happen is related to your issues, but when my engine was assembled, a pipe from the engine that drains oil out was blocked with sealant when they bolted the rocker down. This problem was only identified 2 months after buying the vehicle and I know a notification has been since passed out to dealers etc making them aware of the assembly fault. Probably not related, but thought I'd mention it.

ive just spoken to fiat (useless by the way) and they have told me it had something to do with the 'swirl manifold/gasket'. he said there was i 'nick' in it and therefore not running right due to correct air/o2 mix.

doesn't sound as bad as i thought

picking it up in an hour, cant wait!

You're fully entitled to have the car replace, but the agreement not cancelled.
The agreement at order of the car was on a fiat punto evo etc, not the specific car.

You can get a like for like replacement with the same extras as you orignaly purchased.

This is law. Then can not refuse to do this without refunding the full orignal value of the car. which they will not want to do.

I don't think I could handle waiting months again to be honest, but its good to no.. thanks

picked it up and everything is ok, apart from the start stop not avaliable sometimes, ow and I think I have somehow turned off the gear shift indicator on the diplay panel does anyone know what i could have done ??

Just a quick progress update (or lack of).

Fiat decided to bypass the finance company and have authorised a replacement Evo. FGA Capital were totally useless. Dealer eventually got authorisation to order a new Eleganza for me. New problem, Eleganza was unorderable. This was over a week ago. Got told today the Eleganza has been dropped and there are no stocks available at all anywhere. Fiat UK even did a status check on every dealer in the country and, despite plenty being in showrooms or on forecourts, every single one is sold.

I have been given the option of taking a GP and 'up-speccing' it to meet the Eleganza standard, selecting a different Fiat vehicle altogether or walking away. Fiat UK's customer service has been pretty slack. They told me that the Eleganza was still available to order as new, despite me telling them it was flagged unorderable. I have got to go and see the dealer tomorrow to talk through my options.

The actual problem with the Evo remains undiagnosed and my Eleganza is now sat in the dealer's compound gathering dust (been there 3 weeks now) with an A4 sheet of paper stuck to the front passenger seat saying 'DO NOT START'.

Such a damned shame.

I don't really get that, even if they replace yours they've got to repair it sooner or later, even if it means putting a new engine in it. Maybe they want it sent back to the factory to see what's gone wrong?
Fortunately it does seem like yours is a rare fault. The only niggle I've had with mine is a squeaky clutch pedal!

Marcos999 said:

I don't really get that, even if they replace yours they've got to repair it sooner or later, even if it means putting a new engine in it. Maybe they want it sent back to the factory to see what's gone wrong?
Fortunately it does seem like yours is a rare fault. The only niggle I've had with mine is a squeaky clutch pedal!

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I realise that, but to be honest, that's down to the Dealer and Fiat to fight over. The vehicle has been valued for later resale if they manage to sort the problem and will be taken back into the Dealer's stock holding. I'm just annoyed as hell I'm paying for a vehicle I haven't had for the total of 5 weeks in the 5 months I've had it as it has been in and out of the Garage for diagnostics/repair and a replacement vehicle could be as much as 12 weeks away from when it's acutally ordered.

Went to the Dealer today to discuss my options with the Sales Manager there. I've chosen a 5 door GP and 'up-specced' it with the following:

Visibility Pack
Style Pack
Floor Mats
Cruise Control
Rear Parking Sensors
Body Coloured Side Rubbing Strips

Gone for the Progressive Black this time as I thought it would look better with the tinted windows. Now I just have to wait for delivery....

As bad as this sounds. this is excellent news.

Putting your foot down gets results. Im glad they have sourced a new car, as with all manufacturers, they have to supply a replacement or repair regardless. And you can refuse what they offer if you don 't think its suitable. Im surpised they didnt try the well we'll refund the car option, as your car was no longer orderable. Which seeing as you put your foot down they realised you probably knew that you could refuse this offer and demand a replacement instead of a refund.

Hopefully this one is great. and arrives soon!

Although im consdiering chopping mine in in march haha.

mjt said:

Went to the Dealer today to discuss my options with the Sales Manager there. I've chosen a 5 door GP and 'up-specced' it with the following:

Visibility Pack
Style Pack
Floor Mats
Cruise Control
Rear Parking Sensors
Body Coloured Side Rubbing Strips

Gone for the Progressive Black this time as I thought it would look better with the tinted windows. Now I just have to wait for delivery....

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Good luck with that!