My Punto Sporting which I bought new in October 2003 had a recurring problem (among many others that a new car should not have) of a tinny rattle coming from under the bonnet from around the area of the aircon/alternator belts and I first reported it to Fiat in Derby in December 2003.
They fitted a new alternator in January 2004 and the noise went away for a while then gradually returned and got louder over a few months
It was reported again in the middle of 2004 and they replaced the two belts and it went away again only to gradually return and get louder
In December 2004 it went in for the new pistons to be fitted and they were going to sort the rattle at the same time
Got the car back in January 2005 and again reported that the rattle had returned so this time they fitted a new crankshaft pulley in April 2005
Reported the rattle had returned loudly again in May 2005 and at the end of May they fitted another new alternator
As it appeared that Fiat Derby was unable to diagnose correctly or fix the problem (along with others that they didn't appear able to fix) I reported the fault to JCS Fiat at Kegworth in July and took the car to them at the beginning of August and they diagnosed two faults and fixed one in a day. They diagnosed the rattle as a faulty aircon compressor bearing and ordered a new compressor.
The car had the new compressor fitted today and they showed me the play in the old compressor bearing.
Apparently every time some new item was fitted in drive belt line everything was adjusted tightly so the aircon bearing was being stopped from rattling but as the belts gradually settled in and stretched this allowed the bearing to start rattling again.
Then the bombshell, they said that Fiat would not cover it under the manufacurer warranty as it expired in July but even though my maths are not very good, new in October 2003, warranty expired in July 2005, thats only 22 months not 24 months and they want me to pay £400 to get my car back.
So I phoned Fiat HQ and got nowhere as I expected so I contacted my trade union legal department (free) and they advised me to pay the bill and advise Fiat that firstly the car is still under manufacturers warranty but more importantly that this fault had been reported several times well within the warranty period and had never be rectified correctly and that if my repair and any associated costs are not returned then the union solicitor is going to take over.
I have nothing but praise for JCS in the way they diagnosed and repaired the faults but Fiat HQ and a lot of their dealers give the Fiat mark a very bad name and this is a great shame
Much as I love the car, this experience really has put me off buying another Fiat
They fitted a new alternator in January 2004 and the noise went away for a while then gradually returned and got louder over a few months
It was reported again in the middle of 2004 and they replaced the two belts and it went away again only to gradually return and get louder
In December 2004 it went in for the new pistons to be fitted and they were going to sort the rattle at the same time
Got the car back in January 2005 and again reported that the rattle had returned so this time they fitted a new crankshaft pulley in April 2005
Reported the rattle had returned loudly again in May 2005 and at the end of May they fitted another new alternator
As it appeared that Fiat Derby was unable to diagnose correctly or fix the problem (along with others that they didn't appear able to fix) I reported the fault to JCS Fiat at Kegworth in July and took the car to them at the beginning of August and they diagnosed two faults and fixed one in a day. They diagnosed the rattle as a faulty aircon compressor bearing and ordered a new compressor.
The car had the new compressor fitted today and they showed me the play in the old compressor bearing.
Apparently every time some new item was fitted in drive belt line everything was adjusted tightly so the aircon bearing was being stopped from rattling but as the belts gradually settled in and stretched this allowed the bearing to start rattling again.
Then the bombshell, they said that Fiat would not cover it under the manufacurer warranty as it expired in July but even though my maths are not very good, new in October 2003, warranty expired in July 2005, thats only 22 months not 24 months and they want me to pay £400 to get my car back.
So I phoned Fiat HQ and got nowhere as I expected so I contacted my trade union legal department (free) and they advised me to pay the bill and advise Fiat that firstly the car is still under manufacturers warranty but more importantly that this fault had been reported several times well within the warranty period and had never be rectified correctly and that if my repair and any associated costs are not returned then the union solicitor is going to take over.
I have nothing but praise for JCS in the way they diagnosed and repaired the faults but Fiat HQ and a lot of their dealers give the Fiat mark a very bad name and this is a great shame
Much as I love the car, this experience really has put me off buying another Fiat
. Except from that ive had good service from fiat and there Dealer in Darlington (Reg Vardy).
