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Technical Snapped Suspension Spring - Entitlements

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Technical Snapped Suspension Spring - Entitlements

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TheItalianJob

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Mar 16, 2005
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The nearside suspension spring on my 53 plate (the warranty expires on Monday!) / 39k miles 3 door JTD snapped this morning as I was on my way to work. I consider myself lucky that this happened in daylight at 20 mph coming up to a set of traffic lights and not last night on the way home at 70'ish mph in pouring rain in the dark on a cross-country “B” road.

I've just spoken to someone at my local dealer, who after putting me on hold several times told me that:

  • I would be able to claim the cost of having the car transported from my house to the dealer from Fiat.

  • That as well as carrying out the “modification” discussed elsewhere on the Forum, they "should" replace both springs.
However I got the feeling that he was just saying what I wanted to hear (in answer to my questions about compensation and replacing both springs) – can anyone confirm that I am entitled to reimbursement of towing costs to the dealer. I dont think the car is safe to drive as smoke was coming from under the wheel arch at much above 10 mph when I was limping back home in the car.

What is the procedure for claiming this back and how long does it take?

Can I insist that both springs are replaced and not just the one that has already snapped (as I assume it cannot be good for the car's balance to have the spring on one side of the car 3 years newer than on the other).

I've had a look through the “Sticky Thread” on the suspension spring problem but the above issues dont seem to have been discussed there, so I would welcome any comments / experiences / feedback before I take my car in for repair.

Thanks for your advice.
 
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Your first step is contact fiat customer services and log the complaint and ask them for a case number then go to your dealer with the case number and he should deal with it from there and get the necessary permission the change what ever is needed I did all this and at the end of the day fiat didn't compensate me for the parts I bought or the dealer after he had done the work :confused: dont know what the hell went wrong fiat are refusing to comment just passing the buck in my case others though have been successful so you got 50/50 chance I suppose :)
 
Same happened on my 02 plate 1.6, nearside spring failed and ripped the tyre to shreds. I had only 2 weeks earlier replaced all 4 corners with yokos and was not at all happy when I was told that the tyres would not be covered under the terms of the warranty. I went to Fiat on this and they would not move either. Put it down to bad luck as if it had happened before tyres had been replaced I wouldn't have batted an eyelid at replacing the tyres as they needed replacing anyway
 
wing1200a said:
Same happened on my 02 plate 1.6, nearside spring failed and ripped the tyre to shreds. I had only 2 weeks earlier replaced all 4 corners with yokos and was not at all happy when I was told that the tyres would not be covered under the terms of the warranty. I went to Fiat on this and they would not move either. Put it down to bad luck as if it had happened before tyres had been replaced I wouldn't have batted an eyelid at replacing the tyres as they needed replacing anyway
Click to expand...


Bastards. I would have really gone to town on this. They have admitted fault of the spring by doing the work under the warranty. However they say the warranty doesnt cover tyres- which is correct as they wear out. My arguement would be the the tyre has been damaged, not worn out or damaged by the road, but by that spring going west and if the spring hadnt have snapped I wouldnt be claiming a new tyre.

Get them over a barrell at any opportunity and dont let them fob you off
 
Same happened to me. Although I've been told by Fiat that the spring is not the faulty component. I've since had both spring cups replaced free of charge (safety recall). I haven't bothered hassling Fiat for compo for the tyre though - I wouldn't bother!

Cheers

Darren
 
D-Stilo said:
Although I've been told by Fiat that the spring is not the faulty component. I've since had both spring cups replaced free of charge (safety recall).
Click to expand...

Hi,

I received a safety recall notice today (signed for letter). It's to rectify a problem where corrosion to part of the front suspension can cause the spring to snap. Looks like this is a common fault. I'll get mine booked in asap.

Thanks

Ian.
 
MrWhipster said:
Hi,

I received a safety recall notice today (signed for letter). It's to rectify a problem where corrosion to part of the front suspension can cause the spring to snap. Looks like this is a common fault. I'll get mine booked in asap.

Thanks

Ian.
Click to expand...


I reiceved the same signed for letter this moring for the re-call will get mine booked in on my next serevice.

CarCazy
 
carcazy said:
I reiceved the same signed for letter this moring for the re-call will get mine booked in on my next serevice.

CarCazy
Click to expand...

Hi there mate dont you have yours lowered I'm sure Mark did that on your car if so you dont really need this modification as TBO I dont think you will get those springs snapping :) Your choice though (y)
 
PNL said:
Hi there mate dont you have yours lowered I'm sure Mark did that on your car if so you dont really need this modification as TBO I dont think you will get those springs snapping :) Your choice though (y)
Click to expand...


Hey,

Although I have lowered string Fiat still stuggested that i do it, but its not as urgant so i'll get it done in a couple of month with service. I hardley drive it anyway so shouldn't be to much of a problem.

CarCazy
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments.

Just to update you – I got my car transported to my Fiat dealer by the RAC free as it was less than 10 miles away. I didn’t think I was entitled to ANY help from the RAC as I only have the basic service which I’m sure doesn’t give cover at home. The off-road parking area I park in is a different street although literally just across the road, so I guess the RAC operator didn’t realise how close to home I was.

The dealer had my car for 2 days and carried out the modification, fitted 2 new springs (one had snapped) and fitted a new tyre, without any hassle. The car seems fine although I think it looks higher at the front than it did before – but maybe I’m just being paranoid? If I see another 3 door parked somewhere I’ll compare it with mine to see how it sits on the road.

To those of you who have been refused a new tyre, I’d suggest your go back to Fiat / your dealer and request compensation – I got a new tyre without any hassle. As Big Black Stilo says, your tyre has been damaged as a consequence of a faulty component. My dealer said upfront that Fiat would re-imburse me for towing costs and that they would fit a new tyre if it was found to have been damaged, so Fiat must have provided their dealers with guidelines as to what to do about consequential damage / loss.

Does anyone have access to the instruction to dealers about the spring problem, it would be interesting to know exactly what dealers have been told to do? For example, are springs only replaced if one breaks or are the springs replaced only on certain vehicles according to VIN number, etc?
 
TheItalianJob said:
Does anyone have access to the instruction to dealers about the spring problem, it would be interesting to know exactly what dealers have been told to do? For example, are springs only replaced if one breaks or are the springs replaced only on certain vehicles according to VIN number, etc?
Click to expand...
Interesting post (y)

What intrigues me is what happens if a spring fails AFTER the mod is fitted.

Strikes me that Fiat would find themselves in a difficult position if a Stilo was involved a very serious accident, as a result of spring failure, after the recall work had been carried out.
 
Argonought said:
Strikes me that Fiat would find themselves in a difficult position if a Stilo was involved a very serious accident, as a result of spring failure, after the recall work had been carried out.
Click to expand...

Problem would be pinning the spring failure down to an effect of the recall. Otherwise it's just the same as any other parts failure, if it could be proven that Fiat knew that the springs themselves were faulty and not just the spring cup then thats a whole different ball game.

Someone somewhere in Fiat has done a risk assessment on this and come up with low cost & low risk of failure, that'll do for us mr finance man.

If some poor sod goes into a tree as a result of a spring going, proving it was due to a fault Fiat were aware of and did nothing about would be nigh on impossible...
 
TheItalianJob said:
Hi Guys,

The car seems fine although I think it looks higher at the front than it did before – but maybe I’m just being paranoid?


I thought so too when my recall work was done - does anyone know if the cars really do sit higher at the front after the work has been done?

Arbarth:)
Click to expand...
 
I have just had suspension recall on my 53 reg 1.9 jtd MW

The Cup/ spring issue concerns me and I would appreciate some input from techies on following :-

1, Are the cups replaced or lubricated ?

2, Have the cups been binding hece the Spherical motions have been added to the Spring?

3, As the springs appear to fail at the second coil up how are they inspected to ensure they remain Serviceable


Finally anyone who has suffered damage i.e Tyres should be able to claim full compensation for same + any other inconvenience.

If this is refused consult your Local trading standards Office.

Goods purchased under the Consumer protection act must be of Merchantable Quality.This may also extend past the Warranty Period
 
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