Technical 2009 1.2 problems and they cant fix it!!!!!!

[figgy pudding]

i have come to the end of my tether with the local fiat garage and wonder if you can advise me on what to do next.

In December the car started to take ages to turn over and when it eventually did the radio came on even thought switched off. the car woudl smell of petrol afterwards. I had a can check error come up so the local garage picked up and brought it back "fixed" They said they had emailed FIAT in Italy for help and it would take 2 weeks.
I also had a bad condensation problem, even though its switched to outside circulation.
The car was brought back but it wasnt as good as before the problems.
Then it started to play up starting before i got an amber engine alert whilst driving home one night and got home in limp mode.
The garage picked it up again just after Christmas and i have been given deadline after deadline as to when i would get it back.They dont always ring me back when promised and i have to chase them for another deadline.They said they had someone going to FIAT UK for training and he would ask when he goes.:bang:
i havent seen it for my car for nearly 4 weeks and after all the fun choosing it and driving it, i feel like i have been sold a problematic car.

i was told last week , it would be the end of the week ,then when i ring them its Monday this week and they would ring me.Now its Wednesday and nothing heard.

Your advice would be appreciated as to what i can do next.
Is the car worth keeping? Who do i turn to for help?

 

[306maxi]

i have come to the end of my tether with the local fiat garage and wonder if you can advise me on what to do next.

In December the car started to take ages to turn over and when it eventually did the radio came on even thought switched off. the car woudl smell of petrol afterwards. I had a can check error come up so the local garage picked up and brought it back "fixed" They said they had emailed FIAT in Italy for help and it would take 2 weeks.
I also had a bad condensation problem, even though its switched to outside circulation.
The car was brought back but it wasnt as good as before the problems.
Then it started to play up starting before i got an amber engine alert whilst driving home one night and got home in limp mode.
The garage picked it up again just after Christmas and i have been given deadline after deadline as to when i would get it back.They dont always ring me back when promised and i have to chase them for another deadline.They said they had someone going to FIAT UK for training and he would ask when he goes.:bang:
i havent seen it for my car for nearly 4 weeks and after all the fun choosing it and driving it, i feel like i have been sold a problematic car.

i was told last week , it would be the end of the week ,then when i ring them its Monday this week and they would ring me.Now its Wednesday and nothing heard.

Your advice would be appreciated as to what i can do next.
Is the car worth keeping? Who do i turn to for help?

Call Fiat up directly on 00800 3428 0000.

 

[T14086]

want 20p for the phone?

 

[306maxi]

want 20p for the phone?

Fiat phone number is a free call

 

[nottsfiat07]

want 20p for the phone?

Yeah if you want to phone them in 1985...

 

[T14086]

Fiat phone number is a free call

from mobile?

Yeah if you want to phone them in 1985...

? how much are phone calls now then

 

[nottsfiat07]

from mobile?



? how much are phone calls now then

Oh I don't know I just thought it sounded funny and I never use public facilities or buses anyway. Do they still do call boxes that take cash?

 

[T14086]

Oh I don't know I just thought it sounded funny and I never use public facilities or buses anyway. Do they still do call boxes that take cash?

......dunno..............i'll ask my butler

 

[chrome500]

I shouldnt bother with Fiat customer services as they're a waste of time in my experience. All they will do is contact the dealer, who will say they havent been able to fix it yet, then they will ring you back and say the dealer says he hasnt been able to fix it yet in a "what do you expect us to do here in our office?" kind of tone.

 

[grimwau]

I shouldnt bother with Fiat customer services as they're a waste of time in my experience. All they will do is contact the dealer, who will say they havent been able to fix it yet, then they will ring you back and say the dealer says he hasnt been able to fix it yet in a "what do you expect us to do here in our office?" kind of tone.

FP, I can only speak for myself but I have had very good service from Fiat CS. It is true that my issues are still unresolved but at least CS insisted that my car be taken in for investigation when I was getting fobbed off by the dealer and also paid for the oil and filter change.

As with everything it is possible that it may depend on who you speak to but I understand that the team is quite small and I personally would suggest that you at least give them the benefit of the doubt.

What have you got to lose?

 

[Mark Elvin]

I shouldnt bother with Fiat customer services as they're a waste of time in my experience.

Not true, thanks to Fiat CS I had a 500 with a dodgy paint job (carried out by a Fiat dealer) replaced with a brand new 500 of higher spec.

 

[Omad]

You have nothing to loose by contacting fiat customer services......

However should you not wish to do that the dealer may wish to look at the inlet manifold pressure sensor/air temp sensor and see if this is reading abnormally high for a cold start. i have had mine replaced and although it has not fully cured my car it has made a significant improvement along with when i get in to start it i turn the key to MAR and then wait a few seconds before starting. hope some of this helps

 

[figgy pudding]

just to update you , i took your advice and rang Fiat Uk and they rang me back to give me a number as they look into it.
Fiat UK rang last Friday to say they now think its a "wiring fault" and the car will be ready on Monday, yesterday.

Fiat Uk ring yesterday to say they want to keep it another day to start from cold, so im pleased they are keeping the car in a centrally heated garage during the day while they "fix it".

Nothing so far today from Fiat UK.
No response at all from the local garage, not even an apology for not ringing me at all last week.

Four weeks now they have had it and now after me ringing fiat uk "they" find wiring fault. Happy to take my money, then the sales man "left" after he gave us too good a deal, the only person who seemed genuine,but the after service is utterly useless.

If you are reading this W, as you said you looked on these forums for help to fix this, remember CUSTOMER CARE works.

 

[T14086]

j they now think its a "wiring fault" and the car will be ready on Monday, yesterday.

how can they be sure if they 'think' they know the fault

 

[figgy pudding]

Exactly, i dont know whats going but i have been assured the car will be ready "again" today after yet another cold start test!:bang:

 

[306maxi]

Exactly, i dont know whats going but i have been assured the car will be ready "again" today after yet another cold start test!:bang:

Let them do their job.... last thing they do is a customer second guessing their work and hurrying them along. Fixing a tricky fault is not the work of 5 minutes....

 

[poggy]

After 4 weeks he is hardly rushing them.

 

[306maxi]

After 4 weeks he is hardly rushing them.

My mistake.

 

[T14086]

After 4 weeks he is hardly rushing them.

tea break

 

[figgy pudding]

finally got the car back last wednesday evening.the fault allegedly that took 4 weeks to "sort" was due to a bent pin in one of the connectors going into the ecu unit. The engine ran smoother when it was"pushed in".

The car went back in friday to be valet cleaned again after visible black stains were found on both front seats along with dust all over the dashboard.It had been cleaned already but nobody bother after 4 weeks to check before the car was handed back.
All slap dash.

The car started after a stutter on thursday but sounded more like a diesel
Told them it wasnt starting as well as it used to and was advised to keep an eye on it and they would take it in again.:bang: Surely as fiat expert mechanics they could tell when it started it was very noisy and clattery.They could could start another fiat 500 to compare!

Just get impression that when fiat uk got involved they "found" the fault and got rid of the car as cannot believe it took 4 weeks to discover this .Yet, it was apparent the car still wasnt starting perfectly before they gave it back.

After they finally deemed to ring us again to arrange delivery ,they agreed it wasnt satisfactory.The compensation agreed by phone caller was halved by the person who delivered the car back
The letter with agreed compensation was supposed to be with us by Friday but nothing so far.

The blues and me has turned into blues doesnt want me! My phone wont connect now so i downloaded the latest drivers and it just says error everytime i try to laod them . My phone can pick bluesnme up but the car cant see the phone now!!!

Noone has tried to second guess fiat mechanics and they have had 4 weeks to sort it. More than patient.
All in all a poor experience with buying a new Fiat. The pleasure of driving it has virtually gone now.