Maybe worth speaking to your local newspaper and consumer protection association.
Technical Euro6 1.2 Throttle Response, Hill Start Issues & Watchdog report
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Technical Euro6 1.2 Throttle Response, Hill Start Issues & Watchdog report
Maybe worth speaking to your local newspaper and consumer protection association.
Engines always run better/smoother in cold weather. Just use more fuel due to more load on engine in winter.
(Bet your Audi revs are smooth no matter what...)
(Bet your Audi revs are smooth no matter what...)
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Thing is, the onus is still on you - the dealership can just park the car in the back lot somewhere and do nothing. They've been paid by the finance company, and you're still making the payments, so neither the dealership nor the finance company have any immediate financial incentive to do anything.
You might have to start writing some carefully drafted letters soon.
The thing is, to continue to drive it would also have been the wrong thing to do. Actions have to back up the point being made; it is not fit for purpose and as such, the dealership have to take responsibility.
Yes, the finance company are still being paid. Yes, the insurance is still being paid. Everything is being paid for and I am the one currently losing out but I have put the problem back into the hands of those I have a contract with and they are the ones that have to resolve things.
I can only hope that the dealer does the decent thing and writes to me this week outlining how sorry they are that I have made the decision I have and how they intend to remedy the situation. I hope that they don't pass the blame on Fiat and reiterate how little they can do for me. They've sold me a faulty car. It's as simple as that.
And if and when the time comes, there will be some very carefully drafted letters, probably assisted by a family friend who happens to be a solicitor.
Yes, the finance company are still being paid. Yes, the insurance is still being paid. Everything is being paid for and I am the one currently losing out but I have put the problem back into the hands of those I have a contract with and they are the ones that have to resolve things.
I can only hope that the dealer does the decent thing and writes to me this week outlining how sorry they are that I have made the decision I have and how they intend to remedy the situation. I hope that they don't pass the blame on Fiat and reiterate how little they can do for me. They've sold me a faulty car. It's as simple as that.
And if and when the time comes, there will be some very carefully drafted letters, probably assisted by a family friend who happens to be a solicitor.
Yes, you can't claim it's unfit for purpose if you are still driving it. This is a simplistic example, but it's a bit like telling a waiter in a restaurant that your meal is inedible when you've already eaten half of it (unless you find something nasty in the second half).
And the forum will be here to support you, whatever you decide to do.
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I dont see a problem using it in these circumstances as its now a known fault thats not confined to one vehicle.I often have faulty equipment at work and we carry on using it (if safe to do so) until it is sorted out by the supplier. I have had thousands of pounds worth of faulty equipment replaced without any problems.We also replace faulty product for our customers which can cost thousands.The retail car buyer often gets a bad deal as in this case.
The issue is whether or not you want to protect your legal right to reject - if you keep using something you've bought after you notice a fault, it will prejudice your right in law to subsequently reject it. If there is a decent supplier/customer relationship, as in the case you describe, all this is irrelevant because problems are dealt with long before it ever gets to that point.
But if it does goes to Court, then it doesn't matter what you think, I think, Fiat think or the dealer thinks - it only matters what a County Court Judge thinks, and there is a caseload of legal precedent to suggest that using a product after you have noticed a fault will be deemed by a Court as evidence of acceptance.
In this case, given the publicity and sheer number of folks reporting this problem - I'd agree that it's likely Fiat will find a solution in the end - but if your preferred solution involves not keeping the car, you should stop using it now, as ab4444 has done.
You can't complain about your cake and eat it.
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Sorry but using the car or not doesn't protect your right to reject, you merely have to document the fault and show it is present. You actually have a duty to allow the seller sufficient time to repair the fault and unless they advise otherwise that it will contribute to the fault, you can continue to use the product albeit with the agreement that they are accepting that it is ongoing fault which may result in it being rejected of not fixed.
There is no evidence of acceptance while you have clearly demonstrated that you have a fault which you expect them to repair in a reasonable period of time. You are obliged to allow them reasonable time to repair the vehicle. You can't just drop a car off and reject it verbally, you have to document the reasons for rejection and that they have a final opportunity to repair the vehicle.
The only way to reject a car is if you can show there is a fault to the satisfaction of the court and that you have allowed the dealer reasonable opportunity to rectify it.
Dumping the keys and saying you are rejecting it, will not be viewed well by a court which expects you to work with the supplier to find a solution. You also need to make sure you have good documentation to show you tried to work with them, otherwise the court will simply say you need to try this first.
I have been through this process and you need to work with them.
There is no evidence of acceptance while you have clearly demonstrated that you have a fault which you expect them to repair in a reasonable period of time. You are obliged to allow them reasonable time to repair the vehicle. You can't just drop a car off and reject it verbally, you have to document the reasons for rejection and that they have a final opportunity to repair the vehicle.
The only way to reject a car is if you can show there is a fault to the satisfaction of the court and that you have allowed the dealer reasonable opportunity to rectify it.
Dumping the keys and saying you are rejecting it, will not be viewed well by a court which expects you to work with the supplier to find a solution. You also need to make sure you have good documentation to show you tried to work with them, otherwise the court will simply say you need to try this first.
I have been through this process and you need to work with them.
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I dont intend taking anyone to court.I have been complaining for almost 12 months both to FIAT and the dealer.Now its also been on TV I am confident a solution will be found, so whilst we are paying for the car we are using it.
If it comes to nothing I will pay off the finance and get rid.The wife wants a 5 door now to get the grand kids in.
If it comes to nothing I will pay off the finance and get rid.The wife wants a 5 door now to get the grand kids in.
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Very odd, If I disconnect mine all hell breaks loose on the dash, I have to restart the engine 5 or six time to clear the warnings once re-connected.
Very odd, If I disconnect mine all hell breaks loose on the dash, I have to restart the engine 5 or six time to clear the warnings once re-connected.
How old is your 500?
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It's a euro 6 Panda, - 8 months.
I can't comment on why the panda throws up the warning lights sorry, i've only done this with our 14 month old 500. The panda ECU may differ from the 500
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Safe bet it's a Euro 5 then, the switch probably only controls the start stop on that version.
It increases the revs when put into gear (well, sometimes which is what led me to disconnecting it), so it's not just start/stop.
Has your Panda got Hill Hold Assist? Maybe that's why it's displaying warnings?
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No just the low life basic model.
I does beg the question why your one is not triggering a warning light. Maybe therein lies the fault.
Well, if we can get more people to try this and report back, we might be able to find out if everyone is affected or not with the disconnection of it
Dropped my 64 plate Panda Pop 1.2 into the dealer this morning. I have the flat spot and a slight misfire at tickover.
I also asked them to deactivate the seat belt warning "buzzer" Although there was some mention of it being a "Health & Safety" issue, so I doubt that will be done.
During our chat, the (nice) guy on the service desk referred to the Watchdog Programme, but but then he said "I'm not a Tech so I don't know"
Anyway, I'll update you all once I pick the car up later on. I'm hopeful they will just fix it, but TBH not holding my breath.
I also asked them to deactivate the seat belt warning "buzzer" Although there was some mention of it being a "Health & Safety" issue, so I doubt that will be done.
During our chat, the (nice) guy on the service desk referred to the Watchdog Programme, but but then he said "I'm not a Tech so I don't know"
Anyway, I'll update you all once I pick the car up later on. I'm hopeful they will just fix it, but TBH not holding my breath.
Annnnnnnnnd breath
No surprises, it would appear that my car is running perfectly
Well at least they deactivated the bloomin' seat belt buzzer. I suspect the "fix" will filter down to the dealer at some point soon and I'll be back. For now, I've more important things to worry about.
If Fiat don't sort this out, I might just get the ECU remapped myself.
No surprises, it would appear that my car is running perfectly
Well at least they deactivated the bloomin' seat belt buzzer. I suspect the "fix" will filter down to the dealer at some point soon and I'll be back. For now, I've more important things to worry about.
If Fiat don't sort this out, I might just get the ECU remapped myself.
