Ok a quick search on tinternet found this
http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=Fault_code_library_obd2_eobd
http://www.auto-diagnostic-codes.com/Petrol-Engine/European/Fiat-Fuel-Injection.html
http://www.pikit.co.uk/peugeotmt/eobd u codes.html
http://www.pikit.co.uk/peugeotmt/eobd p codes explained.html
The bottom one explains that this is a european standard coding system, and therefore the codes obtained by any code reader are the same. It really does a very good job of explaining what all the numbers and letters actually mean, its a good article, and worth reading.
https://www.technicalinformation.fiat.com/ecomm-web/web/index.jsp?lingua=en
This is the technical website that is exactly the same as we dealers use, so any info we have is available to anyone, you just have to pay for it. We pay for it as an annual subscription, you can pay for a single days use.
As I said earlier, because dealers concentrate on one brand they can invest in that brands knowledge, independant specialists can also do this if they choose to. But this will put there costs up and obviously the hourly rate would need to increase to cover these costs. Independents that are not specialists are in a more difficult situation as they cannot afford to invest in every brand, BUT they can afford to use technical websites like the one above on a "need to know" basis. And then pass on that cost to a single customer.
Anyone can also go on Fiat technical training courses, you do not have to be a dealer, all you do is pay the same course fees that dealers have to pay and contact the training academy. From memory course fees are either £175 0r £200 a day.
Hopefully this shows that just because we have the Fiat franchise doesnt mean any of our costs are less than anyone else. Dealers costs are huge and that is why as pointed out several times most independants would be cheaper in an hourly rate comparison.
As an example there is a recall on a vehicle at the moment which requires the use of a very specific tool, this costs £100 and is only of use to us for this one recall, we will carry out probably two recalls (its on an idea, very few out there), in which we need this tool. Fiat will not pay for the tool, we have to. The cost of the tool isnt covered by the labour cost. So we are doing work and instead of making money or breaking even, we actually lose money. Independents dont have to do this, neither do they have compulsory training at the above costs, neither do they have compulsory tool purchases where Fiat send you £1000 of specialist tools every other month without you asking for them.
What the website seems to want is equality with franchisees, unfortunately are the independants willing to accept the costs as well?
