Technical GP been in garage over a week now

[scarlet_man]

Hello Folks

Not sure whether I'm posting this looking for some advice or just some moral support!

I have a 1.9Mjet sporting which seems to have been the subject of the "frozen alternator" problem, which seems to be documented very well in other threads on here. Basically -4 conditions, car started ok but horrible burning smell and battery light stays on. No power steering so not really driveable (I didn't fancy it)

RAC recovered me to a local garage (independent FIAT "specialist") who have now had the car over a week and can't seem to fix it. They've so far replaced the alternator and battery - told me it was fixed so I paid up, then went to drive off but little red battery light stayed on...

£424 down, they are now saying there is a major electrical fault and they need a specialist automotive electrician who they can't get in till the new year now :bang:

So basically they have my money, and my car.

What should I do? I feel like going in and shouting at them, but not sure this will help. I don't really want to have to pay to get it recovered to a proper FIAT dealer then pay them to basically start from scratch. At the moment I'm just sitting it out, phoning them twice a day, and hoping they'll fix it.

Any sensible thoughts gratefully received...

 

[Andy Monty]

did they fit an oem alternator or a recon unit

 

[scarlet_man]

Hi Andy,

Don't know, but would suspect at £190 + VAT the alternator would not have been an OEM part. Do you think this might be the problem then?

 

[Andy Monty]

yes im at work on the forums mobile site try the advanced search function in the grande punto section i know its come up before

 

[matty seasider]

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/301570-aternator-replaced-steering-battery-drain.html

 

[Andy Monty]

cheers Matty

 

[scarlet_man]

Good job, thank you. Was on my way through searching as many threads as I could and also found this one:

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/254180-alternator-changed-battery-light-when-starting.html

Garage have told me they suspect replacement alternator is faulty and have another on order this afternoon, I've now told them if this doesn't work (and I suspect it won't) I want an OEM one. We'll see what happens, but by the looks of the other threads this is it so thanks for the help.

Wish I'd have been on here and read about the water dripping on to the alternator problem before I started leaving the car on the slightly downwardly inclined driveway...

 

[JTD_Liam]

Im pretty certain from the discussions on here at the time, that most if not all of the cars (both Grande Puntos and Alfa MiTo's) affected by the frozen alternator problem were petrol models and that the diesels have a slightly different under-bonnet layout that means the drain tube doesn't drain water onto the alternator on those models.

Therefore, it'd be unusual (though i dare say not impossible on a Grande) if your Multijets problems are down to this.

 

[scarlet_man]

Liam noted, thanks - alternator definitely gone but you may be right, might not specifically be down to water dripping issue. With the car still at the garage I've not been able to look to see.

Day 10 of car in garage, suggested to them several times now that OEM FIAT alternator might solve based on threads on here, even emailed them a link to the threads on here that say this...

They've not flatly refused to try an OEM alternator, but seem completely convinced the fault is somewhere else and needs further diagnosing.

Of course, they might be right. What do I know?

Called them again today, workshop staff had gone home, only sales guy about - he told me to call back on Monday. That will be day 13?!

I know some faults are difficult to diagnose, but how long do I give them?