General My problems so far!

[froggy]

OK not sure if I have the worst Ulysse of you lot - perhaps we should run a competition!- (2.2JTD Eleganza, Had it since april last year, done 17K.)

Problems I've had so far:
- The whole Connect system shuts down after about 1 hour ("to prevent damage") - still a problem and drives me mad!
- Tyre sensors faulty ("4 tyre sensors fault")
- Rear passenger door doesnt always shut first time
- Rear window sometimes opens when it should close automatically (I found I had left the car like this several times)
- Driver window doesnt close automatically when locking the car(It used to)
- Sound system too quiet (is this just me? on the motorway I have it on 29 or 30 setting)
- Broken sun visor (cheap plastic clip fell out of roof)
- Broken can compartment door (another cheap plastic clip), incidentally, anyone actually tried to put cans into it? - you cant close it!
- Suspect voltage regulation (lights and LCD displays dim and bright with revs (not good for the electronics))
- Car locks itself again after about 30 seconds if you unlock with the remote. - (fiat tech and dealer couldnt tell me if this was a feature or a fault) - handy if you unlock the car and throw the keys on the seat!

So far ive had :
- Complete ECU unit replaced (Dealer had the car for 5 weeks whilst trying to find a replacement! - initially offered me a zafira as a courtesy car!)
- Complate new Connect system going in shortly
- New battery next visit
- New plastic clips done

I now know the first names of all the staff at the dealer as I've spent more time there than I have at the office.
Frustrations and problems have been logged with Fiat customer services.
BTW anyone interested? The Customer Services Manager at fiat is Sarah Portrey

Ha, what fun to be an early adopter!
Froggy

 

[custard]

jesus what a nightmare,on the doors relocking ive had that on cars before if you unlock it with the remote and don't open the doors after a set period they relock but if you open the door then it cancels,is this the same for you or do they just lock anyway?

Custard boy the man who loves the man from Creative

 

[jamesant]

I know that early cars had problems but that is one hell of a list. My car also locks its self after about one minute unless a door is opened so guess that if you open the door and throw your keys inside you should be ok as far as the windows opening on there on I thought that was fixed with the software upgrade when the car was recalled because the rear doors could come open on there own at speed. As they say make it complicated it it is sure to break.

 

[keggers]

Froggy, if you're not getting anywhere forget the service manager. I had an appalling level of response from customer services and wrote directly to Masimo Toso, MD of Fiat UK at the following address :

Fiat Auto UK
Fiat House
266 Bath Road
Slough
Berks SL1 4HJ

Within days things started happening. I haven't spoken directly to him but his PA is very good and actually went down to Customer Services and spoke to the manager there to get things moving. My car is now in for as long as it takes and Mr T is getting a weekly report.

Keggers,

 

[custard]

good advice but ridiculous that you have to do it,when are fiat going to learn that keeping a core section of brand loyal buyers is key to building a market share!Fiat seem to be doing there best to lose custom and open the doors to the liquidators.i love my little cinq but i paid a grand and don't expecy any dealer support whereas if i paid the sums of money you guys paid and got the service you seem to get i wouldnt pay for a new fiat again

Custard boy the man who loves the man from Creative

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hi,

My God, Froggy, your probs are endless. As you rightly said, so much for being an early adopter. But it would be interesting to see if C8/807 early owners suffered the same problems [after all, same production line, alledgedly].

Any chance you can still reject it? I know there is mileage on the car, and this make an impact on the overall compensation. May be worth seeking an advice of a solicitor. But maybe lets see what else they come up with!

Custard Boy is right . After all, the list price on my car alone [albeit with options and NOT what I paid] is around £24k. This is also the first Fiat I have owned. BUT my problems have all been sorted, eventually!

Stuart

 

[John_K]

Just caught up on this thread. Keggers - thanks for the name/address. I sense a letter writing campaign coming on!

You don't have his e-mail (or his PA's) address do you?

 

[froggy]

Keggers,

Thanks, I may just try that.
I've considered rejecting it and have spoken to various people about the process. I even started doing the rounds of the other local showrooms (Renault, Chrysler etc) to re-view what my choices are. I think I'm going to give them a deadline. If it's not all sorted by then, then keep the damn thing and give me my money back.

Its a shame it comes to that, but there's only so much patience ...

Froggy

BTW does anyone else need to run the Audio system on the max level of 30. Anything less on the motorway and I cant hear it. ...and before you suggest it, its not just old age!

 

[John_K]

Well, either it is old age, you have a hearing problem, or you have a VERY noisy car - Mine's OK at 12-14 on the motorway, apart from when listening to Radio 4 when it has to go up to 16.

 

[froggy]

John,

Well that confirms what I thought. The whole connect system is knacked. I'm waiting for the dealer to come back with a date for a replacement. As it shuts down after an hour or so anyway.

froggy

 

[John_K]

Hmmm. Perhaps the computer is overheating?!

 

[froggy]

my thoughts exactly.

 

[poggy]

Hi,

There is a fan behind the dash by the RT3 unit. It is just like a PC cooling fan. Can you hear a fan going when the unit is on, it does seem to cycle on & off.

Poggy

 

[froggy]

Yes, I've heard the fan from time to time. I think it might be related to the fact that the unit is very quiet. I have it on volume 29 or 30 all the time otherwise I cant hear it (especially on the motorway). When I switch on and everything defaulst to mid volume, I cant hear it at all. eg the nav voice. So I have to turn it up before I hear it.

Others say that normal setting of 15 ish is fine. It's obviously being driven hard and overheating. But why?

Froggy

 

[poggy]

Hi,

It is possible the speakers are out of phase and they are driving against each other.

i.e tweaters and bass.

Poggy

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hi,

Our volume tends to be around the 15 mark as well [even 8 is good enough to hear the CD changer in the background].

I only tend to hear the fan if I am sitting in the driveway, and not running the engine. It comes on to protect the screen!

Basically, the car seems very quiet!

Stuart

 

[poggy]

Hi,

The fan is really for the main RT3 unit, the screens run fairly cool even with the backlights on full. I had a look on the Maintenace CD and there is an exploded diagram of the unit which shows the fan to the right of the RT3 unit.

I also found out how the tyre pressure detectors work. They run on a lithium battery which normally lasts upto 10 years. They only transmit when the car is moving, the sensors have a special switch which operates as the wheels turn. They are also preset for a factory limit (which I forget) and also they do not display individual warnings, just a global warning.

The RT3 unit will also be able to be used as a WAP browser in the future when it is implemented.

The CD is really useful, but sadly in Dutch. Which is OK for me, but not much help to others. I did find somebody selling a CD for £80 in English for the new Ulysse.

Poggy

 

[romulan]

I don't mind paying for it just say how and when. Hope he will be able to deliver it to Kuala Lumpur or Frankfurt since I'll be going there next month.

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hi,

I see Fiat get the WAP browser sorted, just as the rest of the world is going to GRPS and 3rd gen phones!!!!!! Long live WAP [which I happen to use everyday to pick up emails from my Nokia].

Didn't realise fan was for RT3 unit - cheers! I presume that CD is on eBay - if so, maybe one purchase can be shared.

I did realise that the tyre pressure was global. However, Fiat dealer said they have something that can pinpoint which tyre is flat directly! Maybe another myth.

Stu

 

[poggy]

Hi,

No according to the CD of knowledge, the tyre pressure can be read individually by the Examiner system.

Poggy