Technical Problems now cost money!!

[Rothwell999]

i have just been on the phone to my local lythgoe garage in bolton. spoke to amanda on fiat service, probably the only person with any sense. (recomend speaking to her if anyone rings this place). anyway i had a few problems,

-passenger door not opening from inside *******
-engine fan come on in the morning when engin cold
-insert in dash, just below windscreen loose ***********
-repairing leather seats, going back to re-trimmers.
-air bag warning light comes on when passenger seat is pushed forward. ****

all of these faults have already accoured and were fixed a minimum of 8 months ago, but because the car is in it third year waranty(which i am told is through a differnt company) i will have to pay for all parts for the repairs with '*****' next to them. the thing that gets me is that repairs should have a waranty shouldn't they!!

but aparently because it is a differnt company and not fiat, they would not give me these parts without charging me.

since i got the car as many of you i have none stop problems with it, even when i picked the car up it had bits missing of it, like engine covers, trays under the seats. i think if thay dont give me the parts needed for free then i will write to fiat and complain and also i will write to the auto express and see if they can help my case.

kill fiat!! lol

 

[Stu DemonD]

3rd year warranty is dealership warranty, whereas 1st and 2nd are through FIAT Uk.

4th and 5th years are when it goes to a 3rd party....

Have you spoken to trading standards yet?

 

[Rothwell999]

no i havent i was considering it but wanted to leave it to see how fiat reacted, but i think there is no harm in ringing for advice.

thanks mate

 

[timr69]

Is the 4th & 5th year warranty worth having?
I was considering taking them out.

 

[Scorg]

for a 4th and 5th year warrenty, if you want best coverage use warrenty direct, you do get decent cover on the car with them and its your choice if the policy is a unipart garage covered one or a dealer covered one (that costs more though)

http://www.warrantydirect.co.uk

get a qoute and have a look at whats covered with it.
Ive got the gold cover via unipart garage on the brava.

 

[philmgro]

Rothwell999,

See my post in the general section under "whens a warranty not a warranty" and particularly CMC's post with the link from the Fiat Website(unfortunately I dont know how to do that). I would say most of the things you mentioned are covered under the warranty and you should demand that they are fixed, particularly if they have happened before and obviously not sorted properly. I was charged for an item that I believed should have been covered and only when I caused a fuss did the dealer relent. Give it a try you've nothing to lose.

Cheers Phil

 

[Rothwell999]

thanks guys

keep up the good work!! i supose i would buy another fiat just so i have help on hand with you lot, thanks again!!

 

[Stu DemonD]

Rothwell, that is exactly why I bought the Stilo, lol.

Already had the Ulysse from new, and it had a few niggles, etc. BUT I then bought a Stilo with an open mind, knowing about its' problems from this very forum. It is because of the support I get on here, and share, that makes this place so good

 

[Maxman]

As i do 45000 miles per year i have paid for additional warranty(100000 miles) when i purchased the car from new. I was advised at the time of purchase that the warranty was for both parts and labour. The third year of the warranty comes as a "dealer warranty, providing you with further peace of mind"

Hope this helps to clarify. As far as i am concerned, if anything goes wrong before the car reaches 100,000 miles it Fiat, or the Franchise Dealers responsiblilty to absorb the total cost of any repairs. Jesus they charge enough to service the bloody thing.

 

[westie]

I have a similar problem,I have had a door handle/lock problems almost from day one,I'm also into year three of the so call Fiat three year warranty.Phoned local s***e Fiat dealership(Arnold Clark) to complain about my door locks either not opening or the handlesticking open thus causing the door to swing open after attempting to close it.I also have water in one of my headlights,only to be told that Fiat wouldn't cover these problems.so I'm looking for any help you guys can give me to go back to these tossers with.

Cheers.
Westie.

 

[T14086]

Not up to the dealership to authorise 3rd year warranties but up to the warranty company who do have alot of 'exclusions' like wiring faults etc so yo umight have to pay for the airbag light coming on(disconnect & reconnect underseat connectors-IGNITION OFF),fan needs ECU reset but the door opening is a stonewall lock fault(unless cable broke?)that IS covered by 3rd year warranty assuming the service schedule is up to date.

 

[Scorg]

I have a similar problem,I have had a door handle/lock problems almost from day one,I'm also into year three of the so call Fiat three year warranty.Phoned local s***e Fiat dealership(Arnold Clark) to complain about my door locks either not opening or the handlesticking open thus causing the door to swing open after attempting to close it.I also have water in one of my headlights,only to be told that Fiat wouldn't cover these problems.so I'm looking for any help you guys can give me to go back to these tossers with.

Cheers.
Westie.

Which uncle arnolds was that?
the Kirkcaldy arnolds managed to do alot under the third year warrenty here. Air con, the tracking problem, replacement tyres, fual flap cover replacement, the clutch cylinder thingy under the pedel

 

[StiloBoy]

Still i just phoned Kirkcaldy Arnold Clark booking my car in because of an engine fault, and they asked what the fault was? I had to tell them no idea, thats what the wee screen in the car told me? It wasn't specific, and i had to drive it anyway and it seems fine. They then asked, do you still want to book it in..... hmm obvious reply really.... i would like the error message checked if nothing else!

 

[westie]

Its the Broxburn branch of Arnold Clark,I also reported that the front headlight is full of condensation to be told thats not covered either?
could the problem be that the car was purchaced from Vardy Glasgow?

Cheers.

 

[Scorg]

Still i just phoned Kirkcaldy Arnold Clark booking my car in because of an engine fault, and they asked what the fault was? I had to tell them no idea, thats what the wee screen in the car told me? It wasn't specific, and i had to drive it anyway and it seems fine. They then asked, do you still want to book it in..... hmm obvious reply really.... i would like the error message checked if nothing else!

heh, who did you end up talking with then? If it wasnt for them effecting us whenever we need something done they could be considered a comical act

 

[StiloBoy]

Its funny now, it won't be so funny when the warranty is out and i'm actually paying for their incompetance! Still as i say the message has gone now, i doubt the garage will even check it on their fault diagnostics, why bother afterall. They can just keep the car all day and then tell me they've looked at it and found nothing wrong, and then move my car 2 parking spaces to make it look like they actually did some work. Or am i just being synical!

 

[T14086]

Yep your being cynical (but in somecases right!) but answer is simple...when you drop of the car check the mileage (reset the trip meter) & put a piece of paper over the diagnostic plug & see if its there when you get back.I found a tape recorder under the drivers seat once when working on a car & the guy even came back after a while pretending to get something but he was actually turning the tape over! should of whispered ghostly noises into it in hindsight

 

[StiloBoy]

I think most garages are wise to the put a few miles on the clock to fool the punter! Especially when those few miles always seem to use 1/4 a tank of fuel! I've seen cars idling just outside the workshop for ages! They surely can't be engine testing every single one!

 

[T14086]

Yep a few miles down to the roll shop to get the morning food & newspapers

Thing is though it only takes 2 minutes to connect & run a scan on the computer,sad day when dealers can't be bothered to do that because end of the day if the customer is not happy they wont come back & the reputation of the garage goes (further!) downhill.

Rule one...the customer is always smarter than the dealer,so dont try & fool them!

 

[StiloBoy]

Arnold Clark know they can take advantage of their customers in Scotland, 'cos they have 99.9% of all Fiat garages in Scotland. So you can't play them off each other!