Technical Recall text

Currently reading:
Technical Recall text

My wife was returning from a short journey to her mothers. She told me the car started losing power and sounding horrible...every so often it would pick up again. The engine warning light etc is on...so I phoned our local dealer who I bought it from to arrange to get it sorted under warranty...imagine my surprise when they told me they no longer had the Fiat franchise, so could no longer do warranty work. Annoyingly, not only do I have a service plan...but they lost or gave up the franchise last year when the car was 6 month old. Funnily enough this wasn't mentioned when I called to arrange first service at 12 month old (didn't need done though, since it only had 3K on it). So much for aftercare!!!
They informed that another local garage had franchise and would be doing warranty work....unfortunately a phone call revealed they can't do any warranty work for a couple of months yet!!!
Next stop is a dealer 40 miles/hour drive away...so I called them to be told that it shouldn't be driven and that it could be due to a fault that should have been rectified under a coils recall from last November...this is the first I had heard about this!!
Unfortunately, we don't have any breakdown recovery on this car since it ran out in March...too be honest I forgot about renewing, as we were distracted by the fact my wife's father was close to death....so we are looking at a hefty towing bill...unless we take the chance to drive it.
The only hope we have at the moment, is that the dealer has left a message with the area Fiat rep and explained the situation, in anticipation of them showing a bit of goodwill.
Fingers crossed! But what a load of rubbish when it now appears there has been no warranty support in the area for a year and communications on behalf of our dealer and Fiat (for the recall) have been non existent!!!!!
 
Indeed, in fact I was told that if you have a problem and you explain it to them the AA (probably some others as well) will let you join and be covered for an existing fault.

Not sure if this is guaranteed but well worth a shot.
 
Indeed, in fact I was told that if you have a problem and you explain it to them the AA (probably some others as well) will let you join and be covered for an existing fault.

Not sure if this is guaranteed but well worth a shot.

Just renewed my RAC online this evening by chance, and I know it said on their site if you're already broken down you can't buy online and need to call them, so not sure if that's to prevent what you're suggesting possibly.
 
Well it hasn't technically broke down...I would hope a sensor has picked up a fault and is simply putting it into limp mode. So I have now purchased breakdown cover and will arrange to take the car through to Keswick, possibly next Monday......if it stops on the way, at least I will have an option to get it the rest of the way!!!
 
Just went and started car for first time since yesterday and the engine management light and message have gone! They never went when I disconnected the battery yesterday?
Funnily enough, even though I had to reset the time and date... The radio switched on without a code! Does it have a separate live feed? I just clicked the button and removed live terminal??
Whatever...not chancing a run out until it is on it's way to the garage.

Would low oil cause an error and make it go into limp mode? Car has 4.1K on it, but wasn't serviced at 1 year old on the advice of the once-was-Fiat-stealer. They suggested I could wait for 10k or 2yr.
No oil light showing at moment...unable to dip it until it settles now...but maybe when it gets moving it is bringing it into low?
Grasping at straws now:eek:
 
Just went and started car for first time since yesterday and the engine management light and message have gone! They never went when I disconnected the battery yesterday?
Funnily enough, even though I had to reset the time and date... The radio switched on without a code! Does it have a separate live feed? I just clicked the button and removed live terminal??
Whatever...not chancing a run out until it is on it's way to the garage.

Would low oil cause an error and make it go into limp mode? Car has 4.1K on it, but wasn't serviced at 1 year old on the advice of the once-was-Fiat-stealer. They suggested I could wait for 10k or 2yr.
No oil light showing at moment...unable to dip it until it settles now...but maybe when it gets moving it is bringing it into low?
Grasping at straws now:eek:

I believe that the radio code is stored in the body computer so you should not need to enter it after disconnecting the battery. Take the car into the dealership and ask them to check what recall work needs to be carried out. I sold my TA before any of the recalls were issued but I seem to recollect that there was something relating to the turbo as well as the coils mentioned.

I'm sure Brian (bgunn) will be able to give you all the relevant info.
 
Just removed dipstick and found the oil showing well below main point and looking black! Not even covering bottom of dipstick...so bit of oil I see may be as it is touching something on way out.
Thought the dipstick smelled of burn too!
What oil does it use? Can I buy it at Halfords?
Think I should put some in before I attempt driving it any distance!!!
 
Should have said 'min' point
Well below min point? Are you sure? Best to get it towed straight away then. It uses 5w-40 C3 and yes you can get it pretty much anywhere just make sure the specification is correct. But yeah make sure all recall work for the car is done at the dealer so you don't have this problem again. Let us know how it works out!
 
I went straight to Halfords last night and bought the Castrol Edge ACEA C3 oil;)

Luckily my wife took a video with her phone when the problem occurred...you can hear the engine labouring as if a cylinder wasn't firing and you can see the lights on dash (oil light wasn't showing)...so perhaps it is the coil issue?
The dealer is sending a goodwill request to Fiat to see if they will pay for towing...so we will see!
 
Well it appears it was the coils causing the problem after all!!!
Had a low mileage service too (or an oil and filter change)....£150 :eek:
Didn't like how the service included connecting up to a computer to check a diagnostics and reset service timer....even though it had to be connected to find out under warranty, what the fault was.
WeAll at least it seems OK now!
 
Back
Top