solo3583
New member
Another problem with our Idea. It refused to start last Thursday evening, with no response from the starter motor on turning the ignition. Called out the RAC and they said we needed a new starter motor. Took it into our local Fiat dealer who fitted another one, but when we came to pick it up it was exhibiting exactly the same problem. Don't they test cars when they have repaired them?!! They are now saying it wasn't the starter motor after all (so why did they fit one?) and we need a new body computer at a cost of £500!
We paid £200 for the starter motor fitting (I know - we should have checked the car before we paid...lesson learned) which we are attempting to recover. The dealer says he will try to get Fiat to pay for the computer on a goodwill basis as it should not have failed (it's a 54 plate car), but worst case we have a potential bill for £700.
As can imagine we have somewhat lost confidence in this dealer, so does anyone have any thoughts on whether the computer is really the source of the problem and what chances we have of Fiat paying for it?
Incidentally, I know the consensus on my earlier post about the headlights being on permanently was that it was a switch problem, but could it be that the body computer is the cause of that too?
We paid £200 for the starter motor fitting (I know - we should have checked the car before we paid...lesson learned) which we are attempting to recover. The dealer says he will try to get Fiat to pay for the computer on a goodwill basis as it should not have failed (it's a 54 plate car), but worst case we have a potential bill for £700.
As can imagine we have somewhat lost confidence in this dealer, so does anyone have any thoughts on whether the computer is really the source of the problem and what chances we have of Fiat paying for it?
Incidentally, I know the consensus on my earlier post about the headlights being on permanently was that it was a switch problem, but could it be that the body computer is the cause of that too?