Technical Very annoyed at Fiat dealer diagnostic price quote

[jrkitching]

Quick question, it may be relevant or otherwise, where is the mileage info stored? Is it on the speedo, i.e. mechanical or on the body computer or similar? Would you need to hook up to the "examiner" or similar to reset or would this happen automatically via canbus?

From what I recall from previous posts it is stored in both the cluster & the body computer - if there is a discrepancy, the mileage display will start flashing & will need to be reset with examiner.

This used to be a regular problem on here (the 'flashing mileage' issue), but I don't think I've seen it for awhile.

We're not in Kansas anymore - you can't just buy a replacement speedo head & wind the numbers back with a pointy screwdriver.

 

[grimwau]

From what I recall from previous posts it is stored in both the cluster & the body computer - if there is a discrepancy, the mileage display will start flashing & will need to be reset with examiner.

This used to be a regular problem on here (the 'flashing mileage' issue), but I don't think I've seen it for awhile.

We're not in Kansas anymore - you can't just buy a replacement speedo head & wind the numbers back with a pointy screwdriver.

Shucks! I guess the electric drill in reverse won't work then, lol.

 

[FireballXL5man]

As a postscript to the saga of my broken rev counter.

The Fiat dealership (from whom I bought the car new in 2009 and also a new Ford Focus CC in 2010) wanted to charge me £90 for a diagnostic, in addition to the following quote. They told me that if the instrument cluster was replaced and I hadn't got them to carry out the diagnostic tests, if the fault was still present, I would not get a refund. (I had an two auto electricians carry out tests and both said that the instrument cluster was faulty). I can see the service manager of the dealership's point (just about), but consider this to be poor customer service. Fiat offered a "good will" contribution of £150.

Quote:

"I have requested goodwill as promised and managed to secure a contribution of £150.00 from Fiat towards the repair.



The labour to replace the unit is 0.40hrs @ £85.00 plus vat = £34.00 plus vat.

Part is £385.34 plus vat



Total £503.20 inc vat



Contribution £150.00 leaving £353.20 to pay."


That's £353.20 plus the £90.00 diagnostic charge making £443.20, if I wanted the car fixed. Needless to say, I'm driving around with the rev counter broken and intend to continue to do so.

Surprisingly, it was suggested to me at the (Ford/Fiat/Alfa Romeo) dealership that if I'd bought a Ford Ka, I would have been much less likely to have electrical problems than with the Fiat 500 (!)

They also wanted to charge me £315.50 + VAT for a new cable harness for a new wiring harness for the tailgate, because I'd cut through the flexible rubber sleeve and attempted my own soldered repair, making the £75 short section repair unavailable to me.

I've lost faith in my local Fiat dealership.

It may not be a common fault, but I think it's a matter of time before someone else on this forum will have a broken rev counter on a 500. It will be interesting to see how they get on......

 

[306maxi]

I still don't get the problem, instrument cluster's aren't cheap to buy as new parts.

 

[FireballXL5man]

Maxi, you'd be pretty fed up if your rev counter broke, your car is, I believe, a similar age to mine.

Or would you pay out £443.20 and just accept it?

I'd considered buying a circa £50 500 cluster from a car breaker on e-bay. However, the dealer is adamant that a second-hand unit can not be reprogrammed in my car and an auto electrician has told me that this could be correct. It appears that it has to be a "virgin" brand new instrument cluster, or the mileage will flash. Who am I to argue?

 

[306maxi]

Maxi, you'd be pretty fed up if your rev counter broke, your car is, I believe, a similar age to mine. Or would you just pay out £443.20 and accept it?

Also, the dealer is adamant that these circa £50 e-bay 500 clusters from car breakers can not be reprogrammed in my car, an auto electrician has told me that this could be correct. It appears that it has to be a "virgin" brand new instrument cluster, or the mileage will flash. Who am I to argue?

I wouldn't be happy. But I'd also want my car to work.


I'm not saying you should be happy that your car broke, but I just don't see where this is all going......

 

[FireballXL5man]

I'm surprised that you "can't see where this is all going......"

I re-opened the thread, mainly because I was wondering if anyone else has experienced a broken rev counter yet and if so, have they managed to get it fixed.

 

[306maxi]

Bgunn suggested bbareman..... I suggested trying a 2nd hand cluster for a small cost.

 

[FireballXL5man]

Bgunn messaged me that he thought the dealer was correct in saying that the cluster had to be a virgin unit, so I wasn't going to chance possibly messing things up further by trying a second-hand unit.

I'm aware of bbareman, but haven't contacted them as yet.

One of the purposes of this forum is to find out if others have experienced similar problems with their cars and if so, have they found solutions. It appears that the rev counter failure isn't a common fault. I think that eventually other members may be unfortunate in experiencing the problem.

 

[ahmett]

Bgunn messaged me that he thought the dealer was correct in saying that the cluster had to be a virgin unit, so I wasn't going to chance possibly messing things up further by trying a second-hand unit.



I'm aware of bbareman, but haven't contacted them as yet.



One of the purposes of this forum is to find out if others have experienced similar problems with their cars and if so, have they found solutions. It appears that the rev counter failure isn't a common fault. I think that eventually other members may be unfortunate in experiencing the problem.

Can you fit an aftermarket rev counter not related to the instrument cluster race car style?

 

[T14086]

Bgunn messaged me that he thought the dealer was correct in saying that the cluster had to be a virgin unit, so I wasn't going to chance possibly messing things up further by trying a second-hand unit.

Can't see any reason why a second hand unit would not work of the same model/year/specification, would need proxy-aligned.

 

[UFI]

Can you fit an aftermarket rev counter not related to the instrument cluster race car style?

You can buy CANBUS plug and play instruments like this:

http://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GF2-TACH-06/15/Freedom-CAN-BUS-Tachometer-Gauge-6K-RPM

 

[ahmett]

You can buy CANBUS plug and play instruments like this:

http://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GF2-TACH-06/15/Freedom-CAN-BUS-Tachometer-Gauge-6K-RPM

Yes that is exactly what I meant! OP, just get one of these.

 

[306maxi]

Bgunn messaged me that he thought the dealer was correct in saying that the cluster had to be a virgin unit, so I wasn't going to chance possibly messing things up further by trying a second-hand unit.

I'm aware of bbareman, but haven't contacted them as yet.

One of the purposes of this forum is to find out if others have experienced similar problems with their cars and if so, have they found solutions. It appears that the rev counter failure isn't a common fault. I think that eventually other members may be unfortunate in experiencing the problem.

There's always a first person and sadly that's you. Get it sorted and let us know how it gets fixed rather than waiting for someone else to have the problem and do what you should have done. If it were me I'd still buy a 2nd hand unit and give it a go, I reckon it'd just need a proxi alignment.

 

[wellfan]

Not sure if this helps. I swapped a used instrument cluster in my 2008 Fiat Grande Punto and it worked no problem. I never took it for a proxy realignment. Think a yellow light flashed occasionally for a wee while.

 

[RobW]

i don't understand why you still haven't bought a used cluster

with regards to cost this is why there are aftermarket warranties available?
alternatively you take your chance and look for solutions on the internet, oh wait...

 

[FireballXL5man]

I guess I'm probably too trusting. The dealership has assured me that a used cluster will definately not work in my car and I believed them.

I'll look in to the e-bay second hand cluster option again and let you know how I get on.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

£50 says a used one will work, just make sure the mileage on it is lower than your current mileage, and then dealer or someone else does a proxi alignment they can increase the mileage to the cars correct ODO reading

 

[306maxi]

I guess I'm probably too trusting. The dealership has assured me that a used cluster will definately not work in my car and I believed them.

I'll look in to the e-bay second hand cluster option again and let you know how I get on.

Thanks for the replies.

Dealers are in the business of being very conservative and offering you a worst case scenario and working to that rather than trying to solve it as cheaply as possible.