Technical What I think of the windscreen washers on the 500

[Mark Elvin]

All done, arrived and was on my way again in under 5mins.

IIRC this is the first warranty work I've had done on this 500 after 13months & 13,000 miles. I'm happy with that.

Of course, the downside of the visit was that I had a chance to sit in a 500C with the roof open in the showroom and it quite frankly MARVELOUS.

 

[olopboy]

A lot OT but the servicing is a joke as the law states otherwise. I can see the warranty side of things however, as Abarth UK is technically a different company I can see that to reclaim the cost of the warranty work why invoices have to go through Abarth. You wouldn't go to an Alfa dealership expecting them to work on a GP just because they are part of the Fiat group and mechanically similar?

Anyway glad you're all sorted Mark.

 

[Mark Elvin]

I don't even understand the warranty side of the Fiat/Abarth split, there is nothing mechanically different on the Abarths from the rest of the Fiat range. The only issue I can see is that the Abarths obviously run different software that's Abarth specific.

 

[olopboy]

Its more to do with company invoicing, Abarth is a seperately registered company, little to do with the mechanicals. And yes I agree that it should have been a model type rather than a whole new company until they managed to bring out their own car. Saying that I've been enjoying the motorsport stuff which probably wouldn't have happened if they were just a tiered model.

Knew all this at purchase so can't moan (too much)

 

[306maxi]

Its more to do with company invoicing, Abarth is a seperately registered company, little to do with the mechanicals. And yes I agree that it should have been a model type rather than a whole new company until they managed to bring out their own car. Saying that I've been enjoying the motorsport stuff which probably wouldn't have happened if they were just a tiered model.

Knew all this at purchase so can't moan (too much)

I don't see why the motorsport stuff wouldn't have happened. Fiat ran Abarth as an inhouse competition dept for years and years and years and just called it Fiat or Lancia.

Abarth ran the 131 Abarth, 037 Rallye, Delta S4 and Integrale campaigns back in the day.

 

[DraigFlag87]

The Abarth/Fiat relation is a bit of a PITA, it means what was a 100 mile trip to the dealer for Fiat has turned into a 200 mile trip instead! But i considered this when i bought the car and thought "ah what the hell, it won't go wrong that often" how wrong i was! I know some people have a 400 mile round trip to their "local" dealer though... (there's always someone worse off!)

How far are you from the Abarth dealer in Wales Mark?

 

[suzisue]

im about an hour away from dealer but it doesnt bother me - once the warranty runs out, who would use their fiat dealer anyway??!!

 

[Mark Elvin]

The Abarth/Fiat relation is a bit of a PITA, it means what was a 100 mile trip to the dealer for Fiat has turned into a 200 mile trip instead! But i considered this when i bought the car and thought "ah what the hell, it won't go wrong that often" how wrong i was! I know some people have a 400 mile round trip to their "local" dealer though... (there's always someone worse off!)

How far are you from the Abarth dealer in Wales Mark?

I'm about 45miles each way, which will be a pain if it goes wrong as much as other peoples have.

 

[Puntostar]

Well i went to get mine done today as well as other little things and he told me that he didnt swap it as he wanted to swap both of them with "new type ones"

Will report if they look any different..

On a side note has anybody seen the Punto Evo? Was in the showroom, looked nice. A punto with the Bravo interior :slayer:

 

[sikersh]

I'm about 45miles each way, which will be a pain if it goes wrong as much as other peoples have.

I'm around 15 miles away from Bauer Milletts in Manchester, but I bought my car from Autoworld in Chesterfield (approx 70 miles away) before there was a dealer in Manchester.

Bauer Milletts are great though, very professional, which is more than I can say about Autoworld!

 

[suzisue]

why does the screenwash freeze in the first place - isnt it protected down to the same temps as the coolant?

 

[306maxi]

why does the screenwash freeze in the first place - isnt it protected down to the same temps as the coolant?

It's down to the concentration. There's little point in using a winter concentration during summer because it's just a waste.

 

[suzisue]

so really then, with this bad design, the only way to avoid repeated visits to the dealers (other than glueing them) is to keep the screenwash at a high winter concentration all the time. might cost bit more, but saves all the hassles?

 

[PlopHole]

Isn't there a fair bit of dispute as to whether its actually down to the weather/temperature?

 

[306maxi]

Isn't there a fair bit of dispute as to whether its actually down to the weather/temperature?

Well of course it's down to the temperature! If it's too cold and you've not got enough concentrate in it freezes, simple as.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Isn't there a fair bit of dispute as to whether its actually down to the weather/temperature?

Some use it neat, it still freezes. It's probably due to the fact that right at the tip of the washer jets, the pipes are very thin to increase pressure, as a result, the fluid is more likely to freeze.

 

[suzisue]

even if the pipes are thin the fluid still shouldnt freeze if its freezing point is below what the temperature is?

hasnt happened to me yet but it sounds a real stupid design - and correct me if im wrong, and this is something a couple of years away for me but isnt it an mot fail if the screenwashers dont work properly on the front?

and by then we'll all be out of warranty - how much will fiat charge us then to replace these crap things?

 

[306maxi]

Some use it neat, it still freezes. It's probably due to the fact that right at the tip of the washer jets, the pipes are very thin to increase pressure, as a result, the fluid is more likely to freeze.

Yeah but if you use crap washer fluid like the Halfords stuff it has a freezing point of -7. Went into the shed today and had a look at the disused halfords stuff I have and it had turned to slush!

 

[suzisue]

the one i use is something like -60 if its mixed to their recommended concentration (which i did) - so if mine pop out now then its definitely something else causing it!

and there is none of the probably crap stuff left in there that fiat put in when new, i ran that straight out after i got the car...and im glad i did, cos suspect thats only down to around -7 as well!

 

[nottsfiat07]

Yeah but if you use crap washer fluid like the Halfords stuff it has a freezing point of -7. Went into the shed today and had a look at the disused halfords stuff I have and it had turned to slush!

You should get a hobby...