Mr FIAT - Your #1 source for vintage car parts

Technical I'm somewhat disappointed!

Currently reading:
Technical I'm somewhat disappointed!

Greyskull

Greyskull

New member
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
45
Points
10
Oh woe is me :cry: Collected my new 500 lounge today at 12.00, have driven exactly 34 miles and I’m waiting for the AA to come. Heard a bang, and now have a very strange rattle/knock on over-run from about 20mph. Seems like its coming from under the floor pan of all places. Anyone come across this before or have any idea as to what might be going on. It was all going so well up till that point!
 
:bang: Well, AA have been and gone (Makes it worse as I used to work for them as a patrol). Anyway, nothing obvious seen, which I guess is good, but I'll be phoning the dealer first thing and they can have it back till it's sorted. I'll keep y'all posted . . .
 
Update!!

Have spoken to the salesman at the dealer, and to be fair the response was "Get it back to us and we'll sort you a car to use whilst we sort yours out" Can't moan about that, watch this space. . .
 
Greyskull said:
Oh woe is me :cry: Collected my new 500 lounge today at 12.00, have driven exactly 34 miles and I’m waiting for the AA to come. Heard a bang, and now have a very strange rattle/knock on over-run from about 20mph. Seems like its coming from under the floor pan of all places. Anyone come across this before or have any idea as to what might be going on. It was all going so well up till that point!
Click to expand...

likely something with exhaust or an engine mount
 
Fingers crossed it's that simple!

On the up side I get to drive around in a "10" plate Punto, just another car to evaluate LOL
 
Greyskull said:
Fingers crossed it's that simple!
Click to expand...
(n)

Famous last words. . .Ladies and Gentlemen I give you (Trumpet fanfare and roll of the drums . . .) A gearbox failure! Yep, apparentlty the noise is either a diff bearing or mainshaft bearing. So either way it's a gearbox out job. Not good advertising for Fiat really considering the age of the car.
 
Greyskull said:
(n)

Famous last words. . .Ladies and Gentlemen I give you (Trumpet fanfare and roll of the drums . . .) A gearbox failure! Yep, apparentlty the noise is either a diff bearing or mainshaft bearing. So either way it's a gearbox out job. Not good advertising for Fiat really considering the age of the car.
Click to expand...

faults happen on new cars, any make
 
Bummer. My condolences.

With a fault as serious as this, I'd give consideration to rejecting the car, particularly if you plan on keeping it long term.
 
RobW said:
faults happen on new cars, any make
Click to expand...

Agreed. **** happens, this could have happened with a Veyron or a Lada. No car will ever be 100% reliable

jrkitching, the OP can't reject the car, they need to give the dealer the chance to rectify the problem.
 
RobinPJ said:
. . .this one - this is serious enough for instant rejection.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, Thanks for the advice people. I've already mentioned to the dealer that I'm contemplating a rejection of the car - downside is that I'll have to wait even longer for another one etc
I'll be speaking to Fiat tomorrow to see what they say. They'll have to throw a serious amount of goodwill my way for me to keep the car though. Have to say that the Dealer has been very accomodating. Not a repaired G/Box but they're pushing for a new one and rightly so methinks. Thats gonna be a week to 10 days to obtain! As I said in my 1st post I have worked in the motor trade (Indentured apprentice + 21 yrs with the AA so have a bit of an advantage).
 
RobinPJ said:
Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is a thread where we debated the issue of rejection. I think I'm with jrkitching on this one - this is serious enough for instant rejection.
Click to expand...

Yep. The car was inherently defective at the time of original sale, and the defect was sufficiently serious as to render the car totally unfit for purpose. As the car failed after only 34 miles, the burden of proof would be on the dealer to show otherwise and the OP is on solid ground if they reject. They have absolutely no obligation whatsoever to offer the dealer the opportunity to repair.

The real issue is not whether you could reject the car (you can if you so wish), but whether you should.

If you can buy another identical car off the shelf at the same price in time for Xmas, then I'd probably reject. If you'd need to order it, wait 16-20 weeks & then pay extra VAT, then it's not so clear cut.

Whatever you decide to do, you have every right to feel gutted, and it annoys me when some people seem to think it's OK if a certain percentage of new cars fail catastrophically after only a few miles.

You paid good money for your car and you have every right to expect it to work work properly. IMO the dealer should now be moving heaven & earth to source the OP a similar new replacement car.
 
jrkitching said:
If you'd need to order it, wait 16-20 weeks & then pay extra VAT, then it's not so clear cut.
Click to expand...

Thats the issue really! I doubt it'll be that long a wait but, it'll def' be after Xmas and you can bet a £1 to a pinch o' s**t I'll have to pay the extra VAT for sure. . .
 
Greyskull said:
Thats the issue really! I doubt it'll be that long a wait but, it'll def' be after Xmas and you can bet a £1 to a pinch o' s**t I'll have to pay the extra VAT for sure. . .
Click to expand...
Whilst I understand that none of this is your fault but why should Fiat pay the VAT increase on another car? At the end of the day something is wrong with your car and rather than make a big fuss and being without a car for 12 weeks or so why not just get the damn thing repaired? As someone who's worked in the motor trade I'm sure you're well aware that the same thing could happen again with the new car and that this car isn't inherently flawed and it was just one bit that failed.
 
I would demand a new box it's a new car after all.if you do get to reject it you will either be offered another one ( normally a better spec) or your money back but the money back one is very few and far between.I would push for another car it's not your fault the box packed in.I would lay it on thick about having confidence in the car.good luck
 
With a choice of getting the car back on the same day the new 'box arrives (fitting is around 4 hours) and a goodwill gesture along the lines of a full tank of fuel or the discounted/free service(s), or waiting 12+ weeks for another new car... I know which one I'd go for. ;)
 
jrkitching said:
Yep. The car was inherently defective at the time of original sale, and the defect was sufficiently serious as to render the car totally unfit for purpose..
Click to expand...

I really don't get this at all. When the term "inherently defective" is used it means that the part is inherently faulty as in a good proportion of cars with the same gearbox have issues. There is nothing inherent about the fault, there are thousands upon thousands of cars in the UK with the same gearbox design which don't have any issues. This fault is not inherent, it is unfortunate and the quickest and most reasonable remedy is to have a new gearbox fitted or to have the one that is on the car stripped down and any faulty parts replaced with new parts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

nikcoleman
Technical I'm back! armed with a 500, Help!
Replies
3
Views
859
A3jeroen
A3jeroen
T
General I'm just getting greedy.
Replies
5
Views
864
typecastboy
T
alexGS
General I'm back
Replies
18
Views
3K
Mick F
Mick F
M
General Disappointed in my Fiat 500
Replies
6
Views
2K
Super Uwe
Super Uwe
T
Technical Repeater bulb change - either it's difficult or I'm a moron!!
Replies
3
Views
944
tallburt
T
Back
Top