Author Topic: "It's not a Fiat...it's an Abarth." (Read 8156 times)

Lizabarth · « **on:** January 25, 2011, 07:53:07 pm »

...and that was the start of my conversation with the receptionist at my local Fiat dealership.

I should have realised that things could never improve from this dismal low - I was right.

I took Arbie in as I have been experiencing a horrible grinding/ screeching noise intermitantly when I reverse (in and out of Sport mode). Having read a couple of posts on here, I guessed that it was just what Abarths did. Unfortunately, it got to the stage that reversing in a car park would attract attention (and not for the right reasons!). Then it started making a quiet squeeking noise when turning right. So, in we went.

My conversation with Wendy (the receptionist) went something like this:

18/01/2011.

8am. Me to Wendy: I've brought my car in to get checked out as it's making noises in reverse and when turning right.
Wendy: Which wheel.
Me: No, it's not a wheel - I think that it's a problem with the bearings (?!) or the steering.
Wendy: So, it's not a wheel that's making a noise?
Me: No.
Wendy: Ok, the senior mechanic will look at it and we'll call you to confirm what the situation is.

1pm: Wendy calls me: The Senior Mechanic hasn't had a chance to look at your car yet, but he will do.

2.21pm: Wendy calls me again:
Wendy: The Senior Mechanic has taken your car for a test drive and he can't find anything wrong with it.
Me: Well, I did tell you that it was intermitent. Has he put it up and had a look underneath it?
Wendy: Ummmm..... I think that he would have done that.
Me: Well Wendy, you're not answering that as confidently as I would have wished. I'm going to ask you that question again and you are going to tell me exactly what happened.
Wendy: Ummm... Yes, I think that he did look under it.
Me: Ok Wendy, please remember that I work at a financial institution where all of my calls are recorded, you are confirming that the Senior Mechanic has put my car up on the ramp and has thoroughly investigated the source of the noise?
Wendy: Yes. There are some cars that just make funny noises.
Me: Oh really, so what would you now suggest?
Wendy: That you just carry on driving it.
Me: But what happens if it carries on making a noise?
Wendy: You could turn the music up
Me: Wendy, that really isn't a suitable solution for me. What else is there?
Wendy: You could book an appt with the Senior Mechanic and go for a drive together and see if it makes a noise. Then he could put it up on the ramp and have a proper look underneath.
Me: Thank you Wendy, goodbye.

I'm reluctant to go for a drive with a mechanic.

Has anyone got any suggestions?!?

Thank you!

Liz

AbarthForum.co.uk

madvase · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2011, 08:01:14 pm »

If possible I would go to another Fiat dealer or preferably an Abarth dealer. There are a few good ones around - as well as a few shockers. Its worth looking on the Fiatforum. If that is not possible I would ask to speak to the service manager and say what has happened and what your options are.

cliff · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2011, 08:06:59 pm »

Hi Liz,

Thought you might have been to the same dealership as me. My breaks make horrible sounds when in reverse. No joy from them either. Gonna take it in next time I get the chance. Can you let me know how you get on please and I'll do the same for you.

It's not a good after sales from Abarth!

Good luck

Cliff

DraigFlag · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2011, 09:00:21 pm »

From my experience, the one you just had is pretty good!

Seriously though, if the noise is the one i'm thinking of then it is just a character of the car. Ask anyone who's had to drive for 5 to 10 mins in reverse and they'll say the same thing (mainly country folk who are required to do this every time they meet "a women driving" on a single track country road!)

mightydquinn · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2011, 09:39:09 pm »

drive another abarth and see if that makes the same noise.
or if all else fails fit a monza then you wont need to turn up the radio.

cscn69 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:17:50 pm »

Quote from: DraigFlag on January 25, 2011, 09:00:21 pm

(mainly country folk who are required to do this every time they meet "a women driving" on a single track country road!)

You trying to get the sack like Andy gray! Te he

cscn69 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:19:58 pm »

Liz

Go to westover sportscars in Poole. Ask for Ben. He'll help.

Scorosso · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:05:52 pm »

Hi Liz,

Not had my A500 long enough to have any problems, however it would be worth checking the handbrake mechanism. The Abarth has disc brakes on the rear and the handbrake mechanism on discs is usually contained within a drum that forms part of the disc. This kind of set up can bind when reversing. My son has a Panda 100HP which has rear discs and he sometimes gets a scraping clicking noise when he reverses - it's just the handbrake shoes not releasing fully when the handbrake is released. The usual fix is adjustment or lubrication.

Check the rear disc calipers as well. There's an earlier post that refers to them binding. Seems to be a common problem.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Chris.

pottygirl · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:29:28 pm »

i agree...i would certainly recommend Westovers in Poole.
Speak to Ben or Chris Amey....

gorrie · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:07:57 am »

Hope you get to the bottom of it.

On the subject of working for a Financial company with calls being recorded... I worked in a Telecoms dept for a large finacial company & we threw the book at an employee who abused the system by trying to retrieve a call from our archive for their personal circumstances. Not sure what your Telecoms Dept policy would be on that, but I'd imagine that they'd expect recordings to be used only for training purposes or for legally binding transactions relating to their business and may not take kindly to recordings being retrieved for personal calls.

Also.. the receptionist should be made aware of recordings prior to your conversation beginning, so if they called you direct & didn't come through an automated system, they may not have been notified until you said half way through the conversation :-
[Extract of the TSL] The Licensee shall make every reasonable effort to inform parties to whom or by whom a Live Speech Telephone Call is transmitted before recording, silent monitoring or intrusion into such Call has begun that the Live Speech Telephone Call is to be or may be recorded, silently monitored or intruded into.

Just tread carefully where call recordings are concerned.... if you plan to use that in future.

Scorosso · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2011, 03:56:39 pm »

Quote from: Scorosso on January 25, 2011, 11:05:52 pm

it would be worth checking the handbrake mechanism. The Abarth has disc brakes on the rear and the handbrake mechanism on discs is usually contained within a drum that forms part of the disc. This kind of set up can bind when reversing

My apologies, I have just stripped my son's rear discs and there is no drum for the handbrake, the cable operates directly on the caliper - in my case it's a set of new pads, a clean up, re-assembly with coppaslip and then adjust the handbrake.

With the many reports of sticky calipers it's got to be worth getting your dealer to check that.

Chris.

Lizabarth · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:40:32 pm »

You are of course right, using call recording for personal circumstances is a very serious offence and I should have read her the warnings prior to starting the conversation - if I was recording the conversation.

The truth is in fact, I work in a department (Marketing) where none of our calls are recorded - I was just trying to get her to tell the truth! As this was for personal circumstances and I was not acting on behalf of my employer, I hope that this is ok?

Thank you for your advice.

Quote from: gorrie on January 26, 2011, 10:07:57 am

Hope you get to the bottom of it.

On the subject of working for a Financial company with calls being recorded... I worked in a Telecoms dept for a large finacial company & we threw the book at an employee who abused the system by trying to retrieve a call from our archive for their personal circumstances. Not sure what your Telecoms Dept policy would be on that, but I'd imagine that they'd expect recordings to be used only for training purposes or for legally binding transactions relating to their business and may not take kindly to recordings being retrieved for personal calls.

Also.. the receptionist should be made aware of recordings prior to your conversation beginning, so if they called you direct & didn't come through an automated system, they may not have been notified until you said half way through the conversation :-
[Extract of the TSL] The Licensee shall make every reasonable effort to inform parties to whom or by whom a Live Speech Telephone Call is transmitted before recording, silent monitoring or intrusion into such Call has begun that the Live Speech Telephone Call is to be or may be recorded, silently monitored or intruded into.

Just tread carefully where call recordings are concerned.... if you plan to use that in future.

Lizabarth · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:42:55 pm »

Thanks to everyone that replied.
I bought Arbie from Ben at Westover and he's always been very helpful, so it looks like I could be darkening his doorstep once more!

Will let you know how I get on (hopefully Wendy and I never cross paths again!)

Thanks!

Liz

FWD_Boy · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2011, 12:14:11 pm »

Just a quick one to check, take it out for a drive, do a bit of reversing, if the squeek arises hop out and touch the rear wheels...

If one is hot then its an issue with a sticky calliper which can be reported to the senior mechinic, also I think a few members have had issues with wheel bearings (spelling lol)

Few years ago when my partners Micra was still under warrenty by 2yrs I had huge arguements and ongoing issues with mechaincs and office/sales staff at her local Nissan dealership to the point that after the warrenty had finish I took it to my independant mechainic who looks after my Alfa Romeo and he said the air filter hadnt been changed for at least 2yrs, at least and the front pads where so bad that it had damaged the front discs and would have bearly made it through a MoT yet its first MoT at the dealership, which I got done for nothing due to all the trouble, flagged up nothing, no issues not nothing.

Stand you ground, keep you cool and get the service you deserve and have paid for with the car.

needsmust · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:36:03 pm »

At least Wendy called back.

I think a drive with the mechanic is a great idea - then you get your message directly across, and an opinion of the chap that will be furtling with your motor.

Author Topic: "It's not a Fiat...it's an Abarth." (Read 8156 times)

Lizabarth

"It's not a Fiat...it's an Abarth."

AbarthForum.co.uk

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madvase

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cliff

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DraigFlag

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mightydquinn

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cscn69

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cscn69

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pottygirl

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gorrie

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Scorosso

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Lizabarth

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Lizabarth

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