TonyK
True Classic
The Quest has begun.
I stopped at the dealer and asked to purchase a Fiat 500 2012 Service Manual. The counter person left and came back with the Service manager and a phone number 1-800-387-1143 I called it and talked to a lady named Hirlanda who gave me a web site www.techauthority.com I search this site and found only the owners manual and an auto body manual that is in PDF format and is free. I called Hirlanda back telling her the service manual was not on that website and she told me to call back in a day and would find out more information. The following day I called back and was given this phone number 1-800-465-2001 and after a long wait I talked to Emily , she spent 30 minutes with me and put me on hold serveral times. She even made the statement that only a dealer can work on the car as to not void the warantee. This is not what the saleman told me when I was in the dealership with my son when he purchased the car. She insisted that at the techauthority website I could purchase access to the information in 1, 3, 30 days and 1 year. I told her I could not see where to purchase this information. Finally she used another computer and realized that she could not see it either so... She finally gave me a phone number for WiTech 1-888-948-3241 and after a wait on hold I talked to Ameil who could not offer anything and put me on hold twice as well. He then gave me a web address of fiatform.com this is a promo site but someone has posted how to change the oil on the new Fiat 500. Guess what the car uses a cartridge oil filter that is upside down. I haven't see this type of filter since I worked on a 1976 Dodge 800 truck with a 413 V8 engine. The post has pictures on this form but makes no mention of where to buy a filter. ( I will guess at a dealer) I tried at Car Quest but they didn't have a listing for the Fiat 500.
Ameil gave me the following phone numbers that I have not had a chance to try yet. So far I have spent 1 hour and 15 minutes on the phone trying to get a straight answer for information on how to do repairs on this car or obtain information of how to do it.
I was directed to try and sort it out with the following.
Fiat USA 1-888-242-6342
Fiat Canada 1-800-521-9900
Web address fiatcanada.com
1-416-422-2272
1-855-422-2272
I have not had time to try out those phone numbers for what seems to be the Royal Run Around.
I am getting close to launching a complaint with Transport Canada. Similar complaints agains Acura forced Acura to release information about their cars as owners and small shops had no information to offer customers and to do repairs.
Opinion, After years of being loyal to the brand after they left North America and seeing Fiat return I am greatly disapointed that once again I am left to fend for myself or throw myself to the mercy of the dealer. Of those that know me on this form, what I can't repair I will build and my loyality is waining currently. Next week the Fiat Rep will be in Nashville I am going to have ask a few questions about this. If I am missing something here and anyone has some direction please let me know. I find is disapointing that I will be forced to drive 30 miles for an oil change when I have a lift in my garage and tools to do it.
TonyK.
Grimsby Ontario Canada.
I stopped at the dealer and asked to purchase a Fiat 500 2012 Service Manual. The counter person left and came back with the Service manager and a phone number 1-800-387-1143 I called it and talked to a lady named Hirlanda who gave me a web site www.techauthority.com I search this site and found only the owners manual and an auto body manual that is in PDF format and is free. I called Hirlanda back telling her the service manual was not on that website and she told me to call back in a day and would find out more information. The following day I called back and was given this phone number 1-800-465-2001 and after a long wait I talked to Emily , she spent 30 minutes with me and put me on hold serveral times. She even made the statement that only a dealer can work on the car as to not void the warantee. This is not what the saleman told me when I was in the dealership with my son when he purchased the car. She insisted that at the techauthority website I could purchase access to the information in 1, 3, 30 days and 1 year. I told her I could not see where to purchase this information. Finally she used another computer and realized that she could not see it either so... She finally gave me a phone number for WiTech 1-888-948-3241 and after a wait on hold I talked to Ameil who could not offer anything and put me on hold twice as well. He then gave me a web address of fiatform.com this is a promo site but someone has posted how to change the oil on the new Fiat 500. Guess what the car uses a cartridge oil filter that is upside down. I haven't see this type of filter since I worked on a 1976 Dodge 800 truck with a 413 V8 engine. The post has pictures on this form but makes no mention of where to buy a filter. ( I will guess at a dealer) I tried at Car Quest but they didn't have a listing for the Fiat 500.
Ameil gave me the following phone numbers that I have not had a chance to try yet. So far I have spent 1 hour and 15 minutes on the phone trying to get a straight answer for information on how to do repairs on this car or obtain information of how to do it.
I was directed to try and sort it out with the following.
Fiat USA 1-888-242-6342
Fiat Canada 1-800-521-9900
Web address fiatcanada.com
1-416-422-2272
1-855-422-2272
I have not had time to try out those phone numbers for what seems to be the Royal Run Around.
I am getting close to launching a complaint with Transport Canada. Similar complaints agains Acura forced Acura to release information about their cars as owners and small shops had no information to offer customers and to do repairs.
Opinion, After years of being loyal to the brand after they left North America and seeing Fiat return I am greatly disapointed that once again I am left to fend for myself or throw myself to the mercy of the dealer. Of those that know me on this form, what I can't repair I will build and my loyality is waining currently. Next week the Fiat Rep will be in Nashville I am going to have ask a few questions about this. If I am missing something here and anyone has some direction please let me know. I find is disapointing that I will be forced to drive 30 miles for an oil change when I have a lift in my garage and tools to do it.
TonyK.
Grimsby Ontario Canada.