Waiting for break down recovery in Italy (3 Viewers)

[Paullo]

Well our tour of the Dolomites hasn't turned out the way we were expecting. Driving through Cortina d'Ampezzo on our way north to Camping Olympia when the instrument panel on our 3 year old Ducato based Malibu lit up like a Xmas tree. Continued driving but with loss of power, intermittent loss of Speedo, and very disconcerting jerkiness. The warning lights were mainly to do with EBD failure but with others coming on and off. I made it to a decent layby and phoned our recovery service which is through the Nationwide. This was at 2pm. After waiting and waiting and calling them 3 times for an update I eventually received a call from an Italian person to say they won't be attending till tomorrow morning! It's peeing outside but at least we're comfortable and (hopefully) safe.

 

[DBK]

Commiserations, not what you expect for a 3 year old vehicle. Hopefully, it won't be something too serious.

 

[John Barrett]

I had occasion to use the service in Spain when the NW had just transferred to the AA. Not a good experience: no answers, no English speakers etc. it was so bad that my complaint went up to CEO level!
It also took them six weeks to bring my outfit home after I was medivacced..

 

[f6c]

What a Bummer

 

[Paullo]

I had occasion to use the service in Spain when the NW had just transferred to the AA. Not a good experience: no answers, no English speakers etc. it was so bad that my complaint went up to CEO level!
It also took them six weeks to bring my outfit home after I was medivacced..

Wow that was bad John. I hope it doesn't take them that long for me. When I rang for updates I spoke to French call handlers who had very good English. It's funny though because each one I spoke to intimated that the Italian service they used is notoriously bad.

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[Puddleduck]

I hope you get decent service in the morning.

Stay safe.

 

[ChrisL]

If you have some tools check the engine battery earth strap is not loose.

 

[Paullo]

If you have some tools check the engine battery earth strap is not loose.

Thanks. It's too dark and wet at moment but I may have a look in the morning.

 

[Googlebot]

Hope it gets sorted quickly.

I only had an engine light on in France and that was stressful enough.

 

[Howard B]

Thats a reason I just splashed out on the MultiECUscan, I may be able to reset something to get me to a town or campsite if there is a problem. Hope you get sorted soon.

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[Paullo]

Hope it gets sorted quickly.

I only had an engine light on in France and that was stressful enough.

Thanks Googlebot. As it turns out, this morning all of the lights that came on yesterday have not appeared although the engine warning light is still showing. Still sat in the layby waiting for assistance some 21 hrs after first reporting it.

 

[Paullo]

Thats a reason I just splashed out on the MultiECUscan, I may be able to reset something to get me to a town or campsite if there is a problem. Hope you get sorted soon.

Thanks Howard. Hadn't heard of that before but it look a good bit of kit. But wouldn't it just reset the warnings but leave the underlying problem unresovled?

 

[seasideBill]

But wouldn't it just reset the warnings but leave the underlying problem unresovled?

Seems to me there often isn’t an underlying problem. I’ve had at least 5 warning light episodes while touring Europe, they’ve always resolved themselves including one limp mode occasion. Digital stuff can scare you to death. I did over 1500 miles with intermittent fault lights/warning this year but as soon as I arrived home and took it to Fiat Professional, it can’t be replicated. I even made a video of the lights coming on and then clearing but after 3 weeks they found nothing! I suggest (if you can) try ignoring it and see if it goes away before considering recovery. Good luck - very stressful.

 

[Joethejoiner]

Well our tour of the Dolomites hasn't turned out the way we were expecting. Driving through Cortina d'Ampezzo on our way north to Camping Olympia when the instrument panel on our 3 year old Ducato based Malibu lit up like a Xmas tree. Continued driving but with loss of power, intermittent loss of Speedo, and very disconcerting jerkiness. The warning lights were mainly to do with EBD failure but with others coming on and off. I made it to a decent layby and phoned our recovery service which is through the Nationwide. This was at 2pm. After waiting and waiting and calling them 3 times for an update I eventually received a call from an Italian person to say they won't be attending till tomorrow morning! It's peeing outside but at least we're comfortable and (hopefully) safe.

That is terrible service . Few years ago I had to use breakdown in France , prompt service . I did have to contact breakdown in Italy because of large crack in windscreen . Think they sent me directions to their Autoglass agent ! Guy was really nice but don't think he'd fitted a windscreen before . His mate who was helping had to leave so I had to help [definitely never fitted windscreen] .
Maybe its just an Italian thing ?

 

[Paullo]

Seems to me there often isn’t an underlying problem. I’ve had at least 5 warning light episodes while touring Europe, they’ve always resolved themselves including one limp mode occasion. Digital stuff can scare you to death. I did over 1500 miles with intermittent fault lights/warning this year but as soon as I arrived home and took it to Fiat Professional, it can’t be replicated. I even made a video of the lights coming on and then clearing but after 3 weeks they found nothing! I suggest (if you can) try ignoring it and see if it goes away before considering recovery. Good luck - very stressful.

Thanks seasideBill. As it's down to the one warning light now I'm now very much considering doing what you suggest but my onboard health & safety inspector is against it although after showing her your reply I'm hoping she'll change her mind.

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[Gaston aires]

Modern vehicles are packed with warning lights, some make the van go into limp mode. Even a dud indicator light can cause mayhem and scare you. Hopefully your problem will be resolved quickly and simply. I would definitely check the earth conditions on the battery as previously stated. Older vans don’t have this problem and chug on regardless. Hope it all works out for you soon.
Phil

 

[Jo662]

It would be a good idea to get a cheap Obd reader,then you can at least get the fault code to google to get some idea what it is, and then hopefully clear the fault to get you going again.

 

[Jo662]

Iv got one similar to this.

Foseal OBD2 Code Reader, OBD2 Scanner Professional Enhanced Car Automotive Check Engine Light Error Analyzer Auto CAN Vehicle Diagnostic Scan Tool for OBDII Protocol Cars Since 1996 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MCJ317T?tag=mhf04-21

 

[Puddleduck]

Waiting for the update with

 

[LostInSpace]

If you have some tools check the engine battery earth strap is not loose.

Top tip. Check the starter battery earthing strap as well.

Fiat don't tighten them properly. (learnt from experience)

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[seasideBill]

Fault code readers can be useful but sometimes the fault isn’t stored. I had 3 errors this year, power steering, electronic handbrake and airbag but no fault codes stored.

 

[Drexl]

From your description of what happened it sounds like the problem is something affecting many vehicle systems. Following on from Chris's post No 7 and LiS No 20, lift the starter battery cover (passenger footwell) and check if the quick disconnect battery earth connector is properly attached. It will rotate when fitted - that is normal. If you have some tools, check the gearbox to chassis earth connector is tight (visible just behind the air filter if you have the manual gearbox). Best of luck getting it sorted or getting breakdown assistance otherwise.

 

[Paullo]

Well I'll be blowed. After waiting almost 24 hrs and many calls for updates, and absolutely no indication of when to expect assistance, I decided to chance it and drive to the nearest campsite. Low and behold when I turned on the ignition no sign of any warning lights and it drove as if there had never been a problem. So the plan is to have a look at the engine battery earth strap and get a engine fault code reader when I get back. I'm also going to put in a complaint to the Nationwide about the terrible service. Fingers crossed that it doesn't happen again before we get back as we're a long way from home. Many thanks for all your advice.

 

[Flairy]

That’s just unacceptable service we broke down in Belguim with saga it was less than 1 hour and they took us off the autoroute and to there garage.what makes it more impressive is it was Belguim shut down

 

[Peavy]

Fault code readers can be useful but sometimes the fault isn’t stored. I had 3 errors this year, power steering, electronic handbrake and airbag but no fault codes stored.

With a new van? What did the garage say?

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[Neil S]

That’s very poor service from Nationwide although they can only instruct these recovery companies as a third party so it’s beyond their control .
when my handbrake failed in S.W France Red Pennant had me booked into a Peugeot dealership within 90 minutes and organised recovery which I declined and drove the 15 miles without a handbrake .
It was holiday weekend in France and the dealership in Tarbes still fixed the problem .

 

[gus-lopez]

I eventually received a call from an Italian person to say they won't be attending till tomorrow morning!

As soon as they told me that last night I would have been on to Nationwide complaining .Then this morning at 8 am I would have rung again asking when they were arriving then I'd have rung them yet again when I moved to the campsite & then again to start an official complaint.You need to cover yourself in case it dies again & you need them for recovery

I'm also going to put in a complaint to the Nationwide about the terrible service. Fin

as above it needs to be now so you can get service if needed next time

 

[HarryML7]

Seems to me there often isn’t an underlying problem. I’ve had at least 5 warning light episodes while touring Europe, they’ve always resolved themselves including one limp mode occasion. Digital stuff can scare you to death. I did over 1500 miles with intermittent fault lights/warning this year but as soon as I arrived home and took it to Fiat Professional, it can’t be replicated. I even made a video of the lights coming on and then clearing but after 3 weeks they found nothing! I suggest (if you can) try ignoring it and see if it goes away before considering recovery. Good luck - very stressful.

According to my Fiat dealer - unless a warning persists it is wiped from the memory after 100 starts.

 

[seasideBill]

With a new van? What did the garage say?

Not a lot really other than sorry can’t find a fault (after trying to replicate it for 3 weeks). I’m waiting for it to happen again and then it will be a conversation with Fiat Customer Services. Intermittent faults are bloody frustrating but there must be a technical guy somewhere who can recognise the interaction of the 3 different systems and work out some possibilities. The positive is the van drives perfectly.

Video too big to post here but some screen shots all in the same episode if you’re interested. Only happens on starting and clears after a few moments, except red airbag light that takes a bit longer.

 

[JJ]

It reminds me of the NASA space mission many moons ago (geddit?) when a warning light came on in the capsule indicating a serious fault.

Mission Control went into action checking every possible circuit and system but could find nothing wrong.

A highly qualified but young MIT graduate then suggested tapping the warning light with a pencil.

On doing so, the light went out and the mission was completed successfully.



JJ

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