Customer Service tells me: not even "Sergio Marchionne" will help you

[Providence]

https://parts.moparonlineparts.com/o...aa/?c=YT1maWF0

On special for $139

Thanks. That's a great deal for anyone who needs a battery. However, dealers can charge whatever they want between the part and the labor.

[Providence]

I googled FIAT 500L Battery on the AutoZone website and found one for 169, not counting core charge (exchange your current battery), so I'd go that way and save 200 bucks, but it's a free country and you can pay 400 for a battery if you want.

Thanks. Maybe my original post was not clear, of course I want a cheaper battery. I imagine I could figure out how to uninstall and install one, but my original post was about going to a less expensive dealership and the response Fiat Chrysler customer service gave me. Again, thanks for the reply.

[rustbucket]

My question is "why are you paying anything?" if you are under 4 years and 50,000 miles. It seems clear that the battery isn't the real problem and that the warranty should apply. Of course if you're like me, the warranty expired the week before the problem happened. A good studio/dealer is worth their weight in gold- they let you know (to the extent possible) costs up front before they do any work and will sometimes go to bat on your behalf on warranty claims if needed and I would apply the preceding to all makes, not just FIAT. We had a miserable time with the service department at the original selling dealer on my wife's Honda CR-V; a change to another dealer was like night and day. Hope your issues get resolved quickly and at the least cost possible.

[Tweak]

Thanks

You're welcome and I hope you get things resolved ASAP with this other dealer.

[Providence]

My question is "why are you paying anything?" if you are under 4 years and 50,000 miles. It seems clear that the battery isn't the real problem and that the warranty should apply. Of course if you're like me, the warranty expired the week before the problem happened. A good studio/dealer is worth their weight in gold- they let you know (to the extent possible) costs up front before they do any work and will sometimes go to bat on your behalf on warranty claims if needed and I would apply the preceding to all makes, not just FIAT. We had a miserable time with the service department at the original selling dealer on my wife's Honda CR-V; a change to another dealer was like night and day. Hope your issues get resolved quickly and at the least cost possible.

Thanks for the response and advice.

My car is out of the manufacturer's warranty because it's been more than 4 years, but I do have a lifetime extended warranty.

The original battery died a few days after my 4 year warranty ended. When that happened I took advice from this forum and bought an Interstate battery an Firestone because it was the same one Mopar sells but for a lot less.

I had wanted to try another dealer but roadside assistance only tows to closest dealer.

[Providence]

Update: So it wasn't the battery at all. I got it replaced with a new one and the car died immediately. The battery wasn't under warranty but the car has an extended warranty on most of the major parts so I bought it back to the dealer and they said oh yeah I see it wasn't the battery. Instead it's the only other part of the car that is also not under warranty. According to the dealer it's one of the cables attached to battery. I don't even know how that cable goes bad on a 4 year old car with 42K miles. Has anyone ever had a bad cable? I don't see anything on the 500L forum. Thanks

[Haring]

How is that part not covered under warranty? Was this said by the 2nd dealer or the first one that you were having issues with?

[5port]

It doesn't have to be the wire cable itself but more likely the crimp connections at either end. The connections can corrode over time and get resistive.

[Providence]

Update: So it wasn't the battery at all. I got it replaced with a new one and the car died immediately. The battery wasn't under warranty but the car has an extended warranty on most of the major parts so I bought it back to the dealer and they said oh yeah I see it wasn't the battery. Instead it's the only other part of the car that is also not under warranty. According to the dealer it's one of the cables attached to battery. I don't even know how that cable goes bad on a 4 year old car with 42K miles. Has anyone ever had a bad cable? I don't see anything on the 500L forum. Thanks

How is that part not covered under warranty? Was this said by the 2nd dealer or the first one that you were having issues with?

According to Mopar the cables are not covered under extended warranty. The first dealer told me it was the battery diagnosed it as a cable issue.

[Providence]

It doesn't have to be the wire cable itself but more likely the crimp connections at either end. The connections can corrode over time and get resistive.

Either way do cables or crimps go bad after 4 years or 42K miles?

[pr0d1gy9]

Either way do cables or crimps go bad after 4 years or 42K miles?

It mainly depends where your live and the road conditions. If you live in an area that salts the road during winter it is entirely possible that corrosion is the primary cause. Mix salt with water, oxygen and road/engine vibration and you get a pretty quick way to destroy any electrical connection that is exposed. The connections probably just need to be cleaned with a wire brush but it sounds like you got it squared away.

A second cause could be the crimp connections were loose from the factory but those probably come from a supplier so I doubt that would be the main issue.

[streetsurfer]

The ground cable battery clamp is a known weak point.

[Timothy Allen]

Sadly, Sergio won't be helping us with anything anymore. RIP