2.2 JTS hesitation - now with new IMPORTANT information & escalation details

[Ran Sid]

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

OK guys & gals. Listen up, this is IMPORTANT regarding your hesitation issue.

I've been liaising with a very amenable chap called Nick Jackson at ARUK.

We've had numerous very constructive conversations regarding the hesitation & tyre wear issues plus general talk regarding AO, the constructive threads on here that would give them excellent real feedback (PDI, Dealer recommendations etc.) on how well (or sometimes not) Alfa SPa, ARUK and its dealers are performing.

To cut to the quick, I have advised Nick that Alfa Holland are using the AD map as a free upgrade on 2.2 cars to cure the hesitation / torque hole at 1750 - 2050 RPM, plus giving the engine greater flexibility and fuel efficiency.

I have also stated that Mango's offer said map as a cost to customer cure and I have made my feelings very clear about this.

Nick stated that whilst aware of the issue & the map, the AD map is not sanctioned by Alfa but can be done if you want (at cost) without affecting your warranty.

Now for the important bit.

What we all need to do is contact ARUK Customer Services on 00800 25320000, state that me (Simon Addison) has been speaking with Nick Jackson, report the hesitation issue, state that you are aware ARUK and dealers know of the fault and that you know there is a map available as a cure (but unsanctioned but at cost) and that you want a case number (record it) for your call and a subsequent solution to the fault.

The same applies to tyre wear so I'll post the same on that thread.

Hope this is welcome news as there could be some light at the end of the tunnel for us 2.2ers

Cheers,

Simon

If you send an email to customerrelations@alfaromeo.com you'll get a case number on the reply and have written record of the complaint.

Simon, good to see you're keeping the pressure on, the last time I spoke to Nick he said I was on a list of persons to be updated, I asked as to the size of the list it wasn't very long at all. More people need to register the complaint as per your appeal.

Rich

[caradoc]

Originally Posted by Ran Sid

If you send an email to customerrelations@alfaromeo.com you'll get a case number on the reply and have written record of the complaint.

Simon, good to see you're keeping the pressure on, the last time I spoke to Nick he said I was on a list of persons to be updated, I asked as to the size of the list it wasn't very long at all. More people need to register the complaint as per your appeal.

Rich

Complaint registered - will inform you of feedback!

[Commanderfish]

I've just emailed them wabout the hesitation issue and the tyre wear - will let you now what I hear. Made it clear to them there is definitely a map issue as our new Spider has a different map and has no problem!

[tony44]

I have emailed to register the complaint so lets see what happens.

[Commanderfish]

I still haven't had a response to my complaint email of 2 days ago...

[nikolasv]

I was reading all the posts in this thread and I started to worry. So I went for a drive to see if I have similar problem as all these people here. I didn't notice anything weird in 1000 to 2000 rpm.
In what case this problem becomes more obvious?
Is it possible that (because is a 08 mobel) this problem doesn't appear in 08 models?

[XX58]

Hi Guys, not much help i no but ive had my 2.2 spider 3 days now, 58 plate and no problems whatsoever. No hesitation or jerking. They must have sorted the problem. Have covered 250 miles.

[caradoc]

Girl called from Alfa and followed up with e-mail giving me a case number and stating that Alfa are aware of the problem, are working on a cure and once available will be rolled out to customers. Time will tell but could be a positive outcome!

[leander]

Squadrone Rosso - nice work.

After lurching through traffic at every roundabout driving up from Poole today my e-mail was sent this afternoon - will advise of response.

[popdog76]

I had a voicemail message from Nick Jackson this afternoon, asking me to call him back, so they are obviously working their way through the emails

I will let you know what he says tomorrow......

[Commanderfish]

They certainly are! Nick called me this afternoon to say Alfa italia are running tests on the Autodelta remap and their own remap to see if they can approve the remap for use on the cars whilst maintaining warranty. Until then they won't pay for or sanction the fix.

On the tyre issue, he has asked me to fax through the geometry reports on my tyres, which I will do on monday. They can use this to show Alfa Italia that there is an issue which is not down to wheel alignment

[Nev]

Originally Posted by Commanderfish

to say Alfa italia are running tests on the Autodelta remap and their own remap

Interesting Goss.

[Squadrone Rosso]

I think Nick is the real deal

[tony44]

I had a call from Nick this afternoon in response to my email. I informed that I had reported this hesitation issue last May and that I would like to know what time scale are we looking at for a fix.

At the moment he says that it is in the hands of Italy and they are looking into it and that he will keep me informed on a weekly basis, wait and see.

[Andy Waine]

I got a call yesterday from Nick following my email to ARUK Customer care. Told him that I have raised both issues previously with ARUK but never got any further with it. Just like in other posts AR will not sanction the AD remap unless it is at the customer's cost and then your warranty is invalid. He said that they needed as much feedback as possible on this matter. As regards tyre wear, he says he needs geometry reports to isolate if it is the car set up or something more sinister; he admits that tyres should not wear out after 6-8k miles. I had my wife's 159 checked all all was well but tyres gone after 7k miles. Not had my Brera checked but tyres replaced after 8.5 k. Seems like they're taking both issues seriously. For those who have experienced tyre wear Nick says he needs these reports otherwise the frequency of replacing tyres is going to cost us a fortune.
I can only suggest that the more contact that is made with ARUK the better for everyone in the long run.
Andy.

[XX58]

Hi Guys, dont no if this is of any help. I was reading the threads on the cloverleaf site last night and re the tyre wear it would seem the car is set up to go round corners like a racing car hence we pay the price for tyres. There is a guy on there who seems to know what hes talking about and the set up extra. Im not a technial person so maybe one one you could have a look.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Originally Posted by melvyn

Hi Guys, dont no if this is of any help. I was reading the threads on the cloverleaf site last night and re the tyre wear it would seem the car is set up to go round corners like a racing car hence we pay the price for tyres. There is a guy on there who seems to know what hes talking about and the set up extra. Im not a technical person so maybe one one you could have a look.

Cheers Melvyn. That's the BS Alfa and the dealers were giving out before lots of folk raised it as an issue. There is an element of truth to it but mine has been re-set nigh on parallel and it still feels good or better even

As ther Cloverleaf site is ARUK's baby, I'd be surprised if anything negative went on there but both Clare & I are members so I'll have a look

TVM for the heads up fella

[Commanderfish]

Does anyone have the correct fax number for Nick Jackson? The number I have is ringing like a phone and not being answered. Cheers

[tony44]

Just had a conversation with Nick Jackson, he informs me that Alfa Italy have taken a look at the hesitation problem and that they can find no problem, 'it is a characteristic of the vehicle' (what a load of bullsh*t). He is suggesting that I take my car for an independent report. To be honest its no more than I expected.

I informed him that I have driven a few 08 models and they appear to drive correctly and have asked him to find out why.

If somebody wants to make a complaint to a few magazines then I am quite happy for my name to be added to a list.

If I can't get this resolved then I will put up with the car for another 12 months and then move away from Alfa.

[popdog76]

yes - i have just had a message left saying the same thing, alfa UK and Italy class it as a feature and can not authorize the use of any remap

[caradoc]

Originally Posted by popdog76

yes - i have just had a message left saying the same thing, alfa UK and Italy class it as a feature and can not authorize the use of any remap

The sort of feature that would put you off buying one of their cars - what idiots!

[caradoc]

Originally Posted by caradoc

The sort of feature that would put you off buying one of their cars - what idiots!

Correction - the sort of feature that would put any "newcomer" to Alfa off buying one of their cars - I expect I'll have another!

[tony44]

Originally Posted by caradoc

Correction - the sort of feature that would put any "newcomer" to Alfa off buying one of their cars - I expect I'll have another!

I won't, not if this is the support you get from Alfa UK.

[Squadrone Rosso]

SNAFU then. Please see my post here (159, Brera & new Spider owners, IMPORTANT, ACTION REQUIRED) for further information and potential further action.

TVM,

Simon.

[Martin G]

I made the decision today that after 12 years of Alfa's from 75 to the current 159 I and leaving the brand. My recent experience with the customer service has put me off for life,I havent even recieved a reply to my email asking for a way forward. They dont deserve my custom and the fleet manager at work agrees (so there could be a possible 10 car sales they wont get). This simply proves that service is everything and to snub one customer can lose you up to £200,000 if they have any influence on further sales. So, anyone want to buy a 159?

Feel sorry for the dealers really, most really are trying harder.

So, Audi, mazda or what? mmm