1 - Six weeks off road for a vehicle under warranty simply waiting for spares!? Not acceptable. Have a word with one of the free legal advice centres and tell them your situation.

2 - Offer to pay for DHL or similar shipping to Oz - will cost a hundred or two but well worth it in your case.

When it's over may I suggest you sell the motorhome and buy a caravan, having seen a friend who lived in his motorhome in a similar situation for six months I swore that when I go on the road it will be a caravan. If the tow car fails you get the caravan towed to a caravan park and sit it out.

Hi Mike! Wishing you were here to bat for me! But Monday will be the telling! Phone calls- Ken Tame and Fiat Customer Care!

Yes 6 weeks for a commercial vehicle under 3 years and no parts anywhere in Australia! Unacceptable! And of course they dont care that its my home back of the drivers seat! I do appreciate your advise to seek legal help if I dont get satisfaction! 

Yes I will ask Insurance about offering to pay for freight but been told its already a priority order!  

But sorry couldnt buy a caravan Tried that Once! Bloody reversing Haha! And didnt like the security for a single woman! luv my motorhome so many places I can go that a caravan cant! 

Thank you for your advise? I appreciate. Let you know how it all goes! 

What an awful predicament to be in, Lynette. Unfortunately FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) has a terrible reputation in AU for indifferent customer service (both from FCA and their dealers) and poor parts supply. FCA embraces Fiat / Chrysler / Jeep / Dodge and as a Jeep owner I know it's a head banging exercise when you want anything done in a hurry. I've sourced independent Jeep parts suppliers and mechanics for my car who are infinitely more reliable than dealers. I got the same dealer response as you when needing an alternator for my Jeep (couldn't give an ETA on the part or the job). I got the part and job done immediately by using the independent guys. I came across some independent Fiat parts suppliers (links below) that might be worth you talking to, even if only to supply the parts faster. I don't know these suppliers Lynette, or their scope of supply as they are for Fiat not Jeep, and therefore I can't speak for them. Anyway it might be worth a couple of calls to at least see if parts might be available locally. If you find they are available, get onto the dealer and tell them to damned well get on with it! Best of luck with it all.

www.italianautomotivespares.com.au/

www.italianjobauto.com/fiat-parts.php

-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Monday 26th of February 2018 08:14:44 AM

Gday...

I can really feel your angst and understand how you must feel, Lynda. 

I am sure all of us who live in our van/RV full time have the same fear of being stuck somewhere through no fault of our own.

It is almost impossible to cover all the bases that would negate being stuck as you are now. This is a real problem when your mode of transport and place of abode are all in the one vehicle. I understand your reticence to revert to a caravan.

However, I think it does highlight to us all that dealerships/manufacturers do not stock those items that are not 'fast-moving' 'service' items.

Major items such as gearboxes and many other parts that may only be called on less than once a year are rarely kept in stock - very rarely at dealerships and often not even at their main store in a major city.

In many ways, I can understand why that is so given the high cost of maintaining stock levels that just sit on shelves.

We all need to realise that, no matter what vehicle we drive, if a major item fails, no matter where you are, there will be a 'lead-time' to provide the part.

However, at least when one has a tow vehicle and caravan I can structure my insurance coverage to ensure that if the vehicle fails, I have access to a hire car and I have a home that can be towed somewhere for me to live in ... and if the van 'fails' and cannot be lived in due to damage I am covered for motel costs etc.

Some of the previous comments are worthy of pursuing for sure ... and I particularly like the comment from Mike - talk to the dealer principal/service manager of the dealership and convince them to remove a gearbox from a new vehicle on the floor and replace that one with 'your' new one later.

Of course, that is dependent on whether there is such a vehicle on the shop floor AND it has the same gearbox as your model.

Cheers - and agen best of luck - John

John what insurance is it that cover you for mechanicial break down,Is it like RACQ Ultimate cover or is it with your car insurance .

Just realised itâs a manual ?? They are not mechanics working on your Fiat . They are fitters !! Give a qualified person half a day on it I bet heâll get it fixed !!

Hi Lynda

Have sent you a pm.  Willing to offer support re transport etc should you need it while you are stranded.

Pete and Marion

Hi again,

Make sure Gypsy Lady has all hatches etc closed up and weather tight as I cant imagine she will be kept where she is for the 6 weeks taking up workshop space - if the are going to move here outside etc. check how they intend to do it as the may put the wheels back on.

David 

Hi Daffy! I go see her most days wanting something I intended to be in their face! And yeah she is in corner of the workshop and plugged into power for the fridge! Ill sure be aware of what you say! If they can tow her outside then to a VPark so I can live in her till part comes!!! Thats one of my confrontation questions today!!! 

Ahh mike thanks again! Ive had the run around from Fiat customer service even a second No. with the same sooo young sweet sounding girl voice Buggar me? Im off to Fiat to sit a protest of something!!! Needs some answers TODAY!!! Ken Tame not interested but I like your Jayco mamangement! Thank you! 

Well its been a bit of a stressful time, but 10days later  and now the good news Im sorted! Found someone on my side at Fiat Customer Care and things have happened!!! even the time frame for repair is more than halved! Yes I did feel the Solo woman shame that Happens!  Ken Tame couldnt help! It wasnt a break down passed the buck there! Bit disappointed even though friendly and supportive with advise!

So will post again with the final outcome of the repair under full warranty! Looking forward in my Gypsy Lady home, Back on the road Again!!!! 

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advise. Hope to see some of you out there in this great big country.

cheers Gypsy Lynda.

Good news Lynda! Glad that some action is forthcoming.  Offer of coffee etc still on table if wanted :)

Thank you Pete! all good let you know when Im back on the road! 

We have a Fiat Ducato 2010 - last year we were heading west, got almost to Port Augusta, went to a shop - came out and she started ok, but no acceleration - guy from local Isuzu dealer came out ascertained what was wrong, organised the part, arrived 3 days later - fitted same day - $1200 - PLUS $800 to tow 60k - ridiculous - but we bent their alloy ramps. Guy told us we got about 50,000k extra - they often go at about the 100,000k mark.

We had trouble with our gear box couple of years ago - bearings - Fiat would have paid for the parts, except we were missing one invoice for services - someone in this home throws things out - that cost us $4000.

Good luck on your travels - might see you comewhere on the road. Take care.