[Max]

Really not thrilled to hear this. Currently getting rid of my car in order to get something at least a little better in terms of quirks, was confident FCA/Alfa is starting to figure this stuff out. In 2012, my mom bought a Fiat 500 Sport which in terms of ownership was the shortest time she's ever owned a car due to problems before 40k miles, just daily driven.

Hopefully your problem is just an anomaly for the Giulias and will go away quickly, and not return anytime soon. Really, really hope this isn't going to be the normal, I have such a hard time believing it after seeing the money FCA pumped into the platform! All eggs in one basket, really

Best of luck,

 

[autostocks]

BTW...AMGs do that with a not fully tightened fuel cap. Worth double-checking...

All cars turn on the check engine light when there is an evaporative leak at the fuel cap detected (correctly or incorrectly, I might add). Our government saving our ozone layer. I don't know about the throttle control message though, doesn't seem like that would be related.

 

[Racer Z]

985 miles in, I started the car and now have check electronic throttle and service engine warning lights and messages. Called the dealer they say to turn it off, let it sit for a few minutes to reset the computers and it should clear up...

That didn't work, roadside assistance is on their way to my house to tow it to the dealer.

MC3456 should be delighted by the news

I don't own a Giulia, but, this is sounding just like my 4C experience(s).

First and foremost, the computer (ECU and all the other modules) is voltage sensitive. Something as simple as a dirty battery terminal can set off erroneous lights that look like a Christmas tree.

- Clean the battery terminals and gently coat them with a protective film such as dielectric grease. You can find it at your local auto parts store, computer shop, electronic shop, etc...

The 4C error codes can be reset by restarting the engine about five times. I'm assuming this is true for the Giulia. But, in your case, having it towed so the Giulia mechanic can read the FRESH codes is best.

My (4C) fuel level sending unit had to be replaced once. It had shorted internally causing every idiot light to come on. The engine barely ran and the trans barely worked.

Not saying I have any idea what's is going on with your Giulia. Keep us updated please. You might be the first, but you won't be the last.

 

[kanundrum]

Sorry to hear. I have tried a few things to get traction off and see if I can find any easter eggs on the car but no such luck yet though I did manage to throw a few codes. Dyno also threw a few codes as well but nothing that didn't clear up after 1 mile of driving.

FWIW I use remote start everyday almost with 0 issues.

 

[mc3456]

All cars turn on the check engine light when there is an evaporative leak at the fuel cap detected (correctly or incorrectly, I might add). Our government saving our ozone layer. I don't know about the throttle control message though, doesn't seem like that would be related.

Yep! Right on. Sounds silly, but had experienced several times with different AMGs. Never go to full serve but on the rarest occasion I do and they F up the fuel cap. Ugh!

 

[Takumi587]

Sorry, Dude!

VERY UNHAPPY to hear that since I literally just bought my Giulia QV right now. Actually sitting in the dealership going over paperwork. NOT what I wanted to hear. Got a very good deal though. $2,095 off MSRP.

BTW...AMGs do that with a not fully tightened fuel cap. Worth double-checking...

Hi mc3456,

Just curious if you are located in California because I am in the market for a QV as well.

I am also torn between trading my 535i for an F80 M3 or Quadrofoglio... Do you plan on writing a review comparing the two? Any input seriously appreciated.

I bought a 2017 base Giulia with sport package for my wife this past weekend. I got $2500 off but for the QV they had a 10K markup on it... Tried to PM you but I don't have enough posts to PM anyone.

**Sorry not trying to hijack the thread topic***

 

[Chipps]

"The first appearance of the "Italian Gremlins

985 miles in, I started the car and now have check electronic throttle and service engine warning lights and messages. Called the dealer they say to turn it off, let it sit for a few minutes to reset the computers and it should clear up...

That didn't work, roadside assistance is on their way to my house to tow it to the dealer."

What did the dealer say about this?

 

[jeffshul]

It's a known issue with the remote start, they told me to drive it for 30 minutes, turn it off and let it sit 5 minutes

That worked

 

[its_ikes]

When I had this CEL I wasn't too worried because the car wasn't in limp mode. A check engine light never worries me too much, certainly not to the point where I want to get it towed to a dealer for a basic OBDII scan.

**Side note, the dealer mechanic told me to be worried if the CEL is blinking as opposed to being solid.

 

[KlassyPete2]

But what is it about the remote starter that makes it trip off ? As much as they have a "quick" fix for it, there has to be some software that needs updating or something of the sort.

 

[jeffshul]

But what is it about the remote starter that makes it trip off ? As much as they have a "quick" fix for it, there has to be some software that needs updating or something of the sort.

The service manager told me to expect a major flash update for the Giulia in the next few months.

 

[DaneARFOM]

The service manager told me to expect a major flash update for the Giulia in the next few months.

New iPhone comes out. Update 14.0.1 5 weeks later. 8 weeks later 14.0.2. Internet browsers "close unexpectedly" tv boxes sometimes require resetting. Electronics are electronics, I wouldn't so much classify as uniquely Italian. It is a car competing against competitors who've had quite some time to iron out the kinks.

 

[KCGuilia]

General failure light

My QV started out with the "audio system failure" light, then turned into a "general failure" light. The car has been sitting at the dealer with 5 technicians working on it. The hood is open, engine bay opened up and they are trying to take out the wiring harness.

Does not sound good for my car.:frown2:

 

[Chipps]

I told my wife when we ordered the car, she was strongly in favor of buying a Giulia, that if it starts to have a lot of issues; we are going to get rid of it. Then off to the Mercedes-Benz dealer. These early issues is one of the main reasons I bought the Ti instead of the QV. I will take a chance on 40 something thousand, but not 70 something.

 

[KCGuilia]

My QV has 1053 miles on it. What started out as a "general failure" warning light has become a "catastrophic failure" (Service Manager words) of the main wiring harness. Hood is open and they are working to remove the main wiring harness.


They have been working on it for two days.

 

[Chipps]

DaneARFOM had better hope the one we receive goes further than 1,053 miles. :surprise:

 

[wbclassics]

My QV has 1053 miles on it. What started out as a "general failure" warning light has become a "catastrophic failure" (Service Manager words) of the main wiring harness. Hood is open and they are working to remove the main wiring harness.

They have been working on it for two days.

That is worrisome. Alfa wouldn't be the first marque to have issues with wiring harness problems in current generation cars. Some OEMs have switched to copper clad aluminum wire in an effort to save weight (and cost as aluminum is cheaper than copper) as well as shrinking the diameter of the wire so that the overall bundled loom diameter becomes more manageable in terms of space constraints. However, they're giving up attributes because there is less redundancy in the wire itself because of fewer extra strands. The aluminum core wire is also less flexible, making it easier to damage in installation (something that is very concerning when dealerships have to replace harnesses, because they don't have the same freedom as the factory does when the harness originally went in without other components around it already!). Terminal and crimp connections can also be more problematic on these newer lightweight wiring harnesses.

I really hope your situation is a one-off.

 

[MDriver]

1st Run Issues

Not sure how many folks here have had 1st run cars but as a point of reference I've had 4 this will be my fifth and every single one of them had first run teething issues. Btw they were all German. My point is that these are things that can happen, some are worse than others. The greatest concern should be at this point how they are addressed. To those that had to leave cars for multiple days did dealer offer loaner? Did dealer keep you abreast of what was going on etc?
These are things that should be of concern first, if they continue and are not properly addressed then the issue becomes more grave. I had a car that was one visit shy of being lemoned by law. The dealer conducted themselves poorly that is why I never went back.
Keep the faith gents
Regards
M

 

[Racer Z]

My QV started out with the "audio system failure" light, then turned into a "general failure" light. The car has been sitting at the dealer with 5 technicians working on it. The hood is open, engine bay opened up and they are trying to take out the wiring harness.

Does not sound good for my car.:frown2:

Not sure how many folks here have had 1st run cars but as a point of reference I've had 4 this will be my fifth and every single one of them had first run teething issues. Btw they were all German. My point is that these are things that can happen, some are worse than others. The greatest concern should be at this point how they are addressed. To those that had to leave cars for multiple days did dealer offer loaner? Did dealer keep you abreast of what was going on etc?
These are things that should be of concern first, if they continue and are not properly addressed then the issue becomes more grave. I had a car that was one visit shy of being lemoned by law. The dealer conducted themselves poorly that is why I never went back.
Keep the faith gents
Regards
M

That's the point I was going to bring up. The Giulia is a new car from the ground up. I don't how many of it's parts are shared from pre-existing parts, but probably not many. The early adopters of ANY first run need to understand that there will be problems to work out. Have patients and let the dealer/warranty do their job. After they sort out the problems with one car, they will apply the solution to the manufacturing process and issue TSB as well.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that they are working on the car.

Every time my 4C was in for warranty issues (there's been a few), they gave me a loaner for the duration. I've seen FCA grow and change in the last two years. I've told them point blank that they need to improve customer service if the want AR to succeed here in the USA. They are improving, not as fast as I'd like, but still, the improvement is there.

If you think the repair is stagnating, stalling with nobody doing anything, you can call FCA and make a formal complaint. Been there, done that. But, ATM, it seems they're still actively working on it.

In my experience, it has never been my dealer stalling. They want to fix my car and get it back to me. When the technician can't sort things, they go to STARS for help. STARS is the technical side of FCA that supports the dealer service. The dealer ends up waiting, and waiting, and waiting for STARS to respond. I call FCA who calls STARS. My dealer calls STARS. STARS gets an earfull from both sides. Eventually STARS responds.

I don't know how they're doing things with the Giulia, but with my 4C, the dealer had their hands tied. They can't do much more than change the oil without approval from STARS. But, they have always fixed my 4C and got it back to me. Just never in my time. Did I mention the loaner while my Alfa was in for warranty repairs?

 

[Chipps]

I agree with the new model, bugs will happen points. However, this car was introduced in what was it 2015? We are now in 2017. Not exactly new at this point. Second, several reviews mentioned that this or that did not work on the car being reviewed. I would think FCA would at least be able to find a group of fully functioning cars to give to reviewers. Third, the dealer I ordered the car from is way too far away to be taking the car back and forth to them. I tried to buy a car locally, but there was too much turmoil, still ongoing, as new ownership took over. Fourth, What kind of car is the loaner from what is essentially a Fiat dealer?