Fiat Grande Punto MJD Emotion Pk

Amit,

How was the car before the tyre change ? Was it pulling to the left ? Why this sudden behavior change after the tyre replacement? If you have your old set of tyres, try putting it back on your car and feel the difference. Of all things remeining fixed, the tyres are the only thing you ever altered in that setting. What I mean to say is that it could be the tyres. At 39K every component could be worn in in relation to a new one but that that does not mean REPLACE. Wrong diagnosis could lead to unnecessary expense and irritation. It may not be the products fault at all.

Abdul

 

Got a call yesterday from Tata Motor's for updating my records in their data base.

The caller said 'as per our records, you are owning a Tata Punto' :uh

 

- Car is out of waranty.

- Car was not pulling to left with old tyres.

- As of now the car after it went through it's second alignment has very marginal pull to the left.

- Interesting point to note that Fortune Nerul confirmed the alignment center's diagnosis that lower arms have worn out. For some reason, the Fiat ASC says new lower arms will not solve the pulling problem!

- Stablizer bar was asked to be checked out by the alignment center 'just to be on the safer side'. It was found okay.

I haven't driven the car for past 10 days but the last time I drove it was after the second round of alignment and the pull was very marginal.

 

The car is scheduled to go for it's 45,000 kms service on Monday.

Need help with following issues:

- Lower arms check. The above few posts confirm that lower arms have worn off & there is very marginal pull to left. The tyres however have not worn off unevenly yet.

- First time when the car starts and I start driving & turn the steering, there is a sound coming as if something is rubbing against the steering coloumn or against something inside. The odd part is it comes just the first time when the car is started.

- when the car approaches a speedbreaker, there is a tak sound when front tyres touch the speedbreaker. Same thing happens sometimes in a pothole. Could it be link rods?

Apart from these issues there is nothing to report. The car is performing well. Since April 1, I have been using the car everyday and my average driving is 100 kms per day. Luckily, the seats are set at my comfort setting so I am really enjoying driving the car.

Will update with service report when the service is through but do let me know what could be the possible causes of the above problems.

 

Expereince with the 45K kms service:

Dealership Expereince - Fortune Motor's , Nerul, Navi Mumbai:

- Unlike in the past where service appointments were given a week from the day I used to call this time the appointment was available the next day!

- I was asked if I prefer a particular service advisor. Nice move!

- 3 days before the appointment, I get a call from the dealership asking me the problems I am facing in the car. A new move aimed at reducing customer wait time at service. Another nice move!

- On day of appointment, security greets me and guides me to the parking.

- Service is surprisingly empty. Maybe it's better handling of appointments by taking in only limited number of cars every day.

- Waiting time for service advisor to attend to me is still very high. I waited almost 35 minutes for a SA to attend to me. A continuing weak area for Fiat and Fortune, Nerul.

- Service Advisor comes to me with a print-out of the complaints I had mentioned on the phone. So the phone complaint booking system actually works. I put in a few more complaints that I forgot over the phone.

- Billing was messed up. I got the inital invoice of Rs.22,340. Noticed elastic pads in the invoice which I had changed at 39K kms. Service advisor is very helpful, goes into the system and notices the part number & price of elastic pads have changed. Goes to his superior comes back and says Fiat has re-designed the elastic pads again hence the change in part number. However, Fiat has clear instructions to replace them free of cost hence the charges will be waived off. Ultimately, I pay Rs.14,944.

- No print-out of invoice as systems were not printing. Again, a recurring problem at Fortune.

- The biggest goof up. 3 scratches noticed on rear left door. Dealer agrees immediately that it's their fault and commits to have the rear door re-painted on my next visit.

Service expereince:

- Problems listed & solutions:

Suspension makng 'tak tak' sound when it goes over potholes and speedbreakers. Intially suspected to be stud bearing & link rods. Ultimately, entire front left suspension also changed. No sound notiiced now.

Lower arms suspected to be worn out. Found to be okay this time.

Rear left door not opening from inside. Rectified.

Steering issue resolved on it's own, feels butter smooth now so no complaint made about it.

Asked them to change A/C filter but they cleaned it saying it doesn't need to be replaced. Result: ACC cooling much better then earlier.

Overall, the service has been done really well. Car feels very smooth and nice to drive.

 

Ravi, as I said, I did not get the print out of the invoice as there seemed to be some problem with the printing capability of the systems. A recurring problem at Fortune, Nerul. I just have a manual invoice showing break up between part's amount and labour charges. Hopefully, I should get the invoice within next 3-4 days.

 

They can email it to you. I had this problem twice and they send the copy by email.