Fiat Grande Punto MJD Emotion Pk

As already stated, the maintenance/repair costs ( and the links here and t-bhp ) should be sent to FIAT.

I wonder although if they'll do anything of it.

We should also have another thread for listing independent garages with feedback on them.

 

There are some point's that all of you are missing in the cost of ownership incurred by me.

- NONE of the repairs were suggested to be done by the dealer.
- ALL the issues are well known issues and to some extent expected by all Fiat owner's currently. Some may not accept to this publicly but that is the fact.
- Even the dealer's are well aware of all these issues. Even while making the job card the SA guesses what could be wrong. What this shows, again, is that all these problems are very common and the ASC's have handled these problems. They also know what is the solution most of the times, which means the repair or solution has been approved by Fiat.
- Let's take a look at the issues:

1.) CSC issue. Replaced twice! First during first service then Fiat realised the first replacement was not enough and promptly asked the dealers to replace the same again with a metal one. This was probably the only niggle that was handled by the dealer pro-actively or suggested by them.
2.) Beading issue is again common on many of the car's. Even this has been changed twice. First in 2010 and then again in 2012.
3.) Elastic pads and link rods are common issues again. Well reported on this very forum.
4.) So are suspension issues - strut mount's and shock absorber's.
5.) Horn problems are again faced by many owner's. In fact, it was VP who told me that he faced a similar problem and some clips have to be changed. Guess what? That's exactly what was wrong.
6.) Gear's getting hard, grinding in reverse are again problems that many on this forum have experienced. The parts changed are the same and the repair bill also has been about the same. There is a thread somewhere here where a few owner's have reported on all this issue. One owner had this issue around 30-35K and it repeated at 55K. Like me, he is also facing the problem of pre-maturing wear on parts. If the repair had not been done properly the problem would recur in a few day's, not after 20,000 kms.

Maybe these issues are more seen in 2009 & early 2010 model's but these problems are there. Also, Fiat launched the Linea in 2008 & still the Linea & Punto till 2010 model year's had these problems? That is why I say getting a niggle free Fiat today is a lottery. Do note the word's niggle free and not troublesome. I have never called the current Fiat's troublesome. Irritating? yes. Niggles? Yes.

All the above problems have arisen around 42,000 kms. Almost like a deluge of issues one after another. Note my third service, I had no complaints to report.

The problem of replacing parts rather then repairing is there for all car maker's today. It happens right from in an Alto to a BMW 7 series. Whether it's right or wrong is another issue.

But again Fiat cannot expect every owner to do this. Even if the owner is vigilant, he may not have the time to keep taking the car to a private garage to get it checked out simply because Fiat has no control over it's ASC's. To add to that, every repair takes at least 2 day's to get solved. What if the Punto was the only car I had? Or does Fiat expect it's buyer's to compulsorily have a second car?

The point is I don't mind taking the car to a private garage to get it checked out but expecting the owner to do this every month is ridiculous. Instead, why can't Fiat just release niggle free car's from their factory?!

 

A quick sheet on amount spent on part's and labour. The amount's do not include VAT, Service taxes, cess and what not that our government keep extorting from all of us for flimsiest of reasons .

 

The car is back to Fortune Nerul today. In the last visit when the Clutch kit job was done, they didn't have all the door gasket's. Got a call today that they have received the stock of the balance gaskets and same is being replaced today.

This is what irritates customers. Firstly, there are niggles that keep coming every month and every few hundred kilometer's and then the ASC don't have the part's in stock. Either way it's the customer that has to go through a lot of dis-comfort by sending the car again & again for the same job.

The question's still remain:

- What if the Punto was the only car I had?
- What if I did not have someone to take the car on my behalf to the ASC?

 

Wow you have replaced more parts then me! Do put up your excel sheet with all costs incurred. It will be interesting to see how much you have spent to correct Fiat's negligence.

Meanwhile, my car is back. Total cost Rs.1472 including Rs.500 labour. Repair Costs stand at Rs.48,810 now.

 

Wheel Alignments are 600 & 648. Seems they charged you more.

 

The car went in for it's 60,000 kms service yesterday. Firstly, it took a lot of detective work to find where Fortune Nerul has shifted. Luckily, I had a colleague of mine who does a lot of outdoor work for our office so he could find out where the dealership has moved. Honestly, this is the most ridiculous thing ever to have happened in the history of any car maker where a customer is moving around trying to find where the ASC has moved to. I thought of sticking to the ASC because 60K kms is a major service and I wanted 'professional's' to do the job.

A few hours after the car is in service I get a call that the timing belt has to be changed at 60K kms but since the part is not in stock (Thank God! I will tell you why in a bit) they will complete the service now and get back to me when they have the part in stock. From what I know it's the 90bhp MJD that has the timing chain replacement at 60K kms and not the 75. Is that right guys? Anyway, since I am not sure, I tell them it's okay and they can complete the service for now. Casually, I ask them what is the cost of the timing chain and they say it will be Rs.20,000!! Is that right? Now you know why I said thank God the part is not in stock!

The car is expected to be delivered today. It had no complaints but the bill is supposed to be a little over Rs.10,000! I am waiting for the bill to see how this happened.