Fiat Linea 1.4 FIRE Emotion Pack

1750 kms Gujarat trip

Just came back from Gujarat driving about 850 kms.

These MID pics are for the trip Junagadh - Surat - Mumbai
Kms - 844
FE - 14.8 kmpl on MID (including drive within Surat City)







MID pics of entire trip Mumbai-Surat-Junagadh-Surat-Mumbai .... 1750 kms

 

While I drove to Gujarat, I noticed a bit vibrations at a speed of about 140 kmph. The steering vibrates and so also floor for only a few seconds. Once I reduce speed slightly, it immediately goes away and does not come back. However, I feel if the speed is lower say about 80 kmph and I accelerate it to 90 - 100 - 120 - 130 - 140 kmph, little vibrations are felt between the band of 130 to 140 kmph. It feels that car is trying harder. Just little deceleration & then acceleration makes it ok. What could be the issue?

 

I also had a hunch that wheel balancing or tyre might be an issue. I think I did wheel balancing in last service 45000 kms (2-3 months back). ODO reads 52000 kms and I think its about time to change tyres. What say?

 

Today morning, while cranking my Linea, MID displayed error message "Airbag failure, ABS unavailable, see the handbook". Usually, if I turn off the engine & restart it, such error does not appear again. So, I cranked 3 times one after another. Every time the same message appeared. In the afternoon when I started the car, again the same message appeared. I drove on. After an hour long drive, when I was getting out of the car, I tried again. Turned off the engine & restarted. No error. Tried again. No error.

Seems I've to disconnect battery -ve terminal tomorrow for half an hour

Lot's of scratches all over the car now. Few the notorious children would have done & a few on the rear wheel arches are due to my driver brushing with other vehicles. I'm thinking of using Scratch Remover which came with ComPaint value pack tomorrow. I'm still not confident on using ComPaint Spray though I have it. Has anybody used it to a good effect?

@jitajesu,

For ownership & service cost, this thread is your best friend --> http://www.teamfiat.co.in/dealershi...t-linea-punto-maintenance-cost-ownership.html

That 2nd hand car, is it 1.4 Linea Emotion Pack or only Emotion?

 

Used the services of 24x7 RSA for the 1st time.

Today morning I set out to try scratch remover on the scratches. Tried to open the door of my Linea with Remote key. No response. Tried several times. Nothing. I immediately knew something is wrong with the battery. Once I was thro' with Scratches "treatment", I called Fiat RSA.

The RSA lady was a thorough professional in communications !

First she asked me car model , Registration no., when I purchased car etc. For the first time, after I say my car is Fiat Linea, someone has asked whether it's a Petrol or a Diesel !!

After taking all the details, she said - "I'll give you name & number of the technician. You speak to him & explain about the issue. Technician will tell you about the charges"

I said what charges. I've availed RSA services. She said - "but your car is 2009 model". I said I purchased RSA services & got the booklet and all. She took chassis no. from me & checked. But came up with nothing. She reconfirmed chassis no. twice as she was not finding it in her data. After failed attempts, she said that she will go ahead with calling technician & will have a conference call with me.

In 5 minutes she called back with technician on line too. She got my RSA details verified by that time. The technician said he'll be at my doorstep in 10 minutes. Good. In 10 minutes, he came knocking at the door.
He is from a local garrage very near to my home. He came with a battery & tried to jump start but could not do it saying he'll have to come back with bigger battery. I asked him what's the issue. He said battery is either gone or needs charging. He was not carrying battery testing meter. We went to a garrage opposite to my home (whom I know), got the meter & tested. Battery was showing weak. I then let him go saying if I need jump start I'll call back. The RSA lady called back after 10 minutes & said - "Sir, your issue will be solved if you charge the battery"

Sunday noon & I was not in mood to roam about finding a battery brand or specifically Amaron as recommended by a couple of friends. Went to nearby Exide dealer. He happened to be brother of a very good acquaintance of mine. His guy came with me, jump started the car, took the car to his shop & checked the battery. It was showing weak & he recommended that it won't work.

Bought Exide zero-maintenance Din44 Battery (Petrol Linea specs). It has a 2.5 year free replacement guarantee. Post 2.5 years, there is 50% discount on a new battery, Post 3 years, 45% discount, post 4 years, 25% discount etc etc. The Price was Rs. 6339/-. He gave it to me for Rs. 5600/-

The Scratch remover is not very effective and just lightens the scratches. It came with ComPaint value pack.

---------- Post added at 08:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:39 PM ----------

2 more items:

• When I was checking battery, I found coolant level has reduced drastically. It was just about an inch from the bottom. Poured water to bring it to min level
  
• Since sometime, when the car goes from a plain surface to inclined slope, there is a sound somewhere near rear wheels as if some metal is brushing with something. This comes only at certain angles & certain slopes. How about that rear-axle recall?