Peter Pick-Up said:

On top of the catalyst, engine side.
Look at ePER on top of this page.

Click to expand...

UPDATE ON THE O2 SEÑSOR CHANGE


Hi Peter, somehow I am not able to understand how to use eper properly.
But thanks to surya aka planet rocker I was able to get the exact location of the O2 sensor

The garage whom I took the car for sensor change was laughing at me because according to him I was the first person who had come to him for O2 sensor change without any error code.

After changing the sensor I took a short spin in the car with my bro driving it

Following are the immediate changes I and my brother could not notice

Vibrations on idle earlier were very very less but now they have almost vanished

Engine reaches 4000 plus rpms effortlessly without making and coarse sound which was not the case earlier

Basically the engine now feels very free revving

All in all engine feels around 25 percent more powerful and yeah makes more torque as well


This is just an initial view. Most important is mileage increase which I will come to know after running the car for few hundred Kms

All in all I feel it's money well spent


The older sensor was not as black as I anticipated but still it had carbon deposits , more and less in different areas. I will click a picture and upload in some time


Will changing the MAP / MAF sensor improve the performance and engine further?

Also can't the sensors just be cleaned and carbon deposits removed and make. Them work like they should?

Fiat advises to change the O2 sensor every 120.000km, regardless of error codes.
( In fact, nobody does....)

To keep the O2 sensor in good condition, it is VERY important to use high quality fuels and lubricants, and don't mix brands.

For ePER:

Try to find an ePER cd ( or copy) on Ebay.
You could try and ask for an outdated cd at an official Fiat/ Lancia/ Alfa Romeo dealership, as they get new ones at least every year.

Like this:

http://www.ebay.nl/itm/EPER-FIAT-AL...etti_istruzioni_e_Riviste&hash=item19e095d108

Hi Peter

I never mix different labs but fuel quality is not in our hands. Over here the fuel imported from oil companies is inferior from maybe what you get in your country and on top of it fuel stations do little adulteration

I get fuel filled from a company owned pump with the best reputation

Any advice on changing the MAP sensor or it can be cleaned with a special spray?

Here are the pictures of the old O2 sensor

Well, stick to a large fuel company, and send them an email, asking about quality...
Maybe changing your fuel filter more often..?

I never had problems with my map sensor, so can't give good advise here.

Regarding your O2 sensor, it is not possible to judge it by looks alone, I'm afraid.
I changed mine after 130.000 km's with an original Fiat ( NGK) part, after my wife complained about stalling and a slightly increased fuel consumption.

If the map senor works with a heated wire, (like a maf sensor), there are cleaning sprays, have a look at Ebay again for this...!!

or this:

http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/...nDocument&land=GB&voilalang=e&voiladb=web.nsf

SMALL UPDATE

Yesterday by chance did a run of 75 Kms in city roads. Fifty percent of the run was in peak Bombay traffic with ac on

I don't have an accurate figure but the car returned an average of around 11 kmpl which I feel is quiet good

So I would advise anyone staying in India to change the O2 sensor of the car if it is more then five years old or has done more then 50000 Kms

This is mainly due to poor quality fuel we get here

A happy day for me

Car is back with complete suspension overhaul. Almost all suspension components changed

With on obvious better ride quality, car feels more planted at highs speeds and cornering. Steering feels more precise and direct. (Hard to explain for me)

Brand new radiator installed as the original one had a minor leakage
Door stoppers changed
Power window motors serviced
MAP sensor cleaned
Ac fan switch replaced
AC Louvers replaced
Lubrication of wiper assembly
Oil change

Still two major things left. Installing new tyres and complete painting as there are few bad dents and body has rusted badly at 2 places. This is mainly due to the weather
Need to install new headlights as well

Will do as and when wallet permits but as of now plan is to change the tyres by next month , followed by painting


Have to go for suspension re-torqueing after 1000 kms

Go for quality tires, like Pirelli.
What year is your car?
For the Palio untill 2001, German company H&R has a lowering spring kit available, it lowers the car about 2-3 cm.
I have it on our 2000 Palio, and can recommend it.
Better roadholding, and much better looks.

Peter Pick-Up said:

Go for quality tires, like Pirelli.
What year is your car?
For the Palio untill 2001, German company H&R has a lowering spring kit available, it lowers the car about 2-3 cm.
I have it on our 2000 Palio, and can recommend it.
Better roadholding, and much better looks.

Click to expand...

Hi peter
Surely will opt for pirelli but the supply is very erratic so if not pirelli, I will go for michelins

About lowering spring kit I guess the road conditions here don't allow the use of lowering springs
Majority roads have big potholes and in some areas there is no road only. Yeah, there are quiet good reads as well but sorry to hurt other bombayites, overall road condition is very bad
By the way my car is a 2004 make
One tyre installer advised me not to upsize if not necessary as it puts undue strain on suspension

Stock tyre size is 175 65 14. I have options of 185 60 14 , 185 65 14 or 195 60 14

Have not thought about rim upsize as of now as there are other important repairs pending in the car, mainly denting and painting which is going to cost a bomb. Infact much more then selling price of the car

185/60-14 shouldn't be a problem,( I drive the same size wintertire on our car).
I wouldn't run any of the other sizes you mention.

With my 14 inch steel wheels, I use these on the rear axle for better roadholding and looks:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/H-R-DISTANZSCHEIBEN-FUR-FIAT-PUNTO-176-40MM-DRA-SYSTEM-40145801-/400326286437

I was also more inclined towards 185 60 14 size, now with your suggestion I will go for it

I will inquire with the garage if the spring lowering kit would be available here in India. The owner is a ex-rally driver so he should able to give me a proper idea if it is suitable for our roads or not

Thanks for all your suggestions

The H&R lowering spring kit is only intended for the Mk1 series, I'm afraid.
I don't know who makes lowering kits for the Mk2 and up....

Dear Rikhav,

you make great effort on maintenance for the car
This thread is a great read, very nice to see what you accomplished.
Sad to hear service is not too good in India
Safe and happy miles to you&yours.

Grtz,
PymerOne,
Pim.

Peter Pick-Up said:

The H&R lowering spring kit is only intended for the Mk1 series, I'm afraid.
I don't know who makes lowering kits for the Mk2 and up....

Click to expand...

Will check with the garage owner

My car needed needed little more cranks to startup when cold, absolutely cold
Had reported this issue to all garages my car has visited but no one could solve it. My guess was that it's some problem with the fuel pump.

Today morning the engine fired up in half a crank. I had not even mentioned this problem to the garage as my main priority was too look into bigger issues first



There are two plastic flaps just under the front of engine bay. I think it's mainly to stop water spraying on the engine. The earlier garage had broken them.

Any idea if fiat sells the plastic flap as a spare?

PymerOne said:

Dear Rikhav,

you make great effort on maintenance for the car
This thread is a great read, very nice to see what you accomplished.
Sad to hear service is not too good in India
Safe and happy miles to you&yours.

Grtz,
PymerOne,
Pim.

Click to expand...

Thanks pymerone

Maybe since I can't drive a car, I just enjoy maintaining it. It's become like a hobby or a passion for me.

I am not such a pro with cars like Peter is and also not hood at DIY as he is but try to learn. If you see the thread, peter is a walking talking encyclopedia on Palio. Hats off to him

Yeah, service from fiat India is very bad indeed. Even for current selling cars like punto and lines. Spares take weeks to come and prices are too high from the company

Thanks to some private garages, it's possible to maintain a Palio but not sure till when