Technical Punto Evo Sporting - Steering Problem?

[ntparsons]

Hi - I took delivery of my new Punto Evo Sporting last week. It's been great fun to drive but have noticed something about the steering...

Basically as I reverse out of my parking space, I also have to turn the car sharply round to my left almost under full steering lock. Sometimes as I approach full lock I can hear a slight clunking noise from under the car that sounds like I am driving over a loose drain cover. Except I'm not! It doesn't always do it, but normally happens when the car is cold and I'm starting off.

It's booked in for Monday to have it checked over but has anyone any suggestions what it could be? Is it normal?

By the way although I didn't have the problem everyone else had with the coin tray next to the steering wheel falling out (although each Evo I looked at in a showroom did), I did have the jammed popup lid next to the satnav socket. The garage had already spotted it in the PDI and had a new part on order, so that was fitted last Thursday.

 

[miura74]

My Sport does this too, when on full lock.

I'm wondering if it's the 17" wheels rubbing? I've ended up trying not to put it on full lock now.

Will be interested to hear what your garage say.

 

[ntparsons]

Yes I was wondering about the wheels rubbing - I have had a good look with a torch and felt with my hands while the wheels were at both right and left full lock, and couldn't see a thing wrong.

miura74 - Do your let yours idle for before turning off to let the Turbo cool down? I've been giving mine about 2 minutes. Unfortunately the Start&Stop has caught me out a few times, where I've forgotten to deactivate it. So I don't really know if what I'm doing is unnecessary, if Star&Stop just turns it off anyway regardless! By the way I wish I had your turbo boost guage !

 

[Blank2k2]

Yes I was wondering about the wheels rubbing - I have had a good look with a torch and felt with my hands while the wheels were at both right and left full lock, and couldn't see a thing wrong.

miura74 - Do your let yours idle for before turning off to let the Turbo cool down? I've been giving mine about 2 minutes. Unfortunately the Start&Stop has caught me out a few times, where I've forgotten to deactivate it. So I don't really know if what I'm doing is unnecessary, if Star&Stop just turns it off anyway regardless! By the way I wish I had your turbo boost guage !

Psssh, so he gets satnav indicator + turbo boost gauge that the UK doesnt get?

I really cannot figure out why that is, surely Fiat would save money in the long run with 1 standard display, or atleast offer it to us in the uk... im certainly bringing it up next time i goto dealership!

 

[MojoWill]

Yeah would like the boost gauge as well!

My sporting rubs on full lock also would interesting to hear what they say to you.

 

[miura74]

miura74 - Do your let yours idle for before turning off to let the Turbo cool down? I've been giving mine about 2 minutes. Unfortunately the Start&Stop has caught me out a few times, where I've forgotten to deactivate it. So I don't really know if what I'm doing is unnecessary, if Star&Stop just turns it off anyway regardless! By the way I wish I had your turbo boost guage !

Yes, I do let mine idle 1 or 2 minutes normally, longer 5 minutes if run hard (like straight onto services from a motorway). I tend to coast home and be gentle for last few miles.

Best advice I found is;

• don't boot it from cold until it's up to temperature
• try not to boot it towards the end of your journey to let it cool down naturally
• If you have been driving it hard before you stop, make sure to give it at least 1 or 2 minutes idle and cool down. Longer perhaps according to some people (upto 10 I've read!)
• Check the oil level quite frequently, my dealer suggested every 5000km.

I've stopped using the Start&Stop function as much as possible. Frankly, I'm not convinced it won't damage the turbo in the long run. Who can really tell right now as it's a new engine.



I am kinda hooked watching the turbo display, but if you use the GPS or media player, it disappears.

As far as I can see in the Evo handbook, there are a number of different displays possible on the Evo. But honestly, why didn't they just put the multifunction display in as standard on the Sport?

I was told this multifunction display is similar to the one in the new Bravo, but not having a new Bravo, I can't comment. Perhaps someone here could confirm that?

 

[miura74]

I really cannot figure out why that is, surely Fiat would save money in the long run with 1 standard display, or atleast offer it to us in the uk... im certainly bringing it up next time i goto dealership!

It would make sense, wouldn't it?

 

[auto_blanco]

On my old GP Sporting, the standard 17inch wheels did rub on full lock, there were witness marks through the paint in the wheelarches towards the rear of the car, but it took many miles to wear it to that degree. Also the twanging noise on full lock turned out to be the front top mounts on mine.

 

[ayrshiredude]

Ok getting my new evo sporting soon. I have never had a Turbo before. Whats all this about cooling down? I don't want to have to sit for several minutes at the end of every journey to let the turbo cool down. Why do you need to do this and do Fiat tell you to do it?

 

[Blank2k2]

Ok getting my new evo sporting soon. I have never had a Turbo before. Whats all this about cooling down? I don't want to have to sit for several minutes at the end of every journey to let the turbo cool down. Why do you need to do this and do Fiat tell you to do it?

Generally, its not something people do in the "real world" but its believed to prolong the life of the turbo, personally i wouldn't bother, if they've stuck S&S on the system with Turbo then i'd say Fiat are more than happy to shut it down at a moments notice aswell & there the ones that stress test things so they should know.

Might be different on "bigger" turbo's, but im sure its been tested to take a lifetime of real use.

 

[miura74]

Generally, its not something people do in the "real world" but its believed to prolong the life of the turbo, personally i wouldn't bother, if they've stuck S&S on the system with Turbo then i'd say Fiat are more than happy to shut it down at a moments notice aswell & there the ones that stress test things so they should know.

Might be different on "bigger" turbo's, but im sure its been tested to take a lifetime of real use.

Well, that's entirely up to you.

Generally most people agree that you should take some TLC to your turbo.

A quote from the Wiki page
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger[/ame]

"The turbocharger will heat when running, many recommend letting the engine idle for one to three minutes before shutting off the engine if the turbocharger was used shortly before stopping (most manufacturers specify a 10-second period of idling before switching off to ensure the turbocharger is running at its idle speed to prevent damage to the bearings when the oil supply is cut off). This lets the turbo rotating assembly cool from the lower exhaust gas temperatures, and ensures that oil is supplied to the turbocharger while the turbine housing and exhaust manifold are still very hot; otherwise coking of the lubricating oil trapped in the unit may occur when the heat soaks into the bearings, causing rapid bearing wear and failure when the car is restarted. Even small particles of burnt oil will accumulate and lead to choking the oil supply and failure. This problem is less pronounced in diesel engines, due to the lower exhaust temperatures and generally slower engine speeds."

Of course, it is all a matter of opinion.

Personally I'd rather not take the risk of premature damage to it and the cost that may result in the longer term.

It may be that the S&S keeps the oil flowing, but not being a mechanic I couldn't answer that. Perhaps someone here could.

Honestly though, booting any car (turbo or not) from cold will not do it any good in the long term.

 

[miura74]

and do Fiat tell you to do it?

I don't know if it's in the handbook or even quoted by Fiat tbh, but both the Fiat salesman and the Fiat mechanics here I spoke to, said to give it at least 60 seconds if used hard prior to stopping, perhaps longer. They also sell Opels, same advice for the turbo ones.

I researched this matter a long time ago, wanting to know myself. After reading through many many boards, some performance cars, most not, the overall opinion was to allow cooling, especially if run hard. Though many argue that idling the car will also damage it in the long term.

It seems to be a matter of opinion mostly. I'm sure plenty may chip in here.

Frankly, I'd rather take care of my car and if that means I have to idle it for a minute or so after stopping, well that's not much of a hardship. But then, I'm not the kind of person who leaps into a car, cranks it immediately and boots off like a nutter.

 

[ayrshiredude]

I'm not the kind of person who leaps into a car, cranks it immediately and boots off like a nutter.

lol me neither. I don't tend to drive it too hard a lot of the time. Again, not having a lot of experience with turbos, i take it the turbo only kicks in when you boot it hard is that correct. Does that mean then if your driving normally that the turbo doesn't do anything thus doesn't get overly warm?

 

[ntparsons]

The only mention I could find in the manual was advice to "give the engine a few seconds to catch it's breath" after a journey, and that this was particularly important for turbo engines.

Of course not having a boost guage I have no idea how hard mine is working. If I have my windows down I can hear it spinning as I drive up the exit ramp from my car park.

But I have no idea if it kicks in just at a fixed rev point, or if it depends just on the amount of throttle you are giving it. You can certainly feel the extra urge from the engine though.

I don't mind sitting for a few minutes after the end of a journey, no problem. I feel a bit of a tool though if I'm at a petrol forecourt and about to refuel. I just try to make sure I'm not at the front of the queue

 

[ayrshiredude]

Well no one else I have spoken to seems to have ever heard of this so dunno. I doubt I will be sitting in the car for a few minutes every time I stop it.

 

[ntparsons]

Regarding the steering - took it to the garage this morning, but unfortunately couldn't repeat the problem with the mechanic sitting in the car - even after 10 minutes of going backwards and forwards turning the wheel

Had them put it up on the lift and got them to check it over, but everything apparently checked out normal.

Can't say it's really bothering me yet, but at least its been looked over. The fact other people are experiencing it must mean its kind of a design issue common to this model ?

 

[miura74]

Does that mean then if your driving normally that the turbo doesn't do anything thus doesn't get overly warm?

Not entirely sure, but I can say the turbo display shows it works a little most of the time, sometimes when at constant speed up a hill the turbo slowly starts to fill up a little. Looks to me like it uses the turbo all the time but mostly only a little. But I doubt that activity is enough to make it too hot.

 

[miura74]

Regarding the steering - took it to the garage this morning, but unfortunately couldn't repeat the problem with the mechanic sitting in the car - even after 10 minutes of going backwards and forwards turning the wheel

Had them put it up on the lift and got them to check it over, but everything apparently checked out normal.

Can't say it's really bothering me yet, but at least its been looked over. The fact other people are experiencing it must mean its kind of a design issue common to this model ?

That's typical, isn't it? Probably too early to see any "possible" damage that might be occuring, assuming we've all not driven that many miles.

I must say mine only seems to make the noise when reversing on full lock. Oh well..

 

[sharkrider]

Its good advice not to boot it until the temps are up and let the turbo cool...

Although I do use boost and part throttle when cold, I never use full throttle, and ALWAYS let it cool by driving gently for the last few miles to my destination...

I have an 07 1.9 sporting (not an evo, but the theorys are the same!) , had it since new, and had it mapped at 4k, its now 98,000 miles, and the original turbo is still as good as new

note: although I have checked it, i've never had to top it up with oil, I'm a big believer in running it in by driving it normally, and not babying it...

 

[ayrshiredude]

I have an 07 1.9 sporting (not an evo, but the theorys are the same!) , had it since new, and had it mapped at 4k, its now 98,000 miles, and the original turbo is still as good as new

Gees 98 000 on a 3 year old car you must really enjoy driving it lol.

note: although I have checked it, i've never had to top it up with oil, I'm a big believer in running it in by driving it normally, and not babying it...

Exactly whats the point of buying a car to be afraid to drive it?