Technical luvduvs' first service

[luvduvs]

Ok I've spent a bit of time searching through FF and typed this up to give to the dealer next week during the first service. Any comments/feedback are most welcome

*************************************************
Reverse light

Problem: occasionally there is a delay between reversing and when the reverse light comes on, and sometimes it doesn’t even come on at all.

Please check: possible loose connection, or “sticky” switch control.

Reverse clank/grind

Problem: sometimes the car would not reverse, and instead makes a loud clank/grinding noise.

Please check:

“Check transmission, see handbook” error message

A “Check transmission, see handbook” error message + warning beep + gearbox warning light is randomly displayed (more often in recent weeks). This could happen at anytime, and usually goes away after several seconds.

NB: I have had this fault late last year and it turned out to be a faulty brake switch sending out a wrong signal.

Please check: all modules with examiner, possible faulty brake switch, and carry out any (software) updates where applicable.

“Tape A playing” message

Occasionally “Tape A playing” message will be displayed, but I don’t have a tape player! This usually goes away after either [1] the engine is switched off, then switched back on, or [2] ejecting the CD and putting it back in.

Please check: all modules with examiner and carry out any (software) updates where applicable.

Creaking when turning left

Problem: the front-right of the car creaks whenever the car engages into a left turn, and its more noticeable when it’s a hard/steep left turn. The creaking can also be heard with the car stationary and steering wheel turned anti-clockwise.

Please check: driver’s door lock/hinges, driver’s door rubber seals, welding on seat frame, cluster binnacle.

Juddering

Problem: after the car has been left cold for 1-2 days, the car judders when taking off from standstill in first gear to second gear. This applies to both auto and manual modes, and goes away after about 30 minutes of driving.

NB: I have had this investigated by your tech team several times and as yet no solution has been found.

Please check: clutch plates for (oil) contamination, possible faulty flywheel, and carry out re-calibration.
*************************************************

 

[T14086]

Make sure you give garage loads time for all this,leave car day or two if you can or warn them in advance that you have a 'list'

 

[luvduvs]

Yeh I'm going to leave it for at least a few days.

 

[fatboyj]

I have had the tape thing aswell and I don't have a tape player!!!!

 

[TroyO]

Do they even sell the Grande Punto with a tape player??

Troy.

 

[luvduvs]

I have had the tape thing aswell and I don't have a tape player!!!!

How often do you see this?

Do they even sell the Grande Punto with a tape player??

Troy.

I seriously doubt it - its the 21st century man

 

[tommy_8884]

lol i see no end of prblems with dual logic, just drive a manual, less to go wrong, you can change gear when you want and its more fun to drive!

 

[luvduvs]

Will also need to mention wheel alignment, which is slightly pulling to the left.

 

[luvduvs]

Got my car back and here's an update:

Ok I've spent a bit of time searching through FF and typed this up to give to the dealer next week during the first service. Any comments/feedback are most welcome

*************************************************
Reverse light

Problem: occasionally there is a delay between reversing and when the reverse light comes on, and sometimes it doesn’t even come on at all.

Please check: possible loose connection, or “sticky” switch control.

Caused by brake switch - see below.

Reverse clank/grind

Problem: sometimes the car would not reverse, and instead makes a loud clank/grinding noise.

Please check:

Couldn't fault it - unresolved.

“Check transmission, see handbook” error message

A “Check transmission, see handbook” error message + warning beep + gearbox warning light is randomly displayed (more often in recent weeks). This could happen at anytime, and usually goes away after several seconds.

NB: I have had this fault late last year and it turned out to be a faulty brake switch sending out a wrong signal.

Please check: all modules with examiner, possible faulty brake switch, and carry out any (software) updates where applicable.

Caused by faulty brake switch (history repeats itself ) - replaced and is now suppose to be fine.

“Tape A playing” message

Occasionally “Tape A playing” message will be displayed, but I don’t have a tape player! This usually goes away after either [1] the engine is switched off, then switched back on, or [2] ejecting the CD and putting it back in.

Please check: all modules with examiner and carry out any (software) updates where applicable.

Couldn't fault it - unresolved. Dealer reckons it might have something to do with dodgy CDs (e.g. ripped from the internet).

Creaking when turning left

Problem: the front-right of the car creaks whenever the car engages into a left turn, and its more noticeable when it’s a hard/steep left turn. The creaking can also be heard with the car stationary and steering wheel turned anti-clockwise.

Please check: driver’s door lock/hinges, driver’s door rubber seals, welding on seat frame, cluster binnacle.

Couldn't fault it - unresolved.

Juddering

Problem: after the car has been left cold for 1-2 days, the car judders when taking off from standstill in first gear to second gear. This applies to both auto and manual modes, and goes away after about 30 minutes of driving.

NB: I have had this investigated by your tech team several times and as yet no solution has been found.

Please check: clutch plates for (oil) contamination, possible faulty flywheel, and carry out re-calibration.

Couldn't fault it - unresolved
*************************************************

Wheel alignment - has now been aligned but now.... if I take a right corner, then let go of the steering wheel, it returns to the center position. But if I take a left corner, then let go of the steering wheel, it only goes back to the 10/11'o clock position. Iirc there's a post about this - steering column? In theory my hand(s) should always be on the steering wheel so shouldn't be a problem, but since I was charged for this I'm going to rebook my car to get this fixed up (shouldn't take too long I hope).

Further reading: as my car had quite low kms (7844), they only did an interim/6 month service, and at the rate I'm racking up kms, I won't be due for service until same time next year.

Here's a brake down of the charges:

Interim service = 143.00
Wheel alignment = 60.00
10W60 synthetic engine oil = 84.75
Oil filter = 17.94
Windscreen wash (1 bottle) = 2.54
Environmental levy = 18.00
Workshop sundries/consumerables = 9.98

Subtotal = 336.21 (which I think is fairly reasonable)
GST (10%) = 33.62
TOTAL = 369.83

 

[grandemike]

370 quid for a service? holy ****. its not a merc, its a punto.

the reverse grinding noise is because it isnt engaging reverse. try lifting the clutch up a bit while puttin it into reverse. mine was the same. only slips into reverse when you depress the clucth a little.

wait there i see your austrailian. my bad. i thought that oil was expensive.

 

[Venters]

370 quid for a service? holy ****. its not a merc, its a punto.

the reverse grinding noise is because it isnt engaging reverse. try lifting the clutch up a bit while puttin it into reverse. mine was the same. only slips into reverse when you depress the clucth a little.

Aussie dollers?
If it is its around £160
Also Luvduvs doesn't have a manual clutch. He prefers to let the car decide the gear.

 

[luvduvs]

Yep sorry should have put AUD in front - so if we take the wheel alignment out of the equation then its roughly £135 for the 6 month service.

He prefers to let the car decide the gear.

Give me a break man - its been a rough week

 

[Dirty Waltzer]

“Tape A playing” message

Occasionally “Tape A playing” message will be displayed, but I don’t have a tape player! This usually goes away after either [1] the engine is switched off, then switched back on, or [2] ejecting the CD and putting it back in.

Please check: all modules with examiner and carry out any (software) updates where applicable.

Couldn't fault it - unresolved. Dealer reckons it might have something to do with dodgy CDs (e.g. ripped from the internet).

The 'Tape A playing' message is displayed every now and then in my Punto as well. It is nothing to do with dodgy CD's! A more likely a cause is some problem with the firmware in the Blaupunkt head unit. I am going to suggest that my dealer contacts FIAT at my next service regarding this issue. Obviously this problem is not isolated to one vehicle.

 

[luvduvs]

It is nothing to do with dodgy CD's!

The lady that served me was blonde

Anyway took it back to the dealers today, and still the steering wheel won't go back all the way to the center position. Should I just give up and let it go?

 

[rob19791]

Ive had the tape deck a thing since i got my car. The dealership replaced the dash board console thinking that would resolve it....but funny enough it never.

Last time i took my car there....which was for a service back in september they said someone from |Blaupunk was going to come down and look at it. What a waste of time and money lol. Havent heard anything though so im assuming my dealership was feeding me some bull s*** as per usual.

Hopefully i will be selling my car in the next month or so, so NO MORE FIAT EVER AGAIN YAY!!!!!

 

[luvduvs]

Anyway took it back to the dealers today, and still the steering wheel won't go back all the way to the center position. Should I just give up and let it go?

Actually no, I'm going to take it back again. If it was done at no-charge, then ok I'll let it go; but I paid AUD60 and twice they've screwed it up. At first it was just veering to the left, then they fixed the veering but it was no longer centered - now its both.

If it was the Dualogic, then ok its complicated. But for something simple like wheel alignment, I won't accept a 60% service when I've paid 100%.

Not happy

 

[Ffoxy]

luvduvs
F**king Idiots At Turin

F**king Idiots At Sydney too?

 

[ChrisUK]

Looks like you have a dual logic shed mate . If it where me having all the issues your having I'd have the car rejected by now!.

 

[luvduvs]

luvduvs
F**king Idiots At Turin

F**king Idiots At Sydney too?

Well to be fair the CSRs were really helpful and courteous in trying to have my problems solved. The problem lies with the tech: I was sitting in the lounge waiting to go on a test drive with one so I could point out the steering issue - next thing I knew my car vanished, as he took it inside to wheel align again, test drove it himself, then gave it the all-ok. If he really test drove it properly it would be obvious that the problem is still there.

Looks like you have a dual logic shed mate . If it where me having all the issues your having I'd have the car rejected by now!.

The fault would be too minor for rejection unfortunately..

 

[luvduvs]

Ok, car's booked in for Thursday to have wheel alignment looked at again. This time I want a freaking road test with the tech.

Also the reverse light being delayed/not coming on at all - this is still happening. On the service receipt it said they couldn't fault it, then the CSR said it was caused by the brake switch. But the brake switch had just been replaced - so what's causing it then?

I'm emailing the Service Manager now - not happy