General Views on this Croma

[saxonheights]

Hi,

I've just bought this Croma:
autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201241488256009/sort/locasc/usedcars/model/croma/make/fiat/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/quicksearch/true/postcode/bs32nz/radius/1500?logcode=p

There was a couple of things when I was test driving it that were a bit odd, when I first turned the key nothing happened, but taking the key out and replacing it it worked fine. Any idea what this could be?

Also A light with a triangle and an exclamation mark lit up on the dash, the garage said they would repair whatever is wrong and are giving 6 months warranty. Anyone know what this is likely to be?

He did mention the battery was dead at some point, could it be related to this?

 

[saxonheights]

You'll have to put the www. in front of the auto trader address, I can't post URLs due to noobness.

 

[dave]

not sure on first one, 2nd one could just mean all the electric windows need resetting, do any words come up on the display?

hope you didnt pay full asking price? its way over priced for a 1.8 petrol

welcome to the forum

 

[saxonheights]

No I got a bit off the price, and they are taxing it.

Thanks for the advice, is there anything I should do when I get it? I'd like to keep this car for a while and keep it looking nice.

I can't really believe how nice these are, I was looking at a Zafira before this and the Croma is much nicer inside and out.

I'm not much of a mechanic, but is it worth getting one of the cables to connect to a laptop so I can kind of know what I'm talking about when I go to a garage?

 

[tarquin1867]

Nobody should own a Croma who hasn`t got a laptop . Download Fiatecuscan get a connector from E-Bay and you will save a fortune.
Don`t forget you have to dip the clutch or the car wont turn over.
The warning triangle could be for any number of things , my last one was a reversing sensor in the back bumper.
Make sure you test it out really well before the dealers promise runs out.

Welcome to the comfortable driving zone!!!

 

[saxonheights]

Thanks. I've got some 400 mile round trips in the next month or so, that should give me a good idea.

Which cable do i need, I tried searching for Croma cable, but I just found brake cables. Can that light be anything serious?

 

[Dazler22]

Like someone else said if it had a flat battery it's most likely the anti-pinch sensor for the electric windows.

Easy to reset,just take all the windows down then take each one up in turn fully holding the button down for a further 10sec after window has closed.Do the on all four windows then the light should go out.

 

[Doofer]

Looks very nice. I really like the beige interior, much nicer than the more usual grey (including mine).

Nice low mileage too.

Welcome to the gang - but you'll miss out on some of the woes through not having a diesel engine - no DPF and all that stuff to go wrong.

 

[saxonheights]

I was quite keen on the interior, getting it tomorrow morning so if the light is still on I'll try the window thing.

 

[BrianMcL]

Definitely get at least the VAG KKL cable and a copy of fiatEcuscan as it'll tell you a lot about the car, not only what's wrong just now but things like how often it's been told the oil's been changed and other good stuff about the engine.

Welcome aboard!

 

[saxonheights]

Ok got it, the glove compartment opened once, now doesn't open and the boot only opens using the key. Reading this forum I think these are pretty common so I'm going to have a go at sorting them myself.

 

[saxonheights]

Also I'm not sure the parking sensor is working, the manual is in the glove box so I can't access it, how do I know?

 

[halilson]

If its a manual put it in reverse and turn the ignition on (don't start the car) and run your hand across each sensor and see if it beeps. If not check that your reversing lights are on. With an auto you may have to start it and get someone else to obstruct them while you keep your foot on the brake. Alternatively just gently reverse up to a wall slowly. They are pretty sensitive and start beeping a good 18 inches from the obstruction.
IMHO any faults you have now should involve a swift return to the dealer and let them sort it.

 

[dave]

read what the dash says during pre-start checks, it would normally say if reverse sensors are not working

 

[Doofer]

Ok got it, the glove compartment opened once, now doesn't open and the boot only opens using the key. Reading this forum I think these are pretty common so I'm going to have a go at sorting them myself.

The dashboard options allow you to choose what gets unlocked. You just need to tell it to unlock everything - it's probably set to unlock the doors only.

Not sure about the glovebox though - would need to look and fiddle with it. Obviously check it's not locked.

 

[saxonheights]

Few more things, noticed a scraping sound from the back when braking and the air con unit makes some strange noises when changing which direction it is blowing.

How do you unlock the glove compartment?

Also how do you change the key settings to unlock the boot as well?

 

[saxonheights]

Is it possible to turn off the Parking sensor? It's definitely not working.

 

[Doofer]

Few more things, noticed a scraping sound from the back when braking and the air con unit makes some strange noises when changing which direction it is blowing.

How do you unlock the glove compartment?

Also how do you change the key settings to unlock the boot as well?

My air con did the same at first, it's just gone away on its own though. Just check your engine's getting up to temp (needle in the middle). Mine made all the noises when the engine thermostat had gone, so the engine was always cold. It might also be worth checking/changing the pollen filter. Spray some anti-bacterial spray through the pollen filter inlet while you're doing it.

Doesn't the glovebox have a key lock? I thought it did, but I could be wrong.

The unlock settings are changed using the three buttons to the right of the steering wheel. Just scroll through the options, it's there somewhere.

I don't know about the scraping sounds, definitely one to get checked though.

What are the parking sensors doing or not doing?

 

[saxonheights]

The parking sensors aren't doing anything. Does this model definitely have them?

There is a button that is a P with three lines coming from it but it doesn't seem to do anything. Its by the menu button.

 

[saxonheights]

I've got ecuscan and the cable from ebay, how do I connect it?