Fiat Punto 2007/2008

[ajnluv69]

Hi everyone.. I'm planning to buy a used Fiat Punto 2007/2008 petrol tiptronic car. Despite that there is no second-hand value I just want to know the maintenance cost and any other issues.. Got to know that this is good on fuel and more comfortable than a Japanese vehicle. One person told me that there is a gearbox issue with tiptronic gearbox. Pls enlighten me with this issue. Thanx everyone.. :-)

[The Don]

There's a diesel one (2008 permit) owned by a doc in Kurunegala area, which had clocked 265,000km when I checked it out July 2013. I suspect that car would have reached 350,000km by now, if owned by the same guy. Good news is the engine and gearbox still seemed smooth despite the fact that the level of abuse it had gone through would make abu-ghraib folks envious. Speaks a lot about the quality of diesel fiats.

Diesel engines seem to be able to take a lot more abuse. True of most Euros, especially BMW's. The Diesels seems to have far less problems than the petrols, particularly the N series engines.

[ajnluv69]

Diesel fiat gives less trouble .. they fixed the hydraulic clutch issue. Actually GP petrol version was a failure and most of the cars were recalled and fixed the issue. Sri Lankan market was very less and the agent back then couldn't do it. The info was given by the guy in euro mortors.

With proper care the life span of the hydraulic pump can be increased.

Just one year back; i wasn't even aware of GP..

[Harry (aq)]

Just one year back; i wasn't even aware of GP..

I know all about GP thanks to Croswind.

[ajnluv69]

Yep great guy.. u can see how stubborn i was if u read this from the very first.. can remember someone bet 6pack of beer that i would go for a japanese .. ha ha.. vvti u owe me mate..

[VVTi]

Yep great guy.. u can see how stubborn i was if u read this from the very first.. can remember someone bet 6pack of beer that i would go for a japanese .. ha ha.. vvti u owe me mate..

I sure do...

When did you buy yours?

[The Don]

Fiat and other Euros are starting to become popular in South Asia, particularly India, because their more sophisticated suspension provides a better ride in bad roads, plus the equipment levels are pretty good.

The build quality seems to have gone up as well though they can still improve. But the biggest issue in SL is having a long standing reliable agent, but that can be said about many brands. Only Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi out of the Euros have stable agents. The Italian brands since the 1990s have not had the support they deserve.....

[ajnluv69]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="VVTi" data-cid="269470" data-time="1417702425"><p>

 <br />

I sure do... <br />

When did you buy yours? </p></blockquote>

[ajnluv69]

Bought it on january this year. I wasn't aware there were only two GP s with panaromic roof and leather interior ..

[rover]

So today got the emission test done for my Punto and according to that the engine is in perfect tune. It shows fuel wastage at idle 0.72 Rs/ltr and at 2500 rpm 0.87 Rs/ltr.Also HC 73ppm and CO 0.079% at 2500rpm. But I'm getting fuel economy of only 8km/l.

I know for a non hybrid car 8km/l in city traffic is perfectly ok but I read some members here claiming far better economy from the Punto.

Can it be something else like the transmission system or it's just that the emission report is wrong?Or am I overlooking something here...

Edited December 5, 2014 by rover

[The Don]

So today got the emission test done for my Punto and according to that the engine is in perfect tune. It shows fuel wastage at idle 0.72 Rs/ltr and at 2500 rpm 0.87 Rs/ltr.Also HC 73ppm and CO 0.079% at 2500rpm. But I'm getting fuel economy of only 8km/l.

I know for a non hybrid car 8km/l in city traffic is perfectly ok but I read some members here claiming far better economy from the Punto.

Can it be something else like the transmission system or it's just that the emission report is wrong?

How are you calculating your fuel efficiency?

[Dushyantha]

Im on my way to owning a punto . although some owners of puntos ive checked out claim they are very efficient in city , i have no idea as to the real consumption of them . But after going through all the discussions here i would think yours is a bit high on consumption .

Maybe its the Driving style . any vehicle would give a high consumption if you are aggressive and heavy on the pedal .

Btw im also interested on the consumption of the petrol fiat punto . Any Punto owners here who drive on Colombo traffic ? would like to know how the consumption is in traffic . thanks

[rover]

How are you calculating your fuel efficiency?

Did full tank to full tank method once and also checked twice the normal way.( Until fuel warning light appear). I can't compare it with the trip computer as still the odometer is flashing and I'm unable to get trip B data on the MFD.

I'm getting 10km/l from the Panda and 7 km/l from the Korando with the same conditions.

I don't drive very short distances. At least 7km one way and about 20km a day.

[ajnluv69]

I'm driving almost 90 km per day.. from seeduwa - narahenpita - colombo fort and way back. I use the highway from ja ela and heavy traffic on baseline road and towards colombo. Does 11 most of the time. Use economy mode and less power on the pedal. This will increase the efficiency.

My maintaine guy said the fuel consumption cannot be increased by tuning up the engine. It will increase the pulling power and quicker response.

I couldn't check outstation consumption still..

[Crosswind]

8km/l is not good enough for a Grande Punto. It should do at least 12. I got a steady 14, which I tested using the full tank method in both the GPs I owned (one was a 1.2ltr and the other was a 1.4ltr. The engine capacity seemed irrelevant. On a Kadawatha - Kandy - Kadawatha run I managed to clock 20 or so (verified using full-tank method) on one car.

Check your driving style, check the condition of the air filter, spark plugs. How much weight are you carrying the car? How are the tyres? Whats the condition of the AC compressor? Also try manually shifting the gears and getting in to a cruising speed as soon as possible when you get in to a clear road.

[trinity]

I'm driving almost 90 km per day.. from seeduwa - narahenpita - colombo fort and way back. I use the highway from ja ela and heavy traffic on baseline road and towards colombo. Does 11 most of the time. Use economy mode and less power on the pedal. This will increase the efficiency.

My maintaine guy said the fuel consumption cannot be increased by tuning up the engine. It will increase the pulling power and quicker response.

I couldn't check outstation consumption still..

Are you parking on Bristol Street by any chance?

[ajnluv69]

Yep.. sometimes on bristol street and sometimes duke street .. why?

[trinity]

Yep.. sometimes on bristol street and sometimes duke street .. why?

I though so. I know who you are. we work for the same place.. sometimes our cars are parked alongside at Bristol Street. One day had a trouble taking my car out cuz yours was parked in front of mine and your phone number was covered to the sun visor.

So this is how you guys work at Corp?? ha ha ha

[ajnluv69]

Ha ha..

[Dushyantha]

Are there two versions of fiat punto . grand punto and punto ? What is the difference between those 2 ?

[ajnluv69]

There are many versions of punto. The grande punto is the 5 door hatch back one. As far as i know grande punto production was stopped in 2009. After that they came up with punto evo. The new facelift version is just punto and its a 3 door hatchback.. i have not seen the new version in SL

[rover]

8km/l is not good enough for a Grande Punto. It should do at least 12. I got a steady 14, which I tested using the full tank method in both the GPs I owned (one was a 1.2ltr and the other was a 1.4ltr. The engine capacity seemed irrelevant. On a Kadawatha - Kandy - Kadawatha run I managed to clock 20 or so (verified using full-tank method) on one car.

Check your driving style, check the condition of the air filter, spark plugs. How much weight are you carrying the car? How are the tyres? Whats the condition of the AC compressor? Also try manually shifting the gears and getting in to a cruising speed as soon as possible when you get in to a clear road.

Since you mentioned about the AC compressor I have a feeling that it is permanently engaged or( not cutting off ). because when I set the climate control to any position there isn't any noticable difference in temperature. Sometimes have to reduce the blower when it's too cold. Also I can't here the clicking sound when it is cutting in and out.

The previous owner has spent nearly 120k within a year for the AC repairs alone according to maintenance records.He has changed the condenser, evaporator , expansion valve, suction control valve and also the controller has been dismantled during the repair. Don't know what exactly they have done but may be they have messed up the controls/wiring etc..?

@ajnluv, I contacted your guy but looks like he's busy. I will take the car to Euro motors directly.

[ajnluv69]

Euro mortors is pretty expensive. Take it there and call that guy and tell him to look in to that matter and ask him to tell what the problem is. He is a really busy guy. You should call him.

[The Don]

Since you mentioned about the AC compressor I have a feeling that it is permanently engaged or( not cutting off ). because when I set the climate control to any position there isn't any noticable difference in temperature. Sometimes have to reduce the blower when it's too cold. Also I can't here the clicking sound when it is cutting in and out.

The previous owner has spent nearly 120k within a year for the AC repairs alone according to maintenance records.He has changed the condenser, evaporator , expansion valve, suction control valve and also the controller has been dismantled during the repair. Don't know what exactly they have done but may be they have messed up the controls/wiring etc..?

@ajnluv, I contacted your guy but looks like he's busy. I will take the car to Euro motors directly.

Some morons in SL play around the electronics of the AC system and break it either partially or fully. A climate control AC system needs all of its components including a hot water line which some morons disconnect to work properly.

Its possible the issue came about when parts were fabricated locally to fix the AC, or the local geniuses have modified the AC to make it run cooler. Even I have the exact same issue on a Mitsubishi and in my case the Fan goes down as expected but in the evenings the car is too cold even with the AC being adjusted down to a minimum.

You now have to check everything from the pressure cut off valve (this must either be original or original spec), the three thermostats, cabin, outside temperature and at the evaporator, the fan resistor and the wiring. Take it to a person who understands your car well like ITMC, a specialist or an agent

[rover]

Some morons in SL play around the electronics of the AC system and break it either partially or fully. A climate control AC system needs all of its components including a hot water line which some morons disconnect to work properly.

Its possible the issue came about when parts were fabricated locally to fix the AC, or the local geniuses have modified the AC to make it run cooler. Even I have the exact same issue on a Mitsubishi and in my case the Fan goes down as expected but in the evenings the car is too cold even with the AC being adjusted down to a minimum.

You now have to check everything from the pressure cut off valve (this must either be original or original spec), the three thermostats, cabin, outside temperature and at the evaporator, the fan resistor and the wiring. Take it to a person who understands your car well like ITMC, a specialist or an agent

I just found out this from a Fiat forum.

"Linea and Punto with auto climate control are fitted with " Variable Displacement Compressors". Its different from manual ac which has " Fixed Displacement Clutch type compressor".

In clutch type compressor when you switch on the AC the clutch engages and the pistons reciprocate. While idling the efficiency reduces and in high rpms it increases. When you switch off the Ac button the clutch disengages and compressor no more pumps.

In variable type the computer judges the requirement in the cabin based on various sensors. Accordingly it adjusts the control valve in the compressor which is connected with a rod to a cantilever type plate also called wobble plate. The plate alters the stroke of the piston. So when you require very cold air the piston stroke is increased and it pumps more.

The benefit of the Variable compressor is that it puts less load on the engine. Also its efficiency is more and so mileage also improves. Its silent and jerk free too."

Anyway there is something definitely wrong with my AC. The repairs that I mentioned was done at ITMC. When I took my car to them I asked one of the guys who does the electrical repairs if he knows about the car and his reply was that since there are lot of Puntos coming in he can't exactly remember this particular car. Remember ITMC is not a large workshop. Anyway This is why I don't trust the so called local specialists. The exemption is A*W. They don't do modifications. Just replace the complete part if it's faulty and it works as new. It costs you more but at the end of the day you are happy that everything works as brand new.

Edited December 10, 2014 by rover

[The Don]

Hmm out fellow forum member GTam has some involvement with ITMC so if you have experienced bad service I'm sure he will help. To be honest up to now the feedback I've heard about ITMC is positive.

So your compressor is a variable displacement compressor? In that case you are unlikely to feel the disengagement of the clutch like on a standard compressor.