[parimal_g]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Kindly share the rationale behind this. Since when did you opt for oil change at 7.5K kms? Are you still using Fiat preferred Selenia or moved on to Mobil Delvac.

My friend's Punto is nearing 60K kms and he would like to know whats the approximate charges for the timing chain replacement job?

No harm in sticking to 15k kms Service Intervals.
Timing chain Cost (Inclusive of taxes)
Timing Chain Replace: 1966.30
Timing Chain : 890.00
Chain Stretcher : 1497.00
PAD : 199.00
PAD : 208.00
Sealing Gasket : 1197.00
Sealing gasket : 350.00
Sealer : 458.00
Consumable :100.00

Total :Rs 6865.30

These are the charges in the month of May 2014, So Consider Approx 7k for timing chain.

AC and Alternator belts costs Rs.1821.00 ad Rs 849.00 with Labor of Rs.550 for both.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

EMI free days are here!

Bank has deducted the final instalment of the loan and the car is now fully paid for! I was an idiot who went ahead and took a car loan worth almost 33% of my monthly income (back in 2012). To make matters worse- with only weeks to spare before marriage.

Such a relief to have done away with it, only marred by the thought of having to remove hypothecation and starting the re-registration process to KA.

Got the wheel balancing and alignment done today, in preparation for a road trip over the coming weekend. That should bring up the 85k mark. (Current reading: Approx 83500 kms).

Originally Posted by nitrous

Hey crazy driver,
Since your 90hp is doing a higher mileage, I would recommend you replace timing chain every 40,000 kms. This is what my friends in the UK are doing.

Thank you.

I'm keeping a keen eye on the timing chain thread. Would like to stick to the 60k interval for now till the extended warranty coverage is on. But yes- might take a decision later to prepone the replacements. Keeping the oil fresh and having an eye on the drinking habits also plays a good role in the longevity, as far as I know from the above threads.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Kindly share the rationale behind this. Since when did you opt for oil change at 7.5K kms? Are you still using Fiat preferred Selenia or moved on to Mobil Delvac.



My friend's Punto is nearing 60K kms and he would like to know whats the approximate charges for the timing chain replacement job?

I'm still using Selenia and will stick to the same for another year. Didn't want to stretch it all the way till 15k as recommended by FIAT. Hence a mid-cycle change.

I guess many guys here stick to the 10k oil change interval. I didn't opt for it because 1. Selenia and 2. More complications explaining to service personnel during service, keeping tab of changes etc. Been doing this since the 60k service.

Oil is still fine IMO, but the air filter really gets clogged if you stretch it all the way to 15k, in cities like Bangalore.

Originally Posted by nkrishnap

The timing chain replacement should cost around 11k including labour and it would cover the timing chain, chain pads, tensioner, gasket and a few other parts.

Originally Posted by parimal_g

No harm in sticking to 15k kms Service Intervals.

Timing chain Cost (Inclusive of taxes)

Timing Chain Replace: 1966.30

Timing Chain : 890.00

Chain Stretcher : 1497.00

PAD : 199.00

PAD : 208.00

Sealing Gasket : 1197.00

Sealing gasket : 350.00

Sealer : 458.00

Consumable :100.00



Total :Rs 6865.30



These are the charges in the month of May 2014, So Consider Approx 7k for timing chain.



AC and Alternator belts costs Rs.1821.00 ad Rs 849.00 with Labor of Rs.550 for both.

Detailed answers above. If I remember correctly, labour for timing chain replacement was about 3300 INR making the total come to around 10.5k to 11k.

[parimal_g]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

EMI free days are here!




Detailed answers above. If I remember correctly, labour for timing chain replacement was about 3300 INR making the total come to around 10.5k to 11k.

Hi, the cost mentioned is including the Labor charges, Timing Chain Replace: 1966.30 is the Labor cost.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by parimal_g

Hi, the cost mentioned is including the Labor charges, Timing Chain Replace: 1966.30 is the Labor cost.

Which dealership and when? Has it been reduced?

The cost seems significantly lesser compared to mine from last year. Let me search if I have the bill with me.

[parimal_g]

It's at Pandit Motors, Pune in May 2014. Check you bill I think you are telling cost of replacing Ac and Alternator belts as well.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Solo weekend drive. 750kms and half done.

Bangalore -> Trivandrum done yesterday. 11 hours including a breakfast stop at Shoolagiri HPCL complex, and another 10 mins break at Nagercoil. Pretty much non-stop cruising at 100 kmph all the way from Shoolagiri to Nagercoil. Definitely need cruise control on my next car.


Wheel alignment at Madhus in preparation for the journey. Got the company of two other FIATs- a Linea and a 1100.


5:45am start from Bangalore.


22.2 kmpl for the 704 kms stretch between Bangalore to Nagercoil.


751.6 kms and 21.9 kmpl overall, thanks to the dreaded Nagercoil Trivandrum stretch wasting my time, fuel and energy. Still had some fuel left in the tank though!

[parimal_g]

22 milage at 100 km/hr is awesome milage have u remapped your car?

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by parimal_g

22 milage at 100 km/hr is awesome milage have u remapped your car?

Thanks. Its running on stock tune now.

I was using the RD dieseltronics earlier, but it's running stock since quite sometime now and the box put up for sale, thanks to some upgrade plans in the pipeline and also my laziness to put the box back.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Finally done with the solo weekend drive.

Bangalore -> Trivandrum -> Bangalore solo drive.
1513 kms,
65 kmph average speed. 100 kmph cruise for 80% of the time.
21.0 kmpl (MID indicated),
23:09 hours of driving time.


I don't think I'll break this personal record for a weekend stint between two regular working days, for a long time to come. Did 9 hours of regular work followed by 11 hours of driving on Saturday and still had some energy left to spend the evening with family. Similarly - had a 11 hour journey back today and will be going to office for another 9 hours of work soon. Can't even think of doing such a run with my earlier cars - even the relatively newer Xcent.

Amazing highway mile-cruncher, this little FIAT has turned out to be! The only things I miss in the package are reverse parking assists (should go in next month) and cruise control. (Which is on offer only from C segment upwards sadly!).









Also hit the 85,000 kms milestone somewhere near Dharmapuri. The last 5000 kms came in exactly 8 weeks.

[arun_josie]

Congrats on touching the 85K mark! Wishing you many more miles with this gem!

Yes, cruise control will be really helpful on the Salem - Tirunelveli stretch.
Any bad stretches around nagercoil? I am planning to drive this weekend, hence thought of getting the current status.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Any bad stretches around nagercoil? I am planning to drive this weekend, hence thought of getting the current status.

Highway is generally in good condition. From Kavalkinaru to Nagercoil had good roads for most of the time except for the junctions like Thovalai.

After crossing the bridge into the Vadassery area- the roads are horrible for about a kilometer. Otherwise it's pretty much ok. Watch out for the odd craters though.

Please don't take the Kulashekharam route. It's in a horrible state.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

After crossing the bridge into the Vadassery area- the roads are horrible for about a kilometer. Otherwise it's pretty much ok. Watch out for the odd craters though.

Please don't take the Kulashekharam route. It's in a horrible state.

Oh is it? I thought they would have repaired it. It was horrible when I was there during december last week.

I am from Nagercoil, so no need to touch the congested Nagercoil - Trivandrum stretch or the Kulashekharam route

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Made good use of a Sunday for a solo long drive. Took suggestions from our in-house travel experts KarthikK and nkrishnap and ended up taking the following route.

Bangalore - Berur - Tarikere - Chikmagalur - Hassan - Bangalore.



Did not take any pics thanks to all the driving involved though! Have been posting too many console shots off late.

Distance Covered: 607.5 kms.
Total travel time: Approx 11 hours.
Total time: 13 hours 15 mins.
Average Speed: 54 kmph.

Fuel Efficiency:

Highway FE -
Distance covered: 564 kms.
Average FE (MID) - 22.9 kmpl.

Highway + Bangalore City -
Distance Covered: 607.5 kms.
Average FE (MID) - 22.6 kmpl.





This is after fighting with bangalore traffic for the next 1 and half hours.




Odo now stands at 86785 kms.

ARAI FE

I believe the ARAI FE for the Punto 90hp was 19.1 when I bought this car. But as seen above, highway cruising consistently returns much higher figures. Wonder what prevents FIAT from getting higher figures from their cars at the ARAI though.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Happy Birthday to you...

My Punto 90hp turned 3 years old today. Co-incidentally, was able to celebrate this day with a solo drive of 800 kms. Well, 786.1 kms to be exact from Bangalore to Trivandrum. Despatched within 11 hours and 6 mins of running time (Excluding one 20 mins breakfast break and another 10 mins fuel break) and an average speed of 70 kmph with a resultant FE of 21.5 kmpl.

ODO stands at 87929 kms now.

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Happy Birthday to you...

My Punto 90hp turned 3 years old today. Co-incidentally, was able to celebrate this day with a solo drive of 800 kms. Well, 786.1 kms to be exact from Bangalore to Trivandrum. Despatched within 11 hours and 6 mins of running time (Excluding one 20 mins breakfast break and another 10 mins fuel break) and an average speed of 70 kmph with a resultant FE of 21.5 kmpl.

ODO stands at 87929 kms now.

3 years and 87K kms, good going there. Off late, you are finding all sorts of reasons to do solo drives, solo drive bug has bit you hard or what?

90K service is coming up. Any preventive maintenance you are looking at apart from aging Tyres?