[DRIV3R]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

One question, did you have to get the cover painted red or does the part itself come in that colour?

The part comes in 2 types. One with a grainy surface which is supposed to be for the base trim with black ORVMs and the other with a glossy finish which can be painted to the shade of the car. Both come in black.

Of course, this is with respect to the old Punto/Linea, the new ones too should have a similar arrangement.

[hemanth.anand]

Some random Pictures from my last weekend's trip


Deforestation!


Jungle Safari!


Down to earth!

[hemanth.anand]

Today my car reached its 53rd thousand. After 44 months its an average of 1205 kms per month.



Among others...two weeks ago, I faced a wierd problem.
I was driving at around 80kmph on the Bangalore-Mysore highway and suddenly I got a beep from the MID. When I looked at it and it gave an error "Possible ice on road"
Astonished, I looked at the temperature and it read -25ºC:what:
It then fluctuated from +52 to -32 and whenever it went into the negatives, it gave me the same error.
I couldn't take it to the service centre for a week.
Then after a week I saw that the temperature was '---'. So I became more casual and didn't go to the service centre.

Two days later I saw that the passenger side ORVM indicator was not working.
I opened the mirror and checked for any wiring problems. There were none.
So I took it to the guy who fixed the mirrors. Even he couldn't find any loose wiring even after opening the door pads.

Then he just pressed the connector inside the mirror and voila! The indicators were working again

But then again to my surprise the temperature on the MID came up.

Only after this, I read on other websites and found out that the temperature sensors are in the passenger side ORVM.

A problem and I got a new learning. I had always thought that the temperature sensor was behind the grille.

[KarthikK]

I'm a little late to the party thanks to being away from the forum for a few days, and boy what have I missed! Amazing transformation to the car with the alloys and tyres and this is definitely a biggie . Kudos for all the effort put in to achieve this look, the alloys look EVIL! I was lucky to catch up in person with you at one of the meets and see the mods in person. Great going!

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Also my car got a new cosmetic addition...the indicators on the ORVMs from the new linea.
...
On 1st May on a holiday the accessory shop that I frequent, was open and I went straight there and asked him to fix the mirrors that I had purchased two days ago from the FASS.
Although the connector was same some pins were extra which was blank previously.
Some skinning of the fender indicator wires and they were ready to go. Within a couple of hours my car had her diamond earrings

...
Diamond earring!!!

Fantastic idea and mod Hemanth! I'm inspired by this 'earring' feature and will likely copy this for my 'Abarth' too, albeit in black. Did Fiat service have ready stock of the gloss mirrors with turn indicators integrated??

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

I'm a little late to the party thanks to being away from the forum for a few days, and boy what have I missed! Amazing transformation to the car with the alloys and tyres and this is definitely a biggie . Kudos for all the effort put in to achieve this look, the alloys look EVIL! I was lucky to catch up in person with you at one of the meets and see the mods in person. Great going!

Thanks KarthikK,
I hope you are not saying "Biggie" just in terms of the tyre size

Fantastic idea and mod Hemanth! I'm inspired by this 'earring' feature and will likely copy this for my 'Abarth' too, albeit in black. Did Fiat service have ready stock of the gloss mirrors with turn indicators integrated??

No I pestered them a lot...but they got it for me in a month's time.
When I got the spare parts, I don't know if the dealer had even sold a new Linea

[hemanth.anand]

On 11th of June, I got a mailer from FIAT that they have arranged a Free Monsoon Checkup camp from 13th to 15th June.
Below is the mail


Two days later Vecto Motors also called me and informed me of this.
I told them that I would be coming on the Sunday. But I had decided to go there only if anything else doesn't come up.
Vecto motors also informed me about a new service centre that they have opened on Mysore road. This was interesting to me as its close to my home than the existing one on Hosur Road.
I didn't have any major things in the first half of Sunday, so I decided to attend this.
I got up early and left my home at 08:45 and reached the service centre at 09:00. I was the first guy to reach there and hence my car was taken in immediately.
I was told that It would take an hour's time and I decided to wait. It also gave me an opportunity check the new service station.

The new service centre is more spacious but nothing premium about it.
Just at the entrance, there are two small buildings-one looked like a staff room and another was empty.
The main service area had nine service bays inside and one quick-check bay outside.
At the far end there was a warranty room(wonder what it is for), store room, and another room.
The reception area has a reception desk, 4 service adviser desks and two other cabins.
They have an AC customer lounge with two sofas and a TV. I was just watching the highlights of the Previous night's FIFA world cup matches. From this Lounge, there was a window through which we can watch the service bays.
I was served some cold juice and snacks while waiting in the lounge


Refreshments.

Behind the service bays, on one side there is a 5-bay Body shop and on other side there is the washing area.

The usual checks were performed which took 30 minutes. Frankly I was not even bothered about it as my vehicle was recently serviced. Also there were no complaints/issues. I was only there to get a water wash and also to check out the facility.

After this, as soon as my vehicle entered the washing area, there was some problem with the centre pit. Some water block I guess (Its a new facility and so it's understandable). Masons were called and they were working on it. So the washing was done outside this pit and hence there was no possibility of washing the under-body.

By the time they could sort out these issues and wash my car they took another 75minutes.

Later they gave me a list of checks performed and also a 20% off on labor coupon valid till September 15th. They also gave me a Vecto motors coffee mug neatly gift-wrapped. The CRM lady told me that it was because I was the first customer for the camp (I thought they give it to everybody).


The early bird prize!

By the time I had finished, three to four other cars also came in and were waiting.
They took a photograph while handing over the gift to me and I drove out...All in all it took 2 hours.

The only thing that mattered to me was that I had a service centre close to my home now.

[hemanth.anand]

Nothinjg much to update. My car just reached its 54th 1000 today evening. Ok... its yesterday


54th tonne

This is the slowest thousand If I remember correctly.


There has been a cosmetic exterior update a couple of weeks ago. I haven't found time to take some pictures. Will update as soon as I take some pictures.

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

54th tonne

This is the slowest thousand If I remember correctly.

Woah Hemanth you still feel that an 'Oil Burner' is Luxury bro ?

I think in the span of your 54th Tonne, I have swapped one car to another. Even putting both together, I still fall short by atleast 14 Tonnes !!

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by Vik0728

I think in the span of your 54th Tonne, I have swapped one car to another. Even putting both together, I still fall short by atleast 14 Tonnes !!

With the GT, I think you'll set this record straight

Anyways, Like Sachin Tendulkar, I now intend to get a 100th tonne on my car
P.S: I hope you know SRT unlike Ms Sharapova

[hemanth.anand]

On 2nd of August, after all the weekend chores were completed, and when the reading was 54254, I took my car to Madhus Tyre care on Richmond road for the 5K wheel balancing and alignment.

Apart from a Linea, there was no other vehicle when I entered the facility. I asked for the Roadforce balancing. My car was put on the hydraulic lift and all the wheels were removed


up, up...


...and away!


3 of the 4

The new workmen there seemed inexperienced and so an old gentleman was supervising and instructing everything. The inexperience in operating the machine was evident when during the balancing of a wheel, the wheel almost came out. But major damage was averted when the supervisor saw that it was loose and the machine was stopped and the wobbling wheel was held tight. My heart was in my mouth for a second.

After that the supervisor made sure that everything went smooth. In 30 minutes the balancing was finished


Roadforce balancing under progress


Summary

The alignment however took some time as there were already a couple of cars occupying the bays. The wheels were aligned in an hour or so and I drove home. Will see Madhus in another 5k Kms.


My car wasn't lucky enough to get a was for 4 weeks because of the everyday-rains in Bangalore. But today it was too dirty to even open the door to sit. So I took it for a much needed wash


Finally...

Along with my car, there was a Q5 also getting washed, so I just took some pictures while waiting


Reflections...


A for Abarth, A for Audi


AAAA=Audi And Abarth Alloys


Last month, I added a new cosmetic item to my car.
With the help of a 'Fiat-Family' friend, I got it made in Kerala. Its the front grill with honey comb mesh.

I sent him a spare Emotion grill (grey one) that I had with me. The frame was kept intact and the centre position plastic was cut out. The mesh was then wrapped over the frame and stuck with industrial grade glue. After that, the whole thing was painted in black.

Because the car was dirty, I had not taken pictures, but today after the wash, I parked it in an empty site near my house and took some pictures.


Honeycomb Mesh grill


From the other side...


Portrait!

However, if the car is viewed from a dead straight angle, The hoses in front of the radiator are visible and hence the upper grill is an eyesore. I'm planning to paint it black and achieve the same look as that of the bottom grill.


Straight

In the new Punto evo, the hoses come painted it black from the factory itself. so, I'll emulate that.


Hoses painted in black


Exactly in the front view, They are not visible

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Last month, I added a new cosmetic item to my car.

In the new Punto evo, the hoses come painted it black from the factory itself. so, I'll emulate that.

Looks really mind blowing hemanth. You surely have one of the best looking Punto in town bro!!

After viewing your 'Abarth' from front against the 'Evo', it is further more apparent how good the old design was I think.

For starters, looks at those water nozzles on the 'Evo' that just totally spoils the bonnet's clean surface!!

[sandeepmohan]

Trying to assist a colleague who has a 1.2l.

What is the rpm when you are at 120kmph? My colleagues car is at close to 4400rpm which I feel is not normal. There is no hint of clutch slip too, however, he claims the rpm was lower.

[schakravarthy]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

What is the rpm when you are at 120kmph? My colleagues car is at close to 4400rpm which I feel is not normal. There is no hint of clutch slip too, however, he claims the rpm was lower.

Seeing that the peak power is at 6000 rpm, 120kmph at 4400 rpm seems very plausible.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Trying to assist a colleague who has a 1.2l.

What is the rpm when you are at 120kmph? My colleagues car is at close to 4400rpm which I feel is not normal. There is no hint of clutch slip too, however, he claims the rpm was lower.

Its normal.

In 5th gear...

80kmph at ~2500 rpm
100kmph at ~3500rpm
120Kmph at ~4500rpm

All these numbers are around 1000rpm less for the 1.3 I guess

[hemanth.anand]

A couple of small issues troubling my car...

1. After the car speed-locks at 20kmph, the rear door locks keep on opening and locking continuously.
When I open the lock from the driver door, it stops. Again when I lock it, they start again. It doesn't happen everytime. this happened to me twice in the last two weeks. The 60K/4year service is due soon. I will get it checked then. But any pointers from member will help me.

2. Whenever I face the above problem, I also face another issue. The rear left door window automatically rolls down!

I hope there is no ghost inside my car

In other news, when the last weekend finished and when the Monday blues had already started, My car stopped in its parking slot with the ODO reading at 54999.



After 3 days of rest for the vehicle, today morning when it stared again, I saw this figure of 55000 on the ODO