[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Nice nice. Car has taken a big transformation with the tail lamp and alloys modifications.

Shall I suggest you get the LED DRLs in line with the bumper? They look out of place now, looks aftermarket.

[scofield]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Its now time to change my TBHP Signature!

Hemanth, I loved the alloys , looks mean. Just one thought regarding your signature - you need to change the tyre country to ITALY now.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by MCR

Looks great!

I think now you should look at getting Italian Leather for your car seats, with red stitching to completely look Abarth, inside out!

Thanks MCR,
Hopefully in 2014, Leather seats will become a reality

Also, How are the tyres, are they too soft? What about tyre noise?

The tyres are neither too soft nor too hard. They are all season tyres made for the FE consious.
Although not the most silent, its not a noisy tyre.
When I was testing them on the NICE concrete road, there was some sort of whistling sound at high speeds. However on tar roads, there was no audible sound.
Braking is good but I still love the way my Yoko ES100s used to stop.

Take a look at the screen-shot of the performance parameters of this tyre taken from the Pirelli Website

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Nice nice. Car has taken a big transformation with the tail lamp and alloys modifications.

Shall I suggest you get the LED DRLs in line with the bumper? They look out of place now, looks aftermarket.

Spot on CrAzY dRiVeR, the DRLs does look out of place.
I'm thinking of getting a Mesh grille done and then I'll remove those DRLs permanently.
I want the grills similar to what BHPian Nimish Anthony has on his Punto. See the Picture below

Originally Posted by scofield

Hemanth, I loved the alloys , looks mean. Just one thought regarding your signature - you need to change the tyre country to ITALY now.

Thanks scofield, I think I'll replace "Japanese tyres" with "UK Alloys"

[schakravarthy]

That's one awesome car! Just out of curiosity, why didn't you go for the famous Abarth 'Scorpion' patterned alloys?
Ps- Hope nobody snaps pictures of your car and starts a new thread saying- "Abarth Punto spotted testing!".

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by schakravarthy

That's one awesome car! Just out of curiosity, why didn't you go for the famous Abarth 'Scorpion' patterned alloys?

schakravarthy, Thanks for the nice words

I guess you are talking about this Design...



...But I was always after the look shown below.



Take a look at some of my earlier posts (as old as 2011) on this forum...I Always had this in my mind
Post #118 in the "Modifying my FIAT Punto" thread posted on 09-Mar-2011:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post2271659

Post #151 on this very thread posted on 28-Mar-2011:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...ml#post2294926

In short, its just a matter of tastes IMO. I wanted it to look beautiful and unique but at the same time I wanted to maintain a subtlety.

I always made a conscious effort not to go overboard and make it too 'sporty'.
This is exactly the reason why I don't have the LIVE TO DRIVE sticker on my car.
I'm a big fan of the LTD sticker and I absolutely love it but to match my car's theme, I haven't put it.
On my SUV, I'll paste it even before the number plates arrive

Ps- Hope nobody snaps pictures of your car and starts a new thread saying- "Abarth Punto spotted testing!".

Maybe if I put those camflouge patterns on my body, someone will definitely post it


***Both images in this post taken from Google image search-Courtesy:respective owners***

[schakravarthy]

Your car is everything you say it is...and more. It is indeed very tastefully modified, no doubting your choices or your taste. As I mentioned earlier, I was just curious, hence the query.
I have a slightly different reason for not sticking the LTD on my car. I've seen so many various.. er.. 'incarnations' of that particular sticker that I refrained from pasting it.
As regards to the mesh grill, please do keep me in the loop. I'm interested in getting it done as well.
Ps- at least this time around I know how to get in touch with you!

[hemanth.anand]

My car has now crossed a major milestone...that of 50000Kms.





It has been a wonderful journey with this gem of a car.
Its undergone so many changes in the last 3.5 years, that now whenever I see any other white Punto on road it just looks "SO BORING"

Below is BHPian mnvvishwa and my cars beside each other, which I took today






I'm always a guy who doesn't mind spending a 'bit more' ('too much' in others' perspective) to keep my car in tip-top condition.
From the last 3 months however, I had been living with few minor niggles here and there. I had only made a note of them in my phone.

The opportunity to put an end to those niggles came in the form of a free software update to all 1.2 Puntos from Fiat.
I had been to a fiat owners' meet to a Karting track and I came to know about this in that meet. One photo of the Karting (or rather 'Punto'ing) attached below



In bumper to bumper traffic, where we have to drive a fair distance with just the clutch and no accelerator, after a few times of applying brakes, the brakes would become rock solid. This is more evident in the Punto 1.2.
This is a common occurance with many cars. On TBHP, the Related thread is:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-happened.html

To solve this, FIAT had given a software update to all 1.2s (very few actually)
I took the appointment and went to Vecto to get this update. I left the car on a Thursday morning. The ODO was 49800.

The software update was free of cost but I also gave them all the niggles that I had noted down. Here they are

1. Loose passenger side door lock lever
2. A shuddering sound when driving over small speedbreakers
3. Driver seat was broken. The skeleton of the seat is not a single piece but many pieces screwed together, one such screw has come off near the right shoulder area.
4. Clutch was really hard
5. Car pulling leftwards...an issue synoymous with Indian Puntos I guess
6. Glove box lock had become loose
7. Break pedal was making a squeaking noise and the brake pads had also started to hiss.
8. Reverse gear was not engaging easily
9. The boot door hydraulic shocks had lost its pressure and I asked them to replace it
10. Rattling noise of the boot door
11. Car was refusing to start at the firt crank early in the morning

After a small drive he told me that the clutch kit and gear cable need to be replaced for the clutch and reverse gear issue to be sorted out.
The service advisor (SA) told me that I'll get it by Friday evening. I was in no hurry I agreed

In the afternoon, I recieved a call from the SA for the updates.
He told me that the shuddering sound was because of the suspension pads had worn out and would need replacement.
He also told me that the brake discs and the brake pads had nothing left in them and told me that they had only around 1000Kms of life left in them...The pads had lasted for 20K Kms.

I initially thought of getting it replaced in the 60K/4yr service but since my driving had reduced considerably, I knew that the next service would be at 4yr and not 60K.
That would be in October and I didn't want to drive around for 6 months with that shuddering noise and hissing brakes.
Moreover this would distribute the expenditure in two instalment with 6 months gap between them.
I gave my agreement for both of these. At this point I realized that I was about to get a big bill. I expected around 15K

On Friday Afternoon, I called them and asked for an update. The service advisor told that he had completed all other works and handed over to the software updating member (he told someone from Pune was taking care of it) and he told he'll check with him and call me again later.
After 15 minutes he called me and told that the handheld computer used for updating it had some problems and asked me if I could collect it the next day (Saturday).
I told him that I want the vehicle for the weekend at any cost and I told him that I would be okay to collect it late on friday but not on a saturday.
I told him my dissappointment and asked him why he couldn't have checked it the previous day.

To this he told me he'll check with the guy again. after 5 minutes he called me again and told that it will be ready by 7PM.

After my office work I went there at 5:30PM and they were still sorting out their computer and installing some new software onto it. By 6 they finished that and in the next 30 minutes they flashed the update onto my car.
They had a printout of the steps with them and 3 guys were working together to flash this.

then I was taken for a test ride and sure enough most of the problems were sorted. The solutions provided to me are as shown below

1. Loose passenger side door lock lever-It was set right
2. A shuddering sound when driving over small speedbreakers-With suspension pads changed, this had vanished
3. Driver seat was broken. The skeleton of the seat is not a single piece but many pieces screwed together, one such screw has come off near the right shoulder area -They could not open the seat and hence they had packed more cusion inside so that the internal broken part doesn't move
4. Clutch was really hard-Clutch Kit was replaced and it was as smooth as new
5. Car pulling leftwards...an issue synoymous with Indian Puntos I guess-It was sorted out but it pulls again now after a few days
6. Glove box lock had become loose-It was set right
7. Break pedal was making a squeaking noise and the brake pads had also started to hiss- Brake pads and disc were repalced and now there is no noise, for the brake pedal noise they removed the drum and cleaned it and the noise id gone
8. Reverse gear was not engaging easily-Gear cable was changed and there is no problem
9. The boot door hydraulic shocks had lost its pressure and I asked them to replace it-New shocks installed and the door opens quickly and fully
10. Rattling noise of the boot door-Sorted
11. Car was refusing to start at the firt crank early in the morning-Don't know what they did but it starts without any problems

And as far as the software update is concerned, I have not experienced the braking issue in the few kilometres I have driven till date. Since it was not a problem I was experiencing everytime, I can't say now if the problem really has vanished or reduced or still present. But for records purpose, it is running on the latest software.
The people updating it had by mistake left the instructions copy in my glovebox and attached is the photo of the sheet showing some details of the update



Th cost however was a big bomb...hte entire exercise cost me ahuge 24000...Quite a big hole in the pocket. below is the cost breakup



Apart from this, I added a couple of small things to my car

1. The AC fan noise was too high since the day the stronger AC compressor was installed in 2011 for all the petrol Puntos.
With the summer months approaching, I wanted it to reduce it as much as possible. So I ordered a bonnet lining used in the diesel Puntos from 99rpm.
I must be the last ones to get Punto parts form 99rpm since sale of Punto and Linea parts is now "temporarily suspended".
I got the lining and the necessary clips in 4 days and I installed it myself.



2. I ordered a tyre paint pen from Ebay and painted it on the tyre highlighting the tyre dimensions and make. gives a sporty touch.
Attached below is the photo of the photoshopped photo displayed on my Laptop screen : )

[Vik0728]

Awesome write-up Hemanth and probably one of the most passionate ownership thread on TBHP bro.

Though 17" rims fits and looks smashing on Punto's, I have feeling that this could have hastened the wear & tear of Suspension. Bangalore is not the best place to have low profile wheels.

Good thing is that you have all your issues (almost) sorted out and good to carry on with your Lovely Punto ownership for now.

Keep revving and drive safe.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by Vik0728

Awesome write-up Hemanth and probably one of the most passionate ownership thread on TBHP bro.

Though 17" rims fits and looks smashing on Punto's, I have feeling that this could have hastened the wear & tear of Suspension. Bangalore is not the best place to have low profile wheels.

Good thing is that you have all your issues (almost) sorted out and good to carry on with your Lovely Punto ownership for now.

Keep revving and drive safe.

Thanks Vik0728,

The new wheels may hasten (most probably it will) the suspension wear (for exact calculations I don't know the weight of the previous wheels and the current ones).
However if you are talking about the suspension pads that I got replaced, I don't think we should link that to the new wheels because I had driven only 800Kms with the new set.

I agree with your point of having low profile tyres in Bangalore.
I had seen so many low profile tyres and was worried about this but the tyres I have got is 101mm thick and they actually are not too thin. When you see my tyres in person, you may understand my point better (We shall meet soon )
Having said that, they are not too thick either and I need to be a wee bit more careful in rough roads.

Regarding the unsorted issue of seats, it should be sorted out when I open the covers while going for a new all-leather interiors (Building up vitamin M for this )

[hemanth.anand]

The last two weekends I was busy attending colleagues' weddings.
Thanks to this, my car reached 51000 on 25th April and then 52000 on 4th May.


Kushalanagar drive


Shivamogga drive

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!!!


Diamond earring!!!

for those of you who have this question, There are no errors seen on the MID

[schakravarthy]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

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.

That looks brilliant Hemant! Nice addition there! :thumbup:
Is there anyway we can manage this without skinning the fender light wires? As I understand, in your case, skinning was required to draw a parallel source. Can the fender lights be ditched altogether and the power source routed to the ORVM lights? Will skinning/splicing be required even then?

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by schakravarthy

That looks brilliant Hemant! Nice addition there! :thumbup:
Is there anyway we can manage this without skinning the fender light wires? As I understand, in your case, skinning was required to draw a parallel source. Can the fender lights be ditched altogether and the power source routed to the ORVM lights? Will skinning/splicing be required even then?

Thanks schakravarthy,

Actually, that's exactly how I wanted it initially. I had planned to completely remove the fender blinker and buy a Tjet badge to close that opening (as in the Linea 2014)
But the wires from the fender blinkers was routed to somewhere deep inside the car and finding the other end was tough. So I opted for splicing. Apart from this:
- I had additional blinkers-The more the merrier eh!
- I didn't need to buy any badge-IMO Blinkers are better looking

[deetjohn]

Nice to see the FIAT getting good additions from time to time. The ORVMs from the Linea look great.

Any idea how the hydraulic arms for the tail gate were shot so soon? And what are suspension pads and flex shafts?

PS: And isn't it time to update your signature since Pirelli rubber is on the car?

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Nice to see the FIAT getting good additions from time to time. The ORVMs from the Linea look great.

Thanks deetjohn

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Any idea how the hydraulic arms for the tail gate were shot so soon? And what are suspension pads and flex shafts?

The tail gate hydraulic arms were just weak. the tail gate was opening slower than normal. It was not necessary to replace them. I just asked him to change it since I once had absentmindedly bumped my head into it

Suspension pads flex shafts were replaced to remove a suspension noise (Suspension pads were worn out) and difficulty in engaging gears with the usual "kirrrrr" sound. I exactly don't know what parts they are - I assume it was the gear cables.

Originally Posted by deetjohn

PS: And isn't it time to update your signature since Pirelli rubber is on the car?

I have changed it. Is it OK now?

[addyhemmige]

The Linea ORVMs look lovely on the Punto. One question, did you have to get the cover painted red or does the part itself come in that colour?